Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) hosted their annual Job For A Day program where juniors and seniors have the opportunity to visit local businesses and learn about their potential field of study. These students shadowed working professionals to learn about the responsibilities and tasks common in their career cluster. This year nearly 600 students participated in the program, a record number for LCPS.
Where Students Went
Students shadowed professionals across many industries, including medicine and health, communication, marketing, and local government. These students attended meetings, saw workspaces, and conversed with their hosts to learn about the overall “day in the life” for their desired industries.
Student Engagement
Over 800 students enrolled in the program, and almost 600 were recorded as having attended. The program illustrated to students what they might be doing in the working world. The school division's Profile of a Graduate: Contributing, Collaborating, Communicating, Critical Thinking, and Creating was demonstrated on every level, as students contributed their ideas to hosts, collaborated on real projects, communicated with hosts and the people they interact with, and used critical thinking skills. “I learned a lot at my Job for A Day experience,” said Sydney Sultanik, a senior at Freedom High School. “I visited the Department of Communications and Community Engagement here at LCPS. It was really fun to see the ins and outs of a day in communications, especially from the perspective of an aspiring journalist. I saw everything from zoom meetings to board meeting setups and even wrote a press release!”*
From the Superintendent
“We are incredibly proud of the success of our 'Job for a Day' program," said Dr. Aaron Spence, Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools. "This initiative not only opens students’ eyes to potential career paths but also helps them develop important workplace skills they will carry with them throughout their lives. The strong partnerships we have with local businesses make this program a powerful tool in preparing our students for future success."
What’s Next
LCPS hopes to engage with even more students next year, and is looking forward to collaborating with more businesses in the future.
* This story was written by Sydney Sultanik, a Freedom High School senior and Job For A Day attendee with the LCPS Department of Communications and Community Engagement.