MARINETTE – Educators and business professionals gathered at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) in Marinette on Oct. 21 for the K12, Higher Education and Business/Industry Connections Event to discuss pathways between high school, higher education and local careers.
The event began with a panel discussion from Director of Operations at Lloyd Flanders Derek Butler, Marinette School District Teaching, Learning and Technology Director Sarah Anderson and Director of K12 Pathways and Rural Community Impact, Marinette Campus Dean Cindy Bailey.
The three panelists shared insights on how they have seen students move through education while pointing them towards an impactful career.
Anderson explained, “We want students to have direction when they leave us.”
She explained that many high school students do not have a thorough understanding of their local options or how their family’s financial situation can impact them. By offering classes that provide college credits, teach hands-on skills and focus on specific pathways, the district works to ready students for after school.
Butler echoed this, “Students should not be guessing, they should be making informed decisions.”
He referred to making informed decisions not only within careers, but during the preparation phases. This means that students should be selecting dual credit courses with an interesting pathway in mind instead of making random choices.
The Marinette School District offers a variety of career pathways in architecture and construction, advanced manufacturing, patient care, transportation distribution and logistics as well as a variety of business pathways. Additionally, the Peshtigo School District highlights their informational technology and advanced manufacturing pathways.
Bailey identified these as “elevated opportunities,” stating that “students who get on a pathway in high school are more prepared for the workforce.”
Bailey continued on these topics following the panel, speaking about NWTC updates and developing pathways to a more focused future.
While dual enrollment credits, students and cost savings to students have reached an all time high since being measured in 2015, collecting credits shouldn’t be the goal.
“Dual enrollment has been marketed as a way to earn credits and save money. Credit accumulation matters — but it is not the outcome students, families, employers or communities ultimately care about,” Bailey shared.
She highlighted the importance of framing dual enrollment as an entry point to college.
“[We can] help students see themselves not as high school students taking a college class, but as future college graduates already progressing toward a credential, transfer pathway or career destination,” she said.
For high school and NWTC Marinette educators, this means working with students to adopt a new mindset focused on selecting a pathway, taking credits to build momentum towards a certification or degree and moving directly into a desirable career.
Bailey explained, “Pathway-focused dual enrollment lets NWTC and our K12 partners intentionally align high school experiences with workforce needs, transfer opportunities and regional economic development priorities.”
“Students who see a clear pathway are more likely to enroll in college after high school; complete a credential or degree; persist through challenges because they understand the destination; and enter high-wage, high-demand careers with less debt and less time to completion.”
Students and families can reach out to their school district to learn more about available pathways or contact NWTC Marinette at (715) 735-9361 or marinette@nwtc.edu.
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