I'm a Student
Take action for your Future Self
So, if you are going to be at work for a lot of your life, why not choose a career that matches your talents, interests and aptitudes?
Welcome
to PPBEA
The Work-Based Learning MARKETPLACE!
This site has been built for students like you in middle school and high school to help you connect your personal talents, career interests and aptitudes to the world of work in the Pikes Peak region.
On this site, you will find hundreds of industry professionals and businesses, many represented by people you know, friends and neighbors and other adults in the community who are eager to help you learn about careers, ask questions about specific jobs, to get some training in jobs that your interested in and, possibly, to help you get hired after you complete your education!
Combining work-based learning with your chosen K-12 pathway or CTE curriculum will certainly help get you on a path to future career success!
Own Your Future
First complete your student profile including telling us your interests and aptitudes. And, if you know, tell us exactly what type of jobs or careers you would like to explore.
Explore your interests and aptitudes by completing a career assessment or interest survey. If you have, you are in great shape to get started! If you haven't, that's ok too!
Investigate occupations of interest by connecting with career representatives virtually or in-person to gain insight into that world of work.
Train in desired occupations of interest through internships and youth apprenticeships. Potential to earn completion compensation and elective course credit, check with your school
College
or Not?
Investment in your future is a big decision. Learn more about how your education prepares you for the real world of work.
A student's College/NO-College decision needs to be Informed & Supported by experiential Work-Based Learning & Solid Career Advising.
Carefully Considered Career Path
Informed Major or Training Program
Competency-Based Education Plan
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A misinformed college decision has expensive and enduring consequences for almost half of all students.
45%
$40k
33%
80%
Can a student's talents, interests and aptitudes fit into a high-demand, high reward occupation?
There are tremendous opportunities in this new economy for high school and college graduates that will lead to satisfying work and solid wages for our students.
We just need to have meaningful career conversations that encourage students to explore, investigate and train in occupations that are in high demand in our economy.
The7
HIGH DEMAND
OCCUPATIONS
One of the pillars of value provided by PPBEA is our focus on the top seven demand industry categories in our community.
By taking meaningful action together, we can help solve the chronic labor supply shortages so persistent in the Pikes Peak Region.
Nursing and related Healthcare Occupations
IT, Computer Science and Cybersecurity
Skilled Trades & Technical Sciences in Manufacturing and Construction
Education & Early Childhood Education
Culinary Arts & Hospitality Occupations
Business operations and Customer Service occupations
Arts, Design & Multimedia
How does a student know the right education path?
Work-based learning is helping K-12 education realign with the needs of our rapidly changing economic landscape.
Teachers begin this practice at the elementary level by inviting experts into their classrooms for presentations and taking groups of students on site visits to local businesses to learn about different occupations.
During the middle school years work-based learning practice encourages teachers to connect with business people from the industries in their community to mentor individual and groups of students for a particular subject or specific project.
As middle school students discover their areas of interest they can begin applying for opportunities to job shadow an expert in those occupations.
As students enter high school they will work with school-based career counselors and advisory staff to design pathways to their future occupational goals including connection points between secondary and post-secondary education.
This often includes selecting particular classes, participating in activities, and applying for internships.