Tartan Career Pathways

Ms. Kapaun certainly knows how to grow a strong team! For 12 consecutive years, Vicki has led Tartan's Business Professionals of America (BPA) students to state competition. This year's team had a successful Region 2 competition recently at Rosemount High School. Seven schools competed and the top students in each event qualified for the BPA state competition, which will be held in March. Attached is a list of our students who qualified. 22 different students qualified; most of them in 2 or 3 events. Well done, Ms. K and team!

My name is Bella Lee and I am a senior this year. Around this time last year, I decided to interview for BPA because I wanted to try new things during my last year of high school. In fact, deciding this was really outside my comfort zone, but I don't regret it. I am happy I decided to give potential to myself because now I hold an officer position on the BPA board, have placed 1st place and 2nd place in my Region events, and have volunteer work and community service hours just from BPA. Many people think that BPA is just about business but BPA has 70 events and I am able to do what is suitable to me which is art and marketing. I have had so much experience in just 4 months! Although I am a first-year senior, I have accomplished a lot because BPA and Mrs. Kapaun gives me many opportunities!

In December, more than 50 students toured Tartan's construction renovation project to learn more about careers in the trades. On January 30, seniors who are particularly interested in considering a career in the trades, stopped by the Adolfson & Peterson Construction trailer to learn more about specific careers: Pipefitter, Plumber, Ironworks/Welding, & Electrician. See this newsletter for labor market trends in these career areas

Our students asked good questions about post-secondary training and apprenticeships and learned a little more about union versus non-union work. We wrapped up the visit with a detailed tour of Tartan's new gym & running track.

A special thanks goes out to our industry partners:

Nathalia Mingo, Dave Jaeger, Nick Hegdal & Troy Swenson, Adolfson-Peterson

Jake, Laketown Electric

John, Reiling Construction

Ben McDonald, Klamm Mechanical

Ryan Hedberg, Custom Drywall

Under the direction of Craig Spreiter, Tartan's award-winning DECA program partnered with Platinum Bank professionals for an engaging, interactive career event. In addition to careers in the financial sector, students were broken into three cohort groups and moved through three simulation areas of banking, discussing and presenting solutions/strategies to a situation they've been given.

Simulation #1:

-Extending a line of credit to a multi-million dollar tech business to expand their operations

-How much to extend, what questions would you need to know

Simulation #2:

The human resources team is working through a simulation where an older employee who wasn't attending meetings, created an uncomfortable work environment where co-workers felt disrespected. Students had to decide how they would handle this employee and present solutions to the HR Director

Simulation #3:

The third area was dealing with the idea of relationship banking and directing Platinum Bank in reaching out to their clients about succession planning in hopes the new CEO/President will continue to work with Platinum Bank.

Each session is concluded with Q & A about what Platinum Bank actually did in all three scenarios. Students were very engaged and impressed that PB catered in lunch for them!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for preschool teachers is projected to grow 15% in the next 10 years, with approximately 63,000 openings nationally. The value of early childhood cannot be understated, so we are happy to do our part at Tartan by offering Child Development classes that allow Tartan students to learn more about this important career and gain hands-on experience too.

Child Development II class, taught by Ms. Jenny Roberto, runs preschool 3 times per week at Tartan. Our students find age appropriate activities, write lesson plans, prepare supplies and last but not least they teach. Tartan students get hands on and even a little messy while leading the next generation. This valuable hands on opportunity is enjoyed by all.

Platinum Bank

Adolfson-Peterson

Lake Town Electric

Reiling Construction

Klamm Mechanical

Custom Drywall

Book an appointment w/ Ms. McLean for support with CAREER PLANNING.

Email: mmclean@isd622.org
Website: https://www.isd622.org/domain/1608
Location: 828 Greenway Ave N, Oakdale, MN, USA
Phone: 651-702-8668

Schedule an appointment w/ Ms. Forsythe for support with JOBS & EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

Email: cforsythe@isd622.org
Website: https://www.isd622.org/Domain/2441
Location: 828 Greenway Ave N, Oakdale, MN, USA
Phone: 651-702-8655