POLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL Career planning team honored

The winning program dealt with career development.
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Career Education Association recently honored Poland Middle School with the 2004 Outstanding Career Planning Team Award at its annual conference in Columbus.
The Ohio CEA sponsors the award to encourage and support outstanding leadership in career development.
The Poland Middle School team began an integrated cross-curriculum eighth-grade career project in 1983 that involved staff, pupils, parents, community members and the Mahoning County Career Development Program. The initial three-period career exploration event grew into a mini career exploration course, with a full middle school career day that became the tri-county model.
Members of the team include: Susan Cerni, counselor; Karen Russo, media specialist; Margeret Price, language arts teacher; Katie Hiznay, student council representatives; Karen Simko; PTA; Dr. John Daugherty, veterinarian, and Dr. Stephanie Dewer.
The team shared its knowledge and materials through professional staff development presentations at Northeast Ohio Education Association in-services, county counselor and library/media specialist meetings and regional PTA conferences.
The team also provided the setting as the pilot site for implementation of the Individual Career Plan through the Career Development program and was the first middle school in Mahoning County to pilot the Ohio Career Information System IntraNet program. Team members have also served as consultants in the development of the COIN Career Target Program.
Dr. Marie A. Pavlicko, supervisor of the Mahoning County Career Development Program, nominated the team for the award.