District-Wide Initiative Helps EMSISD Students Prepare for Future Careers

Educating students beyond the classroom has expanded dramatically since the Eagle Mountain Saginaw Independent School District launched the College, Career, Military Readiness department in the 2018-2019 school year.

Each district high school employs professionals who provide students and parents with the tools they need to determine and reach post-graduation goals.

“If that’s the college route, we want to make sure they have all the prereqs to apply and be competitive,” said John Fahey, the new district director of CCMR and advanced academics. “If they go into a career route, there are certifications and career pathways we want them to accomplish so they can already go out and get a job. And the military is self-explanatory. They would pass the ASVAB (test), get with a recruiter, and enlist.”

Fahey said beginning to learn this knowledge happens in middle school.

“Our biggest goal for each kid is to give them that competitive advantage so that when they are walking into the workforce or applying to colleges, they’ve already got a leg up,” he said. “And it gives parents peace of mind that it’s here at EMS for those opportunities.”

Saginaw High School seniors Jonathan Almodovar and Brian Orth have directly benefitted from CCMR through the Hollenstein Career and Technology Center. Almodovar wants to be an automobile mechanic and Orth an airframe and powerplant mechanic. Almodovar already has practical experience doing simple maintenance at Moritz Kia while Orth washes airplanes at Fort Worth Meacham Airport.

“I want to work at a dealership to gain experience and open up a shop with my brother (Ramiro),” said Almodovar, who won the national Skills USA maintenance and light repair division in June in Atlanta. “It has helped me gain my knowledge.”

“I started on the same path as Jonathan,” Orth added. “But my dad (Brian) was an aircraft mechanic in the Navy for 20 years, and so that kind of got me into it more. Planes are more fun to work on in my opinion.”

Both have saved money by taking needed classes and earning required certifications for free. For example, Orth will graduate with 40 college credits towards an associate degree.

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to figure out and plan early on and start thinking ‘what do I want to do’ because May of senior year is too late,” said Cathy Bradshaw, campus career readiness specialist for the 2,250-student Saginaw High School.