As students return to classrooms this school year, Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD79) is continuing to expand opportunities that help them connect what they learn today with what they may pursue tomorrow.
From the moment children enter kindergarten—sometimes even before—they are asked one big question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For many young students, the answer comes from what they know: doctor, police officer, teacher, or President of the United States. But as students grow, so do their interests, talents, and understanding of the world around them.
Helping students explore those possibilities early is part of LESD79’s ongoing effort to build a K-8 Career Exploration program that connects classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
The initiative will introduce career awareness and experiences in grades K-5 and support the development of a middle school Career Exploration course, said LESD79 Director of Educational Technology Laura Combs. These efforts are designed to strengthen the Litchfield Learner profile by providing meaningful, career-connected experiences that build awareness, curiosity, and future readiness.
Research shows that early career exploration can motivate students and help them make more informed academic choices. In a survey of middle and high school students, participants said earlier exposure to careers could have helped them take a more strategic approach to high school and better prepare for life after graduation.
“It would have helped me create my schedule better in high school. I would have taken different math classes,” one student shared.
Elementary and middle school years are ideal for the implementation of a career exploration program because identity formation begins long before high school.
A Middle School Career Explorations Committee, comprised of LESD79 employees, partners at the Agua Fria Union High School District, JA Inspire, MyFuture AZ, the Center for the Future of Education, and the Arizona Business & Education Coalition, has developed a mission statement, priorities, and roadmap for the program.
The committee has also received statewide recognition and was invited to become a FutureME pilot site. Through this work, LESD79 will help test and strengthen career exploration practices that may support students across Arizona.
During the summer, the committee worked to create course content, professional development plans, and implementation plans for the school year. The goal is to expand the program to more classrooms within grades kindergarten through five and to add additional courses for students in grades six through eight.
For LESD79, career exploration is about more than asking students what they want to be when they grow up. It is about helping them discover who they are, what they are curious about, and how today’s learning can connect to tomorrow’s possibilities.
By investing in career exploration early, LESD79 is helping prepare students not only for high school and future careers, but also for the communities they will one day serve, support, and lead.