The Michigan Association for Career & Technical Education (MI ACTE) announced Laura Hoehn, Career & College Readiness Coordinator for the Livingston Educational Service Agency, as the 2022 MI ACTE Career Guidance Award Winner for the state of Michigan Excellence Awards on Jan. 30. The MI ACTE Career Guidance Award recognizes guidance counselors and career development professionals who have made significant contributions to advocate, educate and communicate the value of CTE as a viable career option to various audiences in their communities.
Michelle Radcliffe, Executive Director for Career Development at Livingston Educational Service Agency, nominated Hoehn, stating, “Laura has been instrumental in developing and increasing the awareness of career and technical education programs and opportunities in Livingston County.”
Hoehn is committed to working with all students, grades K-12, in Livingston County’s five local school districts and demonstrates her passion for connecting students with their future careers daily. Since joining Livingston ESA in 2015, Hoehn’s creative thinking, mastery of grant-writing, and natural ability to build meaningful relationships have led to her developing and improving several initiatives and activities. Two of the most impactful have been Job Shadow Day and the Employer and Education Network group on LinkedIn.
Launched in 2019, Livingston County (Liv Co) Job Shadow Day is a bi-annual, one-day experience that allows students into employers around the county to experience a “day in the life” of various career pathways including healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, and business. Employers meet students interested in their career fields and explore possibilities for next steps, including summer or after-school jobs and internships. Students get a first-hand view of jobs in our community to help them make decisions about pathways and build their network.
The LinkedIn Employer and Education Network Group connects high school students and graduates of Livingston County Schools with industry partners while in high school and after graduation. This initiative aims to increase the pipeline of talent for industry partners and increase the exposure to careers for students by showcasing a student, a CTE program, and an industry partner each week.
Hoehn and her fellow award recipients will move to the ACTE Region 1 Excellence Awards, including candidates from 15 other states.
For more information about Livingston ESA’s Career Development programs, visit https://LivingstonESA.org/ programs-services/career-development
