Grant County Middle School students will have new opportunities to explore potential careers through 16 hands-on Paxton/Patterson career labs beginning this school year.
The labs will introduce students in grades six through eight to careers connected to programs already available through the Grant County High School Career and Technical Education pathways. By beginning that exploration in middle school, students can make more informed decisions about the courses, pathways, and opportunities they may want to pursue in high school and beyond.
The Grant County Schools Education Foundation was an integral partner in bringing this project to life. The Foundation provided $115,000 to fund the 16 labs, accompanying furniture, and curriculum.
“We greatly appreciate the Education Foundation’s dedication to supporting the students of Grant County Schools,” GCMS Principal Mariruth Morris said. “This investment will give our students meaningful opportunities to discover their interests, recognize their strengths, and begin imagining what their futures could look like.”
From an Idea to an Opportunity
Morris first learned about the Paxton/Patterson career labs during a principals meeting last fall. After hearing another principal discuss the program, she began researching how the labs could benefit GCMS students.
Paxton/Patterson offers 35 career exploration modules at the middle school level. Choosing the 16 modules for GCMS was a collaborative effort involving Morris, Superintendent Todd Moody, and GCMS teacher Mrs. Bick. The team considered the interests of students, the workforce needs of the community, and the career pathways currently available at Grant County High School.
The career labs selected for GCMS include:
Medical Imaging
Mental Health
Emergency Medical Technician
Nursing
Home Maintenance Systems
Welding Basics
Introduction to Engineering and Design
Materials Processing and Design
Veterinary Medicine
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Energy and Power
Transportation Maintenance
Design and Marketing
Digital Audio Production
Child Care
Cosmetology and Barbering
Each lab provides an early introduction to a potential career field. Medical Imaging, Mental Health, EMT, and Nursing connect to the high school’s Biomedical and Health Sciences pathways. Home Maintenance Systems and Welding Basics introduce skills related to the Electrical and Welding pathways, while Introduction to Engineering and Design and Materials Processing and Design support the Engineering program.
Veterinary Medicine connects to the Agriculture pathway, and Introduction to Culinary Arts provides a foundation for the high school’s Culinary pathway. Energy and Power and Transportation Maintenance introduce careers related to the Automotive pathway. Design and Marketing and Digital Audio Production connect to opportunities in the Information Technology and Business pathways, while Child Care introduces students to the Early Childhood Education pathway.
Career Exploration Based on Student Interests
The new course will be offered in nine-week sessions, following the middle school’s quarterly schedule. Students are expected to complete two or three career labs during each nine-week period and may have opportunities to take the course during multiple quarters.
Before beginning, students will complete an interest survey. Staff will use the results to prioritize each student’s preferred career areas as much as possible.
All 16 labs will be housed in one large classroom and will operate simultaneously. Students will work both independently and collaboratively as they complete hands-on activities within their selected modules.
Because the labs include careers requiring college degrees as well as skilled trades, GCMS leaders believe the program can benefit every type of learner.
“There is not one specific profile of a student who will benefit from this experience,” Morris said. “Whether a student plans to attend college or enter a trade, there are opportunities for them to explore.”
The district’s goal is not simply to help students choose a job. It is to help them discover possibilities.
“We want students to learn about opportunities they can pursue throughout high school and into their adult lives,” Morris said. “We hope every student finds something that interests them—and possibly something that ignites a passion within them and allows them to give back to their community.”
Looking Toward the Future
As the program grows, GCMS hopes to expand the career exploration opportunities available to students. Future additions could include Digital Video Production, Criminalistics, Home Fundamentals, Electrical, Computer Graphics and Game Development, Sports Medicine, and HVAC.
Several of these potential modules would create additional connections to pathways already offered at Grant County High School, strengthening the progression from early career exploration to specialized learning and future employment.
Through the generosity of the Grant County Schools Education Foundation and the collaboration of district and school leaders, GCMS students will now be able to explore careers, develop practical skills, and begin building a clearer vision for their futures—all before entering high school.
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