Veteran educator Laura Carter was recently named the new College and Career Guidance Counselor for the Allen County-Scottsville High School/Allen County Career and Technical Center. Carter will serve in a position in which she will work closely with students as well as local business and industry leaders---helping to build connections between the school and community.
“This is a big step for our school,” Carter said. “It’s a new position and I’m very excited for what all it can enhance at our school and within our community.”
Carter is a 1995 graduate of Allen County-Scottsville High School. She earned a degree in Business Education from Western Kentucky University in 1999. With her degree, Carter worked for a brief time with Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems at their corporate headquarters. Carter’s education and business background prepped her for a business teaching position at the Allen County Vocational Center in 2000. Since entering the business classroom, Carter earned a Masters in Secondary School Counseling and a certificate in K-12 guidance.
Carter explains that she will serve somewhat as a traditional guidance counselor but embrace a new focus---the effort to make sure all students graduate high school college and/or career ready. “I will be working with the other guidance counselors but also taking on an additional role as a college and career counselor,” Carter explained. “I will be working with the community and the businesses as we help get the kids ready for after they leave high school. I will find out if the students are going to college or if they are going to the workforce and help get each one ready for what’s out there for them for when they graduate.”
Carter is looking forward to establishing and enriching connections between the school and the local business and industrial community. Carter feels that by building connections, the community will see how the school prepares students that are both college and career ready. The partnerships will also help school officials learn more about the ever-changing skills that will be needed in the 21st Century work environment.
The new counselor---whose office will be at the Allen County Career and Technical Center---will also be asked to help ACCTC with the many computer based reporting requirements along with helping students at the Tech Center prepare for the tests necessary for certificates in industry related fields.
“Mr. Cosby did a great job as vocational director in getting kids ready for their testing and certifications, ensuring they were in the correct pathway,” Carter said. “I will be taking on some of that load so that he can focus more of his time on being the principal at the high school.”
Carter points out that she will work with all students at the high school and hopes to further interact with students at all grade levels.
“I’ll miss the one-on-one with students that you have as a teacher in the classroom but I hope to still be in the classroom talking to students about classes/pathways, college and career plans and doing work readiness lessons at times like Pride Time,” Carter added. “I want to get to know these kids and what they are passionate about and what they want to do when they graduate. I want to make sure that while they are at ACSHS/ACCTC, they get all they need to be ready to be productive citizens when they graduate.”
Away from the office, Carter enjoys spending time with her family and friends.