Counselor and Parent Resources

Tech Prep offers students education and career options without eliminating choices. For most people, gainful employment is the goal of post-secondary or “higher” education while in reality “hire” education may be a better focus. The ultimate goal is for every student to be qualified to work, whether it is directly after high school, after completing an Associate Degree or a 4 year college degree. 80% of the jobs available by the year 2005 will require some sort of postsecondary training, but not necessarily a 4 year college degree. Per the Mid-Atlantic Guide to Information on Careers, developed by the Virginia Employment Commission, over the next 12 years occupations that require a Bachelor’s Degree will be 13 percent of the total employment. There are many ways to acquire post-secondary education. These include

  • Apprenticeships
  • On-the-Job Training
  • Area Technical Schools
  • Military Training
  • Community Colleges
  • 4-year colleges & universities
  • Graduate and professional schools

To assist students with career planning the Blue Ridge Tech Prep Consortium has provided one year rights for area Middle and Junior High School students to use the Kuder Career Planning System. This system is a comprehensive, research based approach to career awareness, exploration, planning and development. It is designed to be self-paced and self-interpreted, or presented as a traditional classroom experience with teacher/counselor support. Features of this system include:

  • Lifelong portfolio access for students
  • Interests, skills and work values inventories, each completed within 30 minutes.
  • Additional links to news groups, Occupational Outlook Handbook, college search engine, financial aid information, college majors chart and more.

Lester Smith, director of the consortium, has met with representatives from each of the middle and junior high schools to familiarize instructors with the system so that they may assist the students in this exciting career exploration. Students will be able to access their portfolio and the system from home through the internet, so they may keep their parents involved in this life long process. The Kuder website is www.kuder.com.

Contact Us:

Blue Ridge Tech Prep Consortium
Lester A. Smith, Director
Blue Ridge Community College
Box 80
Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486
(540) 453-2346
smithl@brcc.edu