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By Mary Nagle & Charlene Gomez
In Maryland, a successful partnership
between Frederick County Workforce Services and Frederick
County Public Schools Career & Technology Center helps
high school students articulate their dependable strengths.
This year (2006), the Dependable Strengths Articulation Process
(DSAP) was piloted in Frederick County Public Schools at the
Frederick County Career & Technology Center with the support
of Frederick County Workforce Services Director, Laurie Holden;
the School System’s Supervisors of Career & Technology
Education, David Miller and Charlene Bonham; Frederick County
Career & Technology Center’s School Administration:
Earl Miller, Greg Solberg, Jeff Wood, Kristen Daly, Berger
Anderson, and Martha Lowry. During this school year Charlene
Gomez implemented the Dependable Strengths Articulation High
School software program, successfully serving five programs
(HVAC, Marketing, Masonry, Computer Technology, and Consumer
Education) reaching 66 students.
During the week of March 20th, Charlene Gomez and Mary Nagle
introduced the Dependable Strengths Articulation Process to
the Marketing Program and 10 students completed 10 hours of
combined instruction of the Dependable Strengths Articulation
Software and portions of the adult curriculum.
The reaction of the students was above and beyond expectations.
A few of their comments:
“It helped me a lot with understanding
about the skills I have to offer and we did a lot of fun
interacting activities. It helped me also realize what kind
of person I am. This program benefited me for future jobs
and just with my overall confidence.”
“I learned important skills
that I require to compete in organizations and things that
make me happy. I have learned what I’m good at and
what makes me happy. I might have even got a job just from
the interview part. Thank you very much!”
“I would say I participated
in class discussions and activities that showed me my true
dependable strengths. This helped me to know how to interview
better for a job.”
“I learned how to illustrate
my strengths to others.”
I learned what strengths are important
rather than all of the strengths that I have.”
“I thought the software was
really helpful, and fun to work with after writing out activities
first. I will now know how to network effectively.”
“I would say that it was a life
changing experience. It will help me in the future for the
rest of my life. I never thought about my Dependable Strengths,
I just thought of all my strengths.”
Charlene and Mary plan to share this information and encourage
other Frederick County Public School staff to attend the DSAP
5-Day Facilitator Training to be held this summer, sponsored
by the East Coast Center for Dependable Strengths and the
Maryland Institute for Employment and Training. In addition,
Charlene expects to increase the number of programs and students
served at the Career & Technology Center in the next school
year.
For more information on Dependable Strengths on the East
Coast, contact Anne Scholl-Fiedler: email aefiedler@netstorm.net;
phone 301-829-7418. Anne is the Director of the East Coast
Regional Center for Dependable Strengths, Libertytown, Maryland.
Mary Nagle, a DSAP Facilitator, is Assistant
Director, Frederick County Workforce Services, Frederick,
Maryland. Charlene Gomez is the School to Careers Facilitator,
Frederick County Workforce Services.
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