Superintendent: A 4-year college degree is not only path to the middle class

John R. Kellogg
·4 min read

John R. Kellogg is superintendent of Westerville City School District (www.wcsoh.org).  

As superintendent of one of the largest school districts in the state, I have closely followed the news of Intel’s plans for a new manufacturing facility in central Ohio.

The company’s presence undoubtedly will have a positive economic impact on the region, but as an educator, what I’m most enthusiastic about is the potential for meaningful school-business partnerships and career exploration opportunities that Intel can bring to area students at all levels.

More: Intel to recruit at Ohio colleges, high schools for jobs at Licking County plants

The work being done in Westerville City School District and other districts in the region aligns extraordinarily well with the jobs Intel will bring to the area.

Through our respective College Credit Plus and Career Pathways programs, we partner with higher education and business so students can earn the credentials to fill some of central Ohio’s fastest-growing jobs.

Though there are many jobs that still require a four-year degree, the labor market continues to evolve. The rising cost of college and ability to carry student loan debt remain significant factors for individuals contemplating life after high school. Ohio’s schools can help in two key ways.

At age 12, Jaden Partlow, facing the camera, started taking College Credit Plus courses at Columbus State Community College. By 16, he was full-time at Otterbein University and recently graduated with his bachelor’s degree at age 18. He has been accepted to Ohio University’s Master of Business Administration program, which he will start in fall of 2022. He has also been accepted to Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, which he will start in the fall of 2023 at 19 years old.

First, we must help them understand that in the new labor market, there are many great employment opportunities that provide livable wages for individuals holding industry credentials and/or a two-year associate's degree.

Second, we must offer programs that set them up for success and provide a head start toward acquiring these jobs.

More: How to submit guest opinion columns to the Columbus Dispatch

In Westerville City School District, our College Credit Plus courses; career center options; and Career Pathways courses in the high-demand fields of health, engineering, and business logistics create pipelines to these employment opportunities.

More: Columbus revamps $5.8 million grant for job training, college prep for high school grads

Students can complete college-level coursework and graduate with specialized certifications that make them employable right out of high school.

They can also quickly progress toward an associate’s or four-year degree should they so choose. Their overall experience is what they choose to make of it. Westerville City School District recently had a student earn her associate of science degree before receiving her high school diploma.

Our work to prepare students for great jobs and help them become contributing members of society has not gone unnoticed.

When the Intelligent Community Forum named its 2019 Global Top 7 Intelligent Communities, the City of Westerville was among the 2019 Intelligent Communities honorees, which specifically recognized our school district’s Career Pathways program and ongoing efforts to close workforce gaps.

For our students, the ability to go from high school to middle class immediately upon graduating is well within reach.

From preschool to post-graduate work, central Ohio remains an attractive place for families and businesses to locate because of its strong educational institutions. It also appears that our pipeline of talent will not be running dry any time soon.

According to a Columbus Monthly analysis of 2020 census data, the city of Columbus is the only Midwestern city to grow by more than 100,000 residents in the last decade, while its suburbs also experienced steady population growth.

Regardless of growth, it remains our responsibility to keep the talent pipeline well-supplied. The clarity and focus needed in this regard comes from our Portrait of a Graduate framework, which allows us to provide students with a skill set valued most by employers across all sectors of business and industry.

More: Vice president explains why Intel is ready to invest up to $100 billion in new Ohio sites

Providing these skills to our students will benefit those who decide to pursue college, the military, or employment with any of the businesses and industries in central Ohio or elsewhere. When the next major employer like Intel comes along, we will be ready to supply them with talent.

From the people we employ to the families we serve, central Ohio’s educational institutions play a critical role in the area’s continued economic development, health and well-being. The partnerships formed and connection we have with leaders in business and industry will shape the instructional programs available to our students.

We look forward to Intel joining the dialogue as we continue our collaborative efforts to meet growing needs of all students as they assume their role in modern society.

John R. Kellogg is superintendent of Westerville City School District (www.wcsoh.org).  

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Opinion: What role can credentials and two-year play for students?