Students at the West Central Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Moorhead, MN, are using Compass to explore possible careers for their futures and learn about real employers.
But the online platform is giving them so much more.
Enrolled in West Central Academy (WCA), a Moorhead Area Public Schools-taught school at the detention center, the students are using Compass in their life skills class with teacher Kay Unruh. They are learning about career paths and postsecondary education options, alongside how to apply for a car loan, responsibly use a credit card, and stand out in a job interview.
Unruh says Compass provides students with solid options for their futures, allowing them to picture themselves in a career and what it would take to get there.
“Compass helps them see that there is a future for them, that there are employers willing to work with them. There is a fresh start for them. They can achieve and be successful. Their past doesn’t define them.”
– Kay Unruh, West Central Academy teacher
She lights up when sharing the story of Liam (not his real name), one of her students who recently left the center. He was very motivated and inspired by Compass, using it to find careers and employers where he lived, she says.
“At his last meeting, with his team and family, he was talking all about it,” Unruh says. “He said my class was his favorite because he could take what he learned with him.”
Tying everything together – for students and teachers
WCA began using Compass last fall when Moorhead Area Public Schools signed on with the program. Unruh incorporates it into three of her life-skills classes: two for students in the center’s treatment program and one for students in Community Living Independent Programming and Skills (CLIPS).
All three classes walk through how to create a student profile, browse Career Profiles to look at careers that match their skills, and explore regional employers and postsecondary schools.
Unruh uses Compass alongside classroom visits from school and business professionals, as well as class discussions about career goals, school applications, and next steps. She uses the Compass lesson plans to save time and get the most out of the platform.
“Instead of piecing together things for each of my students, Compass does it all for me,” Unruh says.
It does the same for her students.
This spring, two students in the treatment center shared how they enjoyed learning about careers in Compass, including finding nursing Career Profiles. They liked exploring careers they were already interested in, as well as learning about new-to-them roles. They said they would love to see more careers in Compass and want to keep using it.
“Compass ties everything together for them so they can see it. It brings the real world to them, and they pay attention,” Unruh says. “They are curious about how much schooling is required for each career. Some want to go to college, but a lot are interested in the trades. I’m really supportive of all of it.”
Staying flexible to meet student needs
Teaching justice-involved students requires more flexibility than in standard classrooms – and the same goes for Compass. Students come and go quickly from the center, joining their classes partway through the school year and often leaving before it’s over.
With the assistance of a para, Unruh can get new students caught up on her most recent lessons and started in Compass. They can work at their own pace in Compass, complete as much of their student profile as works for them, and explore from there.
The focus at WCA is to support students in completing their education and developing good life skills.
Compass helps.
“Even if I can just get a couple of kids finding careers and employers, it’s amazing,” says Unruh.
Offering support, encouragement, and hope
Liam left WCA feeling happy and hopeful for his future career. He is such a good example of what Compass can do for a justice-involved student, Unruh says.
“He was so excited to find careers and employers,” she says. “He talked about it so much. He really needed this.”
Unruh encourages employers to stay open to working with justice-involved students. That could look like speaking to a class at a detention facility, offering work-based learning experiences like internships, or even checking the box in the Compass employer profile to indicate willingness to work with justice-involved students.
“Give them a chance,” she says. “They are students who need someone to believe in them and be supportive. They might even work extra hard to prove themselves.”
Contact Golden Path Solutions for more information about how to connect with justice-involved students through your Compass employer profile.