Four area counties to receive career counselors

THREE RIVERS AREA — Gov. Mike Beebe announced Wednesday an expansion of the Arkansas Works program, which encourages high school students throughout the state to plan for education and careers beyond high school.

The program strives to coordinateeducation, training and economic development in Arkansas communities, according to a press release.

The program has hired and placed 43 full-time college and career coaches in 21 counties, including Stone, Sharp, Jackson and Woodruff.

The new counselors, employed by Arkansas community colleges, will work in area high schools with other school administrators, teachers andcounselors to advise students and prepare them for the next phase of their lives.

The coaches’ duties include reaching out to students, helping them to develop career plans, assisting students with continuing their education, providing information about career options and more.

Most of the 43 career coaches hired are from the area in which theywill be working. Former University of Arkansas athlete Marcus Monk will work in West Memphis, near his hometown of Lepanto. Monk hopes to continue to be a positive role model and an inspiration for students.

“I had a great counselor,” he said, recalling his high school days. “She always pushed me to do better.”

Lori Sullivan is another counselor who will work close to home, as she will be the career counselor at Mountain View High School. Sullivan graduated from Mountain View High in Stone County and attended the University of Arkansas for her undergraduate degree. She also holds a master’s degree in education from Rice University.

She previously held a teaching position at Mountain View, where her husband works as head football coach. She took time off the past several years to stay home with her 3-yearold son but is ready to get back to work.

“It is our responsibility to be successful,” she said. “I really hope we are.”

She said her goal will be to encourage students to continue their education.

“Arkansas has so many programs available to help [students]. It’s really just letting them know what [the programs] are and getting them connected,” Sullivan said.

Beebe agreed and cited statistics.

“Only 8 percent of jobs will require just a high school degree,” he said. “We cannot let a generation of our young people be allowed to struggle.”

Beebe said it is important that strides in economic development keep up with advances in education.

Without economic development, Beebe told the newly hired coaches, if Arkansas cannot provide work for young people, their work will be wasted.

“You’re going to educate our people or cause them to want tobe educated and go to Dallas or Atlanta or Minneapolis to get a job,” Beebe said.

Sullivan said there are career opportunities for high school graduates who choose to remain in Stone County. The county relies heavily on tourism to boost its economy, and there are jobs available in parks and recreation, and forestry, she said.

“Opportunities are always available for kids to start up their own small businesses,” she pointed out. “There are a lot of small-business people there.”

On Wednesday, Beebe credited his own success to his opportunities in education and said he believes in its importance.

“I don’t know that there is a higher call than education. Let’s go get it done,” he said.

- czilk@ arkansasonline.com

Three Rivers, Pages 115 on 01/17/2010

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