Baltimore City Public Schools has launched a new initiative called “Career Ready Fridays” to connect professionals with students so they can learn about numerous high-paying careers.

Each month more than 100 students log into the program to learn about industries such as healthcare, IT, manufacturing, human resources, and transportation from experienced professionals. District officials believe the new program is aligning student interests to in-demand jobs that earn a living wage and serve as a steppingstone for the future.

During “Career Ready Fridays” with the Circuit Court of Baltimore, students from across the district tuned into a live stream tour of the courtroom of Judge Audrey Carrion, spoke with her clerk, and gained an understanding about career opportunities in courts and the law.

The district also hosts hands-on demonstrations from students who currently attend Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which enroll high school students in classes that put them on a path to an advanced career in select industries. The students in these programs talk to younger students about their experiences in CTE classrooms and share details about their studies and career plans.  

The students in these programs talk to younger students about their experiences in CTE classrooms and share details about their studies and career plans.  

For Matthew Jones, a 4th-grader at Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School, talking to the older students enrolled in CTE is a highlight: “I like hearing all the people talk about what they like to do, especially the students talking about what they want to be when they grow up. Now I know there are more than just doctors, police officers, or teachers. There are a lot of different careers I can pick.”

According to Albert Phillips, a work-based learning specialist with the Baltimore school district, distance learning was originally launched as a way to deliver career-focused content to students. “Luckily, professionals across the city stepped up to share their time and give students behind the scenes access to workplaces and job sites. Now, even with the return to in-person learning, it’s a hit. Teachers can give their students a virtual career field trip with a click.”