Last year, students in the DHS Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) consulted with staff and did the initial work for a speaker series called TED Durango. Local speakers included: Kate Ishay, Psyche Digital Marketing; Joe Lloyd, Durango Joe's Coffee; James Cudworth, Main Street Technology; and Katie Burford, Cream Bean Berry.
This year, student leaders have rebranded the talks as the Career Speaker Series. DECA will choose speakers based on the highest career aptitudes from YouScience data, a test taken annually by the district’s middle school students. In 2022, students scored high in areas such as marketing, entrepreneurship, medical/health sciences, visual design, and technology-engineering-computer science.
The Career Speaker Series aligns with the district’s evolution of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, the opening of the Impact Career Innovation Center in January 2024, and DECA’s goal to improve educational and career opportunities for students. The new DECA Vice President of Leadership, who will be elected this week, will be the future point of contact and manager of the series.
I'm thrilled about the Career Speaker Series,” said Kricket Lewis, CTE coordinator. “It provides our students with a unique opportunity to explore future professions, understand real-world work experiences, and connect with industry leaders, all while being inspired and empowered for their future."