Career exploration in BVSD: How students are dreaming big early

4 min read

Walk the halls of a Boulder Valley elementary school during their Dare to Dream week, and you’ll find a flurry of action and excitement. A parent in a lab coat demonstrates how to use a microscope. Kids wriggle excitedly in their seats, their hands flying into the air to play a guessing game — which mystery resume belongs to their favorite teacher?

These moments are more than just a fun break from the usual school day routine; they’re bridges to kids’ futures. With funding from Impact on Education, the nonprofit supporting the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), “Dream” programming is rolling out across the district — inspiring youngsters from pre-K to eighth grade to explore professional possibilities.

Students at Mesa Elementary learning how to examine a leaf under a microscope from a local parent and botanist 

Bringing the “real-world” to the classroom

At both the middle and elementary levels, participating schools bring in local speakers from a wide range of fields, from science and technology to the arts. So far this spring semester, more than 100 guest speakers have participated — bringing the local community directly into the classroom. That included an anthropologist, a botanist, a marketer, an architect, and an aerospace engineer, just to name a few, sharing their professional journeys with students.

Louisville Middle School students getting an ambulance tour and learning what it’s like to work in the field of emergency medicine

“Just speaking from getting to see kids in the room…. they’re super dialed in and excited about interacting with these presenters,” said Zoe White, a seventh-grade teacher at Louisville Middle.

“This gives them a really natural connection for them to be able to see, there are all of these paths you can take, but having foundational skills in order to get there is really important.”

While elementary students get early exposure to different careers, middle schoolers begin to connect what they are learning in school with their immediate futures. Middle school Discover Your Dream career days are timed perfectly for eighth-graders, who are currently picking their high school electives.

“I think so often, especially with middle schoolers, we [hear students say], ‘oh, we’re doing this because we’re in school and we have to do it,’” said Zoe. “This gives them a really natural connection for them to be able to see, there are all of these paths you can take, but having foundational skills in order to get there is really important.”

Louisville Middle School students posing for a photo outside the ambulance they toured

Playing with purpose

While the younger students focus on what they can become, older students dig into the details of how they’ll navigate adulthood. For middle schoolers, this can include a life-like simulation game. Students are assigned an income, a career, and a family. They play out different scenarios — weighing complex financial decisions, such as car payments versus cell phone plans.

And just like in real life, they’re thrown curveballs. 

Investing in kids’ dreams

The magic of this program is clear, but ensuring it reaches every student — not just a lucky few — requires a sustainable system. Despite broad buy-in, securing a dedicated budget proved challenging this year. 

That’s when Impact on Education stepped in, committing up to $20,000 to cover the majority of the costs and keep the elementary and middle school Dream programs going strong.

“Funding is critical,” shared Lynette Welk, BVSD’s director of career and technical education. “This program wouldn’t happen without it. We can’t just rely on one passionate person at a school — we must build systems that allow all students to have access to these opportunities.”

Most career days depend on one passionate parent or educator to lead the charge. The goal is to move past that model and make career exploration a district-wide standard. 

“Funding is critical. This program wouldn’t happen without it. We can’t just rely on one passionate person at a school — we must build systems that allow all students to have access to these opportunities.”

Most of Impact on Education’s investment supports supply kits for each school — printing lesson plans, ordering books, and providing the games that bring learning to life. The curriculum is packaged at the district level, making it easier for schools to manage without as many logistical headaches. Educators and schools can adapt lessons as needed, but they have a framework to guide them. This approach provides a scalable formula for career education that improves access and opportunity for students across the district.

More schools, more dreams

The Dream programming began as the brainchild of Jessica Seevers, the principal of Flatirons Elementary. What started as a two-school pilot in the 2023-24 school year, has expanded rapidly with funding from Impact on Education. Last year, the program grew to 11 elementary schools and a few middle schools.

Increased funding this year is propelling that growth even further.

Flatirons Elementary kicking off their Dare to Dream week with an assembly led by Principal Jessica Seevers

This school year, 10 elementary and four middle schools have hosted events, with 20 more elementary schools planning to participate in the coming months. The goal is to expand early career exploration district-wide.

“We don’t want students to have career exploration by chance because one teacher planned guest speakers or career experiences,” explained Lynette. “We must be diligent in creating the landscape where all students get career exploration on purpose — in each and every one of our buildings.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent nonprofit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

This first-gen grad found her way. Now she helps BVSD students find theirs.

3 min read

At 16, Katelyn Cano was sitting at her best friend’s kitchen table, asking his mom how college worked. Katelyn was the first in her family to graduate from high school and the first to go to college. The ambition was there, but her path wasn’t clear.

“I always knew college was in my future,” she said. “But I didn’t know how to do something different. Thankfully, I had help.”

Preparing students for college and career

The Career Readiness Academy (CRA) is Impact on Education’s 10-week after-school program for students at Boulder, Centaurus and Broomfield High Schools. It helps Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) students build confidence and develop professional skills that will serve them after graduation. Through workshops on job applications, resume writing, creating LinkedIn profiles, and more, students learn to prepare for the workforce and advocate for their own success. Participants also receive a stipend, helping make the program accessible to all.

Katelyn volunteers with CRA at Broomfield High School, leading mock interviews and offering guidance on resumes and cover letters. For her, it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.

Katelyn sharing her professional experience and answering questions from Broomfield High School students during one of CRA’s “Pizza with a Professional” workshops

“I noticed many students start the program unsure and without access to the tools or confidence they need, and they finish with real, tangible outcomes, including how to show up professionally. I’ve watched students grow from hesitant to genuinely proud, and seeing that transformation, both in skills and confidence, is incredibly meaningful.”

“I’ve watched students grow from hesitant to genuinely proud, and seeing that transformation, both in skills and confidence, is incredibly meaningful.”

Volunteering with CRA lets Katelyn give back the knowledge and experience that changed her life. She’s also published a book of advice for first-generation college students. “There’s always someone ahead of you and always someone behind,” she said. “We all have information to share, even if we don’t think we do.”

Impact snapshot: Increasing student confidence

As students build new skills, they also gain confidence. Before last year’s program, only 19% of participants reported feeling very confident adapting their resume for a job or opportunity. After completing the program, that number rose to 67%. 

Rate your confidence level…

2024-25 CRA participants were asked to respond to surveys before and after CRA, assessing their confidence and skills in different areas of college and career readiness. 69 out of 100 students responded.

Investing in student success 

“It’s not just about one program or one kind of help… Impact on Education really shows up for students at every stage.”

Katelyn first connected with Impact on Education after moving to Colorado and searching for a local education nonprofit to support. What stood out to her then — and still does — is how the organization delivers support with dignity. Now, she’s now a proud volunteer and donor.

“It’s not just about one program or one kind of help. It’s the whole picture. It’s crayons and calculators, it’s scholarships and mental health support. Impact on Education really shows up for students at every stage.”

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent nonprofit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

How one class propelled two talented alums to success

Access to career training and dedicated teachers made all the difference

When acing math tests, memorizing facts, or finishing assigned reading material feels like a serious slog, having one class that you look forward to can be transformational. That certainly was the case for Bill Uttich, a Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) alum who found himself in an automotive collision repair course at Apex (formerly Boulder TEC). 

That one class launched his career, gave him a new sense of accomplishment, and brought him back to the exact same place it all started: an auto shop classroom at Apex.

Surrounded by the hiss of welding torches and the smell of metal, Bill has been working for almost three decades on the Apex campus, teaching the same class that inspired him. For a self-described “average” student who generally felt bored by school, automotive collision repair tapped into a creative side that was calling him. 

Left: Bill smiling on a snowy day; Right: Bill teaching a group of students

Bill hasn’t looked back since, saying, “It changed my life, completely.”

The subject matter interested him, but what really made all the difference was an incredible teacher who saw something special in him. Now, he’s paying it forward as an award-winning educator. Bill, a 2022 Impact on Education Impact Award winner, uses the same kind of mentorship skills he benefited from with his own students, like recent alum Peter Martinez. 

The ripple effect of inspiration

When Peter, a Monarch High alum, transferred into Bill’s automotive collision repair class, he wasn’t happy with his high school experience. And it was hard to envision his future. Even graduating on time didn’t feel like a guarantee. 

“I really didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I didn’t want to go into college debt,” said Peter.

Moving from South Africa a year before high school, adjusting to a new curriculum in the U.S., making new friends, and even just feeling like Monarch High was the right fit for him was a struggle. That’s why he applied to join Apex: it was a chance to try something new. When he found automotive collision repair, things started to shift.

“I had no clue what I really wanted to do until I met Bill. And then Bill easily put me on the track that I’ll be happy to be [on] for the rest of my life,” said Peter.

Uninterested in most of his other classes, collision repair was different. He looked forward to it, showing up on time and sometimes even early. His confidence quickly grew as he realized — this was something he was really good at.

“I had no clue what I really wanted to do until I met Bill. And then Bill easily put me on the track that I’ll be happy to be [on] for the rest of my life,” said Peter.

Peter (on the right) and his classmate (on the left) with their I-CAR certifications

Today, Peter is a paintless dent repair technician at an auto repair shop in Boulder, a job he started as an intern during his senior year of high school, work he says he looks forward to. 

One of his favorite aspects about the job is being able to make someone’s day with his unique skillset. 

“It’s like a big ol’ nasty scratch that they thought they’d never be able to get out. But you make it completely gone. And then the look on their faces; they’re so happy. And that makes you feel good.”

Success stories like Peter’s and Bill’s prove that career training programs change students’ lives. But for too many talented teens in BVSD, financial circumstances stand between them and these important opportunities. That is why Impact on Education, the foundation for Boulder Valley schools, partners with BVSD to help remove financial barriers and ensure every student who wants a technical education gets the chance to experience it.

Access to professional training for every student

For some students, a life-changing class like automotive collision repair might be out of reach without support from community partners. Impact on Education covers course fees for students enrolling in Apex who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.

“With [Impact on Education] and my department trying to help some of these kids… I think it just allows them to feel a little bit more connected to the class, to feel a little bit more welcome,” said Bill.

Last year, Impact on Education awarded 1,055 high school students with fee waivers for college and career opportunities. That included 119 students at Apex. For a class like automotive collision repair, the waiver covered supplies like personal protective gear, a shop shirt, I-CAR registration, and consumable goods.

“With [Impact on Education] and my department trying to help some of these kids, either financially or, even sometimes clothing or things like that, I think it just allows them to feel a little bit more connected to the class, to feel a little bit more welcome,” said Bill.

Like school districts across Colorado, BVSD faces funding shortfalls after more than a decade of chronic underfunding. Partnering with Impact on Education to help fill in funding gaps allows the district to continue offering opportunities that help every student grow — so that financial challenges don’t get in the way of student opportunity or their sense of belonging.

A path to graduation and a meaningful career

Left: Peter and Bill with a class of students in the shop; Right: Peter welding

Career training in high school encourages teens to uncover hidden talents, gain new skills, and envision new possibilities for themselves after graduation. There are short-term benefits too: academic growth.

“Over the years, I’ve had a lot of [students] say that if it wasn’t for this class, I probably wouldn’t have made it through my academics,” said Bill. “I said, I can really relate because I was the same way.”

Access to technical education in high school helped Peter and Bill achieve both academic and career milestones. They learned how to operate as professionals and the fundamentals of what it takes to make it in their industry, with skills ranging from welding to dent repair to buffing and polishing.

“Over the years, I’ve had a lot of [students] say that if it wasn’t for this class, I probably wouldn’t have made it through my academics,” said Bill. “I said, I can really relate because I was the same way.”

Practicing their skills in a lower-stakes professional environment prepared them for success.

“I tell [my students], I’m your teacher, but I’m also your boss, because we do customer work in here,” said Bill.

There are other students as talented and hardworking as Bill and Peter who are eager to discover their passion. They just haven’t had the right opportunity, yet. 

You can support a student’s future so they can become the next Bill or Peter — sharing their talents, skills, and passion with our community. 

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent nonprofit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?

Premier Members Credit Union is passionate about supporting education in our community. Growing from a small financial institution serving teachers in the Boulder Valley School District, to one that serves tens of thousands of members throughout Colorado and nationwide, they recognize the importance of financial literacy and responsibility as a critical educational tool.

Bringing banking to high schools

In 2009, PMCU partnered with Boulder High School to open the Panther Student Credit Union. Their partnership offered unique and valuable hands-on learning experiences for students to dip their toes into the world of finance and business. After the initial success of the Panther Student Credit Union, Premier Members created similar programs in three other high schools in the Boulder Valley School District. In 2010, Fairview High School launched the Knight Student Credit Union, and Monarch High School launched the Coyote Student Credit Union, while Centaurus High School opened the Warrior Student Credit Union in 2011. Each of these credit unions are primarily student run with oversight from Premier Members’ team members.

The student experience

High school students are recruited in the spring to work at their school’s respective credit union for the following academic year. After completing two training sessions at a Premier Members branch during the summer, students are equipped with the skills needed to run their school’s credit union. Each student receives similar training to the professional tellers in Premier Members’ branches.

“Promoting financial literacy, and operating the high school branches exemplifies Premier Members’ commitment to building lasting relationships that strengthen the communities that we serve. Providing educational opportunities and supporting the financial literacy of our youth is a staple of the “Premier” experience.”

Susan Finesilver, AVP Community Relations at Premier Members Credit Union

While school is in session full-time, students working at their school branches are well-equipped to independently operate the credit union. Students are responsible for setting up daily, managing the cash box, helping members and prospective members with their accounts, and working with confidential information. Student interns receive both an hourly wage and elective business credits throughout the school year.

Real-world financial skills

Each student working at a student credit union engages with real-world personal finance situations during their high school experience, allowing them to build financial literacy in a safe and structured environment.

All student members develop money management skills and come to understand the importance of saving for the future. They gain experience managing their own debit card and checking account and finding appropriate ways to establish and maintain good credit for future use. Not only do student interns successfully learn financial management skills, they experience committing to a position for an extended period of time. The students get to experience being professional and working with a business in a structured and secure environment. They develop unique cash handling skills as they deposit money into different accounts with larger transactions while keeping member information confidential. In addition to the cash handling skills, students learn and use other bank teller skills, as well.

“The student interns are learning critical skills that are applicable to anyone, not just those interested in finance.”

Steve Carr, Student Branch Liaison at Premier Members Credit Union

This is a rigorous program that both requires and instills student commitment and responsibility. Students leave the program with a toolkit full of self-initiative, responsibility, and critical financial and business skills. While it is not required, students often stay with the credit union until they graduate, and train younger students for their position.

The next step for Premier Members’ student credit unions

When schools shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, the four student-run credit unions were forced to temporarily close as well. Premier Members is exploring ways to relaunch the program amidst our new high school environments.

Last year, we kicked off a partnership with Couragion, a locally owned software company working to inspire underrepresented students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. This women-led company uses an online platform to provide inclusive, work-based learning experiences that introduce students to jobs of the future.

The Couragion pilot program

We proposed a pilot program to the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) to implement Couragion in order to meet the district’s career and technical objectives. Our goal was to see if this new software could more precisely align with these objectives than the Career Pathways program, an in-house mentorship program helping elementary students explore careers. Working with Arlie Huffman, Director of CTE Education for BVSD, and Katie Romero, Director of Student Support for BVSD, we were able to launch the program in the fall of 2020.

Who participated in the pilot

We targeted five BVSD middle schools for the Couragion pilot program to reach a cross-section of schools representing various geographies, academic environments, and socioeconomic demographics. Their school counselors received training in September 2020, and then their students received access to the platform for eight weeks. 

4,580 career “quests” were completed by students throughout the program, with each student completing an average of 4.1 quests. 

• Participation rates ranged from 29-39% with 6th graders using the software the most
• Female students participated at a higher rate (49%) than male students (46%)
• 33% of students participants were students of color (a population that comprises 19.8% of the overall BVSD student population)

Initial findings

Students were surveyed each time they used Couragion, and the program showed an increased knowledge of STEM careers and school resources. The pilot results include:

• 14% increase in course registration knowledge related to the student’s interested career path
• 2-7% increase in students’ intent to pursue a STEM career
• 42% of students intended to sign up for a STEM-related course or activity
• 78% of students planned to work harder in their STEM courses

Lessons learned

The student participants demonstrated self-awareness, critical thinking and a broadened knowledge of career possibilities:

• “I love designing things, and I never thought there was a job like this.”
  female, student of color, grade 7, graphic designer
  
  
• “I just don’t really want to be in the engineer part. I want to lean more towards the doctor and medical side.”
  female, white, grade 8, cancer researcher
  
  
• “I think it would be fun to make new flavors, but having to do the paper work and determining if the product was good would be hard.”
  male, white, grade 7, food scientist
  
  
• “I love jobs that have to do with facts, statistics and math. I don’t mind taking lots of hard classes, as long as it pays off in the future. I love flexible hours and it sounds great to have lunch/meet up with my clients!”
  female, white, grade 7, financial advisor
  
  
• “I think this quest was not for me. I do not like to be on the screen especially because this quest is being on the computer for 10 hours plus. I can barely do it for the whole school day.”
  female, student of color, grade 7, cyber security manager
  
  
• “My head is already bursting with ideas!”
  male, student of color, grade 6, game developer

Some students also focused on a specific career goal:

• “A few of my career goals are to travel the world and see new cultures, people, and food. Another one is to have a flexible time schedule. My main career goal is to have a job within the skincare/medical industry including doing research.”
  female, student of color, grade 8
  
  
• “I would like to be an architect when I grow up. And if I am that when I grow up, I will have to get better at my math.”
  male, student of color, grade 7

What’s Next

The goals of this pilot program extend beyond career exposure to impact on course selection and the perception of how STEM classes can lead to careers. With our partners at BVSD, we are now evaluating next steps to determine if we should continue to offer Couragion to BVSD middle schoolers in the 21-22 school year and how we might deploy it most successfully in the future.

Connect with Us