January 28, 2025

School Spotlight: Carpinteria High School Models the Success of the Career Choices Program

During a recent meeting with Assistant Principal Jeremiah Sobenes and Kevin Dolan, Carpinteria High School's lead program teacher, Kevin elaborated on the impact of the Career Choices series curriculum.

"One of the things that I think that they get excited about is just kind of giving them a purpose of figuring out why they're taking the classes that they're supposed to be taking, where they want to go, what they want to do,” said Kevin Dolan. “So, I think it gives them a little bit more buy-in.”

When discussing the impact of the program, it was revealed that the process has become seamless in allowing approximately 90% of the freshmen taking this course to receive dual enrollment credit through Santa Barbara City College. 

Since Carpinteria began utilizing Get Focused Stay Focused in 2009, they’ve won 10 Career Choices Medals, and their graduation rate has consistently grown while hovering above the state average.

Join the Career Choices Medal Program: Recognizing Educators Who Shape the Future

All educators who implement the curriculum and are dedicated to professional growth, student success, and making a positive impact in their community, are encouraged to apply and join Carpinteria as a stellar program. 

The Career Choices Medal honors those who are committed to shaping the future of education and inspiring the next generation of learners. Interviews for this year’s cohort are already underway, and we look forward to hearing from passionate educators who are driving change. Join us and share your story of success and impact; your experiences could inspire others and help pave the way for future innovations in education.

Professional Development Catered to Your Needs

We offer customized professional development designed to support the successful implementation of the Career Choices series curriculum as part of your Get Focused Stay Focused program. 

Our goal is to ensure that you and your team feel confident and prepared to effectively engage students and maximize the impact of the curriculum.

With time constraints in mind, we’ve developed a wide range of professional development options. Whether you prefer in-person workshops, virtual training sessions, or self-paced resources, we’ve tailored our offerings to accommodate diverse needs and schedules.

We'll be at the following conferences and meetings:

If you are planning on presenting your program at the Dual Enrollment Equity Conference or the Educating for Careers Conference, contact Monica Carmo at monica.carmo@academicinnovations.com. We’d love to help.

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