Above: A sign posted outside Twin Valley Elementary School lists their core values for their “Portrait of Student Success” initiative. The values will inform the P3 and TVES career exploration and readiness initiative.

Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s (BDCC) Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) and Twin Valley Elementary School will pilot an innovative initiative starting this fall: integrating career education content into the elementary grades.

This forward-thinking collaboration aims to spark curiosity, build confidence, and broaden the horizons of young students – helping them begin to imagine a world of possibilities long before they enter middle school. P3 currently works with Twin Valley Middle/High School through their credit-bearing career exploration and preparedness course, Pipelines and Pathways, as well collaborating on larger annual events including the Reality Fair (a financial lit. and practical life skills experience) and the Fearless Futures Fair that allows students to explore a wide variety of postsecondary pathways including direct-to-work, college, credential and certificate programs, apprenticeships, the military, entrepreneurship, and gap years. 

But career exploration should not be reserved only for high school students. Research and real-world experience shows that by then, many students have already formed limiting beliefs about what careers are possible or appropriate for them. Early exposure to a wide range of professions, pathways, and workplace skills helps dismantle stereotypes, ignites passions, fosters a sense of purpose, and connects learning to meaning.

Through this new program, BDCC and Twin Valley Elementary educators will co-develop and deliver age-appropriate activities that weave career education into core subjects and daily classroom life. Some of the key elements will include:

• Career Awareness Lessons: Introducing students to a variety of job sectors through stories, videos, and interactive discussions.
  
• Project-Based Learning: Hands-on projects that reflect real-world challenges and careers, such as designing a playground (engineering) or running a pretend business (entrepreneurship).
  
• Guest Speakers & Field Trips: Visits from local professionals and excursions to local businesses to give students a glimpse into the work being done in their own communities.
  
• Family and Alumni Engagement: Encouraging families and TVMHS grads to share their own career stories and participate in classroom activities, reinforcing the importance of career conversations at home.
  

This initiative aligns with BDCC’s long-standing mission to strengthen the regional economy by investing in workforce development. As part of the Pipelines and Pathways Program and the Southern Vermont Workforce Center of Excellence, this elementary-level program reflects a deepening commitment to long-term talent development. By reaching students earlier in their educational journey, BDCC and its partners hope to lay the groundwork for a more connected, capable, and resilient workforce in Southern Vermont.

About Pipelines & Pathways

BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides career education within the four southeastern Vermont public high schools and the Windham Regional Career Center. P3 helps students develop their personalized learning plans (PLP) by providing work-based learning experiences that increase their knowledge of career opportunities and achieve their postsecondary goals. Students develop soft skills, financial literacy, knowledge about economic sectors and skills that are in-demand through hands-on informational interviews, work-based learning, and mentorships. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the region’s workforce. For more information please visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/engaging-with-high-school-students/

P3 was originally launched as a five year pilot, thanks to historic investment from the Vermont Community Foundation and McClure Foundation, the Vermont Training Program, WCEDP Vermont Yankee closure funds, and municipal contributions to SeVEDS. In 2023, at the end of that pilot phase, P3 reached a major program milestone by commitments from the private sector. M&T Bank, whose support was matched by local employers G.S. Precision and C&S Wholesale Grocers joins funding partners McClure Foundation, the George W. Mergens Foundation, the Windham Regional Career Center, the West River Education District, and the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union, in supporting P3 across southeastern Vermont. Portions of the program also receive support through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) program of the Northern Border Regional Commission.