Across Indiana, something powerful is happening in schools—not through mandates, but through the everyday work of teachers, counselors, and career coaches who are guiding students toward futures full of possibility.
This year, thanks to their leadership, persistence, and belief in what students can achieve, Career+ Pathways™ helped thousands of young people explore careers, make informed plans, and gain real-world experience. It wasn’t a one-time event or a short-term program. It was a coordinated, sustained effort—made possible by the people who know their students best.
Exploration Starts with Educators
With the support of classroom teachers and career coaches, students completed nearly 40,000 career exploration and discovery sessions —from interest inventories and career discovery sessions to interactive experiences to skills bootcamps that developed new skills and interests.
Educators integrated these resources into existing lessons. Career coaches facilitated group sessions and one-on-one guidance. Together, they gave students the space to reflect and the tools to explore.
Planning Gets Personal with Counselors and Coaches
More than 7,500 students built career plans this year—thanks to the powerful combination of student-driven tools, thoughtful curriculum, and dedicated guidance. Using the Career+ Pathways™ platform, students explored their interests, aligned them with real-world opportunities, and mapped out personalized plans. School counselors and career coaches played a vital role—guiding reflection, connecting plans to course selections, and ensuring each student saw career planning as an empowering, future-focused process.
Real-World Learning Made Possible by Schools
Getting students out of the classroom and into the world of work isn’t easy. But thanks to the coordination of school staff, career coaches, and engaged educators, thousands of students participated in Career+ Experiences this year:
- 5,488 students took part in 110 Career+ Tours , visiting employers and seeing real jobs up close.
- 1,141 students joined 33 Career+ Chats , hearing directly from professionals about their careers.
- At HireME! , 520 students generated over 1,600 employer touchpoints —interviews, internships, and authentic conversations that help launch careers.
Behind each experience were adults making calls, arranging transportation, preparing students, and following up to help them reflect and grow.
A New Pathway, Built by Local Leaders
One of the biggest breakthroughs this year was the success of the Career+ Locally Created Pathway , which meets Indiana’s new graduation requirements and centers work-based learning.
This wasn’t developed in a vacuum. It was crafted by local educators, administrators, and coaches who understood what their students needed and what their region could offer.
The result? 179 students completed the pathway, logging more than 5,000 hours of work-based learning—earning not just credits, but career momentum.
Growing a Statewide Community
This year, over 150 employers actively engaged with the Career+ platform—opening doors to real-world learning and future opportunities for students. That impact was made possible through strong partnerships across the state. Educators and career coaches helped students show up prepared, curious, and confident, while the Career+ Employer Success Manager and Work-Based Learning Manager worked directly with employers to design experiences that were meaningful, scalable, and aligned to learning goals.
From urban centers to rural communities, Career+ is growing through the collective efforts of schools, employers, and regional leaders. In Greater Lafayette, this collaboration became a model for other regions. And across the state, coaches and counselors ensured no student fell through the cracks—building a system where every young person has a pathway forward.
Employers are seeing real value in these efforts—not just as a service to students, but as a strategic investment in talent.
The Road Ahead
Career+ Pathways™ is more than a platform— it’s a movement grounded in relationships and real work. And this year’s success proves what’s possible when teachers, counselors, and career coaches work together to support students at every step.
To the people behind the progress: thank you . Your work is building something sustainable, something scalable, and most importantly, something that lasts.
And we’re just getting started.
