Academic & Career Planning

Mission: The Crivitz Career Readiness Team is dedicated to empowering every student with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to excel in their chosen career paths and thrive in an ever-evolving global society. We aim to foster a culture of lifelong learning, integrity, and ethical leadership. We do this by embracing student’s unique career paths, encouraging active community engagement, and integrating soft skills into daily instruction. We prepare our students to become adaptable, productive citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

 
Vision: Crivitz graduates will leave high school prepared to become adaptable, productive citizens and leaders while being empowered to navigate and thrive confidently in their chosen futures. 

Alexandria Graves (High School Counselor), Jeff Baumann (High School Principal), Jeff Ott (High School Math), Charlie Boivin (High School English), Scott Russell (MS/HS Tech Ed.), Kelly Sailer (MS/HS Business Education), Joel Pagel (Middle School Counselor), and Toni Spalding (Elementary School Counselor).

The School District of Crivitz proudly showcases a robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) program designed to prepare students for success in today’s competitive workforce. With 128 students participating in CTE programs and 26 students concentrating in specialized areas, our district is committed to equipping learners with industry-relevant skills. Through innovative opportunities such as dual enrollment, with 43 students earning college credits and 40 excelling in Advanced Placement courses, and work-based learning experiences for 7 students, we are bridging the gap between education and career readiness. In partnership with over 20 local businesses, our students have access to real-world experiences, including a required junior job shadowing and the option to participate in Youth Apprenticeships, with 7 students earning the state Youth Apprenticeship credential. Furthermore, 63 students completed industry-recognized credentials, including 48 certifications, 15 technical diplomas., We are also proud of our 5-local and regional pathways that our students can participate in during their high school experience. Our dedication to fostering future-ready students is unwavering, ensuring their success as leaders and contributors in a dynamic global economy.

Current Progress:

• Creating a Business Advisory Committee.

• Expanding our Work-Based Learning by making sure our Local Work Based Learning (School to Work) meets the DPI requirements. 

• SkillsUSA- our first recognized Career and Technical Student Organization.

• Daily Character Strong lessons in all elementary classrooms. 

• Added Character Strong Lessons to High School ACP days. 

Future Goals:

• Streamline the ACP/E4E for K-12 students. 

• Adding Computer Safety/AI Lessons to the Middle/High School ACP days. 

• The 2025 referendum allowed for the creation of an expanded metals and manufacturing lab at the middle/high school. 

• Adding ACP lessons Tuesday & Thursday for middle school students.

Click on the link below to hear from 2023 Crivitz Graduate Cashton Mertens talk about his experience: 

Cashton Mertens- Youth Apprenticeship

Grade Level Appropriate Career Readiness Activities and Career-based Learning Experiences

• K-6: Career Readiness Activities  
  • Highlights:    As part of our Academic and Career Planning (ACP) efforts, students in grades K–6 engage in a variety of career readiness activities designed to build awareness of diverse career paths. A key highlight includes the Career Fair, where 5th and 6th grade students research a career of their choice and create presentations to share with 3rd and 4th grade students, as well as parents. This event provides valuable opportunities for students to develop research, communication, and presentation skills.
  • The Career Fair alternates every other year with Careers on Wheels, an interactive event that introduces students to community professionals who use vehicles as an essential part of their work. During this event, professionals bring their work vehicles to the school and explain how their tools and equipment support their roles, offering students a hands-on look at a variety of careers in action.
  • K-6 Topics and Activities
• 7-8: Career Readiness Activities

All 7-8 students will have Character Strong, ACP, and digital media lessons. 

• 7th Grade  
• 8th Grade

• 9-12: Career Readiness Activities 

             All 9-12 students will have Character Strong lessons, ACP artifact collection, and digital media lessons.

• 9th Grade
  • Highlights: Focused heavily on Employability Skills (Soft Skills), Career Fair Research Assignment, and lessons focused on self-awareness.
• 10th Grade
  • Highlights: Effective communication, Education Opportunities assignment, lessons on values and creating healthy habits 
• 11th Grade 
  • Highlights: ACT prep, exploring colleges and careers, and Top 5 Careers assignment 
• 12th Grade
  • Highlights: Focus on job applications and interviews, Final Presentation prep, and Final ACP Presentations. Seniors need to complete 2 hours of community service during their senior year. 

ACP/School Counseling Services

School counselors play a vital role in supporting the Academic and Career Planning (ACP) process by helping students build the knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed for future success. 

SEL & Employability Skills: Counselors deliver classroom lessons, small groups, and individual support focused on social-emotional learning (SEL) and employability skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, responsibility, and self-awareness. These foundational skills are essential for both academic success and career readiness.

Career Exploration:  Counselors guide students through age-appropriate career awareness and exploration activities, helping them identify interests, strengths, and potential career paths.  They often integrate tools such as interest inventories, goal setting, and reflection exercises.

Conferences: Counselors lead or support conferences with students and families to discuss goals, academic progress, and future planning.

Through these efforts, school counselors ensure that students are equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with the social-emotional and employability skills necessary to thrive in school, the workplace, and beyond.

Whole School Support:

• High School Students are cohorted with a group of 10-15 other students and one teacher for four years of high school. These classes meet five days a week, with two days focused on ACP curriculum.

The ACP program at Crivitz School District ensures every student is prepared for life after high school no matter what path they plan to take. Our Course Handbook provides an overview to the following:

• Career and technical education provided in the school district.
• Courses that provide advance placement and/or advanced standing:
  • Advanced Placement Courses (97 exams administered during the 2024-2025 year): 
    • Human Geography
    • Psychology
    • PreCalc 
    • Calculus 
    • English Language and Composition 
    • English Literature and Composition
    • Physics 
  • Concurrent Enrollment:
    • UW-Green Bay - Chemistry, Education 208 
    • UW-Oshkosh - Biology 
    • Northeast Wisconsin Technical College - Accounting, Basic Anatomy, & Business Principles
    • St. Norbert College - Leadership 
  • Early College Credit Program 
    • UW-Green Bay 
  •  Start College Now 
    • Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
  • Postsecondary education preparation. 
    • Northwoods Lab
      • Technical Diploma in Automotive and Welding
      • Certified Nursing Assistant
• Youth apprenticeship or other job training and work experience Northwoods Youth Apprenticeship
• Instruction in skills related to employment 
  • International Carpenters Training Fund • Career Connections – Level 3 Certificate

Crivitz School District strives to offer career pathways and is working on updating and developing more regional and local pathways.  

Crivitz School District currently offers the following career pathways:

Advanced Manufacturing

Architecture and Construction

Business Administration

Direct Patient Care

Information Technology

As we consider labor market information (LMI), it is important to understand the geographic layout of our district.  The Crivitz School District covers over 300 square miles of Northern Marinette County. It consists of the Village of Crivitz, the Towns of Stephensen, Lake, Middle Inlet, and Beaver. The school district enrollment of roughly 800 students is derived primarily from rural farm and recreational areas.  LMI  helps our school districts develop cutting-edge career and technical education programs by uncovering the skills students will need in the future. In addition, LMI can help students understand which jobs are most likely to be available and which jobs provide the most compensation. 

To access Labor Market Information for Marinette County/Wisconsin, please utilize the links below: 

My Next Move

Job Center of Wisconsin

Marinette County 2025 Workforce Profile

The Crivitz School District is committed to supporting our entire staff to become engaged in the career readiness process.  We provide professional development to staff during in-services training specific career readiness.  The Crivitz School District also utilizes consultants through CESA 8 to ensure we are meeting and exceeding expectations. The High School ACP Committee meets monthly for continued improvement efforts to support the direction of career education for ALL high school students. The District Career Readiness Team meets annually to continue improving our expectations and experiences for our K-12 students.

Individualized ACP SupportACP on Tuesdays & Thursday- High School Students are assigned a cohorted group for their ACP. The same teacher will stay with the cohorted group throughout the four years of high school. 

Our high school counselor meets with students individually when planning classes for the following school year. Each student has the chance to discuss future plans and goals and ensure that they are taking courses that will provide them with future success.

Students utilize Xello and biweekly ACP lessons to determine individual academic and career interests.

Access for ALL Students
All students, including those with disabilities, at-risk students, English Language Learners, and others in need of additional support, receive individualized guidance tailored to their unique needs. This support is provided in collaboration with the student, their family, and school staff to ensure comprehensive and meaningful engagement. For students receiving Special Education services, a dedicated team of stakeholders—including special education teachers, counselors, and family members—works together to develop and support the student’s post-secondary plans. Special education teachers have access to each student’s ACP through platforms like Xello, which is available to all students. This ensures that every student, regardless of their circumstances, has equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to successfully prepare for life beyond high school.

Career Readiness Technology
Crivitz School District currently uses Xello to support ACP programming. Students utilize Google Drive and Google Classroom to keep their artifacts available for their final ACP presentation during their senior year. The Crivitz School District utilizes the Character Strong online curriculum for students in grades K-12. For the 2025-2026 school year, the district will be implementing the CommonSense Digital Citizenship curriculum.

The Crivitz School District engages families in academic and career planning by:

• Using social media and parent emails to share information and opportunities related to Academic and Career Planning.
• Inviting parents to the elementary Career Fair.
• Inviting parents by letter to attend their child’s sophomore student-led conference in February. 
• Inviting parents, school administration, school board, and community members to attend our senior’s final presentations in March. 
• Parent information session on work based learning opportunities for 11-12 grade students. (Youth Apprenticeship, School to Work, and local work based learning opportunities.)

The Crivitz School District is proud to collaborate with many business and community partners. Some examples of ways that we have reached out to our business and community partners include:

Youth Apprenticeship partnerships, Careers on Wheels, job shadowing, business tours, mock interviewing, and guest speakers. We have great community involvement during our Senior ACP Day where community members watch senior presentations or participate on the interview panel with the senior exit interviews.