An innovative program started at Dulles Middle School to guide students in career planning has proven so successful it is being used as a model at other schools in Fort Bend ISD.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE – A Dulles Middle School eighth-grader is shown taking the COIN Assessment. The program is designed to help students explore career options and select high school courses that will help them achieve their future goals.

The program involves an annual career day program, now in its eighth year, that makes students think more seriously about career options, as well as a PTO-sponsored software program that helps middle-schoolers assess their interests and learn about career options.

Dulles students recently completed the Coordinated Occupational and Information Network, or COIN, guidance program. COIN is a software program used by students nationwide to explore careers and select courses for high school.

The students answer a series of questions regarding career interests and choices and receive a personalized analysis of jobs that meet their criteria.  The program is capped by a day-long career day event.

This year’s Career Day at Dulles will take place this Friday. Students, dressed in business attire, attend group sessions to hear firsthand from various local professionals and representatives from the Fort Bend ISD high school academies, local community colleges and the Texas Scholars Program.

The keynote speaker at Dulles this year will be former Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace.  Wallace recently released a book, “One Nation Under Blog,” to educate children and their parents about personal safety on the Internet.

The career program has been so successful at Dulles, Fort Bend ISD has used it as a model to plant the program at other middle schools.  This year, Sartartia, Baines, Missouri City, Sugar Land, Lake Olympia, Missouri City, First Colony and Fort Settlement middle schools are also holding career day events.