Junior Achievement of North Florida’s JA Inspire virtual career exploration program will now be taught to all eighth-grade students in Duval County public schools. The program was launched to more than 7,000 students who will be introduced to career opportunities that have high growth and earning potential in Northeast Florida.
Students will be introduced to the education path to those careers before they begin their high school coursework.
JA Inspire began as a pilot program in the Duval County Public Schools Career and Technical Education Department in January and was delivered to more than 1,600 students. The Duval County school district decided to adopt the program and launch it to the entire eighth-grade student population.
Students will be given a digital career workbook that includes a personality quiz to help them find a career that suits their talents and values. They will participate in five in-class JA Inspire sessions led by their teachers. After completion, they will move on to the virtual career expo where they can participate in webinars along with other students.
The students can visit virtual exhibition halls focused on eight industry categories, known as career clusters. Those career clusters include arts and creative; business administration, finance and marketing; education and student resources; health and biomedical; human services, hospitality, tourism and sports; law, government, public safety, corrections and security; STEM; and transportation, logistics, construction and manufacturing.
Following the expo, students will take part in a sixth session focused on their future career plans and the classes they should focus on to achieve their goals.
JA of North Florida has plans to open up the program to all Duval County 11th graders next spring.
