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Career Center Helps Students Find a First Job, College, and Career
Down
the hall from the counseling center at North Tonawanda High School is a
room dedicated to helping high school students answer the age-old
question of “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
With its
bank of computers and library of print resources, the career center
offers students a dedicated space to do online and print research about
colleges, majors, job opportunities and careers.
“The career center is almost like the library of the counseling center,” said Lori Graves, career center director.
Under the direction of the counseling center, the career center offers students the opportunity to research careers, colleges and scholarships.
When career center director Marion Maziarz retired in January, Mrs. Graves left her teacher aide position to become the new director. Except for a three-year span when she earned her degree, Mrs. Graves has worked for the district as an aide and in the community education program since 1998.
“Mrs. Graves is so energetic. Since she has worked in the school district, she was able to step right into this role. She’s absolutely amazing,” said Melissa Giles, high school counselor and department coordinator.
The career center’s calendar fills up quickly with career and college guest speakers who visit to give practical advice to students. The speakers are chosen based on a career survey that all high school students take each fall. Mrs. Graves uses the survey results to tabulate the most popular job choices listed and then arranges for a speaker on those topics.
She also works with college admission offices to have them visit the school.
Having guest speakers and college admission officials at school is ideal, but students can find it hard to fit one more thing into their busy schedules. Mrs. Graves tries to schedule some presentations during the lunch periods from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.
She also works with various teachers to bring the guest speakers into a class.
In the hallway outside the career center, brightly colored signs will announce upcoming sessions. Students can also sign up for Remind101 notifications and sessions are announced in the mornings.
“We are trying to get more students down to use the resources for college preparation and job opportunities,” said Mrs. Graves, adding that she plans to offer group sessions for students in the fall and winter next school year.

“The career center is almost like the library of the counseling center,” said Lori Graves, career center director.
Under the direction of the counseling center, the career center offers students the opportunity to research careers, colleges and scholarships.
When career center director Marion Maziarz retired in January, Mrs. Graves left her teacher aide position to become the new director. Except for a three-year span when she earned her degree, Mrs. Graves has worked for the district as an aide and in the community education program since 1998.
“Mrs. Graves is so energetic. Since she has worked in the school district, she was able to step right into this role. She’s absolutely amazing,” said Melissa Giles, high school counselor and department coordinator.
The career center’s calendar fills up quickly with career and college guest speakers who visit to give practical advice to students. The speakers are chosen based on a career survey that all high school students take each fall. Mrs. Graves uses the survey results to tabulate the most popular job choices listed and then arranges for a speaker on those topics.
She also works with college admission offices to have them visit the school.
Having guest speakers and college admission officials at school is ideal, but students can find it hard to fit one more thing into their busy schedules. Mrs. Graves tries to schedule some presentations during the lunch periods from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.
She also works with various teachers to bring the guest speakers into a class.
In the hallway outside the career center, brightly colored signs will announce upcoming sessions. Students can also sign up for Remind101 notifications and sessions are announced in the mornings.
“We are trying to get more students down to use the resources for college preparation and job opportunities,” said Mrs. Graves, adding that she plans to offer group sessions for students in the fall and winter next school year.