1. Allen High School Eagle Scholars
High School and Beyond!

2. Hello . . . My name is… My job is… My educational background is…
Good morning/afternoon. My name is ___________________________. My job is ___________. My educational background is ___________________.
I’m here today as a representative of the business community to talk to each of you about your future.

3. High School & Beyond
I am here to talk to you about planning for high school and the important choices you will soon make.
I’m also going to talk to you about considerations about your interests and beginning to research career options.
Very soon you’ll be receiving information about your 4-year high school plans. You will have important decisions to make about the courses you will take during high school. You may also be starting to think of your future beyond high school. I’d like to share some thoughts, some of my experiences with you—to give you some things to think about as you make these decisions about your future. I’m going to introduce you to a program called Eagle Scholars—a program that can help position you for success in high school and in the years beyond.

4. Allen High School
High school is one of the most IMPORTANT times in your life!
You will have choices about
Classes
School Activities
Organizations
Your Social Life
Career Pathways
You need to make an informed choice so that you have options for the future.
Let me begin by talking a little about your life ahead. Did you know that according to government projections, most of you will live well into your 80’s and that you will spend about 50 years in the work force?
Wouldn’t you prefer to be in a job that is interesting, one that you enjoy, one for which you will be well paid? To do so, you need to prepare yourself now by taking tough courses, going to class every day, participating, and learning.
Therefore, the 4 years you will spend in high school may be the most critical time of your life as you lay the academic foundation for success in the future. You will need a positive attitude and a willingness to work to achieve your goals.
Soon, you will have to make choices about many things at Allen High School – and those choices will affect your entire future!

5. Good Choices….More Options
Good, well-paying jobs go to those who prepare themselves with a good education
Must be prepared to compete in a global economy
Be able to accept change and challenges
National research studies have followed thousands of students from their teens into their late 20’s. These studies have found that people who became successful had one thing in common: they had taken a similar set of core academic courses in high school.
You will need courses that help you develop strong communication skills. Research shows that the courses that will help you develop those skills are 4 years of rigorous English classes and at least 2 years of the same foreign language (take even more if you can).
You’ll need courses that will help you understand the human experience – our country’s history, culture, government and economy, and our world. The courses that will help you gain those skills are 3 years of social studies, along with American Government and Economics.
You need courses that will develop critical thinking skills, logic and mental discipline. The research shows that the courses of the most help in gaining those skills are Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
In addition to these courses, you’ll find that taking Speech, Fine Arts, and Computer courses will help round out your studies.

6. Change is Constant What will the next 10 years bring?
Technology advances will mean exciting opportunities for those who are prepared.
Competition will be fierce, so strive to do your best starting at Allen High School.
Change is happening all the time…
Here’s one more example of the pace of technological change:
In 1973 Martin Cooper demonstrated the 1st portable cellular telephone; it weighed almost 2 pounds. Ten years later a new 1 pound version was introduced at a cost of $3,500 each. Compare that to today’s cell phone, which may weigh less than 3 ounces and cost much less.
Many people are now referring to technology as the “brain race.” What do you think that means?
Students are preparing for jobs that don’t exist today.

7. Our Community Cares about you and your success
Let’s talk about changes that you have seen …
Can anyone give me examples from their home, your parents or people you know, who work with people in other countries? Do any of your parents travel outside of the United States for their jobs?

8. What Does This Mean For You?
No matter what you plan to do after high school -- you will need more education or training.
Most of the jobs that will be available will require some form of education or training beyond your high school.
If you want a better-paying job with a future, you have to start preparing now. New jobs will demand higher skill levels than your parents or grandparents needed; it’s estimated that 80% of the jobs of the future will require a technical certification, 2-year, 4-year, or advanced degree.
Being prepared for tomorrow means you need to work hard today—and that you take tough courses in high school.

9. What Is An Eagle Scholar?
An Eagle Scholar is an Allen High School student who:
Commits to taking rigorous courses that challenge them to do their best;
Develops good communications skills;
Volunteers and is involved in their school and community – and learns to work as a team;
Understands the connection between level of education and career and job opportunities.
I want to tell you about a program for 9th through 12th graders that you can be a part of. It is called the Eagle Scholar Program and it is a way for you to be recognized for being persistent and challenging yourself in the courses you take.
You can earn recognition and a letter jacket or patch based on how well you do with your grades and your STAAR End of Course subject test. You probably already know that you can earn a letter jacket for being in the band, athletics or involved in some other high school activities. Through Eagle Scholars, you can earn your jacket for academics.

10. Eagle Scholar REQUIREMENTS: Be on track to complete:
Foundation High School Program OR Distinguished High School Program
AND…Earn one or more Endorsements within a Career Pathway
AND…Score Level III Advanced on STAAR End-of-Course exams
I want to tell you about a program for 9th through 12th graders that you can be a part of. It is called the Eagle Scholar Program and it is a way for you to be recognized for academic achievement.
You can earn recognition and a letter jacket or patch based on how well you do with your grades and your STAAR EOC test. You probably already know that you can earn a letter jacket for being in the band, being in athletics or being a involved in some other high school activities. Through Eagle Scholars, you can earn your jacket for academics.

11. Eagle Scholar REQUIREMENTS: Tracking Progress:
Develop a Four Year Plan for your high school years with your counselor; investigate and plan for the transition to college, the workplace, the military, or some other option using Naviance.
Allen ISD uses Naviance as the tool for helping students and parents keep track of and organize planning for college and career readiness.

12. Tracking Progress: Eagle Scholar REQUIREMENTS:
Take the Aspire in 9th grade
Take PSAT 10th grade and 11th grade
Take a College Entrance Exam (SAT or ACT) 11th grade
Aspire is an assessment developed by ACT encompassing math, reading, writing, and science to measure a student’s progress towards college and career readiness.
PSAT is an assessment developed to prepare students for the SAT and measure a student’s progress towards college and career readiness. It is also the assessment for the National Merit scholarship competition. Students could be identified as a National Merit Finalist, Semi-finalist, or Commended Scholar which provide scholarships determined by the college of student choice. In addition, National Merit competition determines National Achievement for Black Americans and National Achievement for Hispanic Americans.

13. What will Employers and Colleges Want from you?
Good grades in challenging courses
Strong science and math grades
Good writing skills
Technology knowledge and skills
Good communication skills (lead a group, present to a group, work productively in a group, defend a belief or idea).
Ability to think critically and make decisions
Apply multiple strategies to solve a problem
If you want a better paying job with a future, you have to prepare now. What are employers looking for? Surveys of both large and small businesses show the same response: they want workers with solid academic preparation, including a strong foundation in math and science, good computer and communication skills, and the ability to think critically and make decisions. Because work is increasingly accomplished in a team environment, employers are also looking for people who can cooperate and work effectively in groups.

14. What Employers/Colleges
DO NOT Want to see
Inappropriate Social Networking (pictures, comments, messages, conversations about others)
Criminal Record (DBS)
Lack of challenging high school courses
Dropping out of challenging courses and activities your senior year.
Ask Yourself: When messaging or posting pictures, do I want my parents to see this or my future college or employer?

15. Your OPTIONS After High School
World of Work (Job Ready Skills)
Military Service Careers
High
School
2-Year Program
(i.e. Associate’s Degree)
Eagle Scholars is all about options. By taking and completing the Eagle Scholars curriculum—the Foundation High School Program or above and completing the additional requirements—you will leave high school with lots of choices.
If you choose to go directly to work after graduation, chances are good that you won’t have to settle for a minimum wage job.
If you decide to enter the military, you’ll be better able to get your first choice of job and branch of the military.
And if you are interested in going to either a community college or a university, you will have taken all the courses that colleges and universities are looking for.
4-Year College
(i.e. Bachelors Degree,
Masters Degree,
Professional Degree)

16. So Think About It… $$
Let’s talk more about what life will be like after high school. In fact, let’s imagine that I am going to hire you for $28,000 ($538 a week) right after you graduate. Take my word for it, that is an incredible salary for someone who has just finished high school and has little job experience. So let’s take a look at what you could do with that kind of money, (click) the “whole pizza pie.”

17. Imagine . . . $28,080 Annual Salary
$2,333 monthly budget
Item
Payment
Amount Left
Federal Income Tax (10%) $ $2,100
Social Security Tax (7.65%) ,922
Medical/dental insurance + out-of-pocket ,772
Housing (Rent - 1 Bdrm, Unfurnished) ,172
Food
Car Payments
Car Insurance
Gas, Oil, etc
Telephone
Utilities
Clothing
Entertainment
Personal Items
Furniture, TV, appliances
Savings
Miscellaneous
NOTE: As you work through this imaginary budget, get the students to tell you how much they think they’d need to spend for various categories. Have fun with it.
You may want to reveal the budget slowly, line by line. The figures are conservative. Some figures may seem really low—such as gas, clothing, entertainment, personal items, etc. These are not actual average costs; they’re simply budget guesses based on how much discretionary money is left after paying for the essentials. $70 for gas & oil will work better for someone with an economy car and a 5-mile commute than a person with a large SUV and a 30-mile commute!
Apartmenet Rent – Average 1 bedroom, unfurnished apt. figure based on averages for major cities in Texas.
Food budget is figured using what students think it costs to east fast food three meals per day—usually $11/day multiplied by 30 days.
Car payments are figured for a used car.
Car insurance is mandatory—and this figure only applies to a good driver covered on parents’ insurance.
Phone=land line—local service only (no long distance, cell phone, call waiting).
Utilities include gas, electricity, water. Sometimes these are included in the rent, but then rent is higher. Students may argue $30 for clothing is much too low. Tell them they can spend more for clothing, but must cut elsewhere.
Entertainment? Movies, DVDs, video games, etc. How much does a movie ticket cost, popcorn and soda cost? Will $30 buy much entertainment for a month?
Miscellaneous items? Shampoo, toothpaste, hair spray, deodorant, etc.
Furniture—inherit cast-offs from family and friends? Otherwise, $50 for time payments leaves their apt. practically vacant.
By the end, students will realize $28K will not go as far as they’d thought.

18. Minimum Wage vs. Skilled Job You Choose!
Unskilled
Labor
Skilled
Labor
$7.25
x 40 hrs/wk
$290.00
x 52 wks/yr
$15,080
$13.50
x 40 hrs/wk
$540.00
x 52 wks/yr
$28,080
As you show this slide, ask students what kind of job can they get when they turn Many will say “fast food”. What would this pay? (Minimum Wage) So what is the current minimum wage? (Federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 on July 2009.)
Are these good jobs for teenagers? Yes, for two reasons: 1) gives you spending money and 2) gives you good job experience.
But what if you had to work a minimum wage job full time, working 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, without vacation? Now show the “unskilled labor” part of the slide.
In our example (now click to the “skilled part of the slide) students saw that it’s hard to live well on $28,000 per year. So how well would they do on minimum wage? If no student speaks up, point out the fact that they could work two minimum wage jobs without reaching $28,000!
Tell them there is no shame at working minimum wage; some families work really hard to provide for their families. But wouldn’t they rather work in a job that they enjoy that pays them a higher wage?

19. Option 1: Go to Work $18,500 - $25,760 Retail Sales Receptionist
Bill/Account Collector
Medical/Dental Assistant
Social/Human Service Assistant
Cashier
General Office Clerk
$18,500 - $25,760
Let’s say that you decide to go to work as soon as you graduate from Allen High School.
These are examples of jobs that may be available for people with little or no training beyond high school.
What kind of salary could a graduate anticipate from one of these jobs? Depending on the employer, the job, and the location, you might be able to make $18,500 to $25,000. 19

20. Military Service Careers
Option 2:
Military Service Careers
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marines
Coast Guard
Merchant Marine
Potential Annual Salaries
Enlisted, basic pay: $18,000
Aircraft Mechanic: $36,600
Military Pilot: $72,300
What about the military? As you can see, there are several options.
While in the military, you can continue studying and work toward a degree or certification that can lead to further success, either in the military or in civilian life.
With a very strong high school background, you might be able to win an appointment to one of our nation’s prestigious military academies. Upon graduation, you will enter the service as an officer. 20

21. Technical or Community College
Option 3:
Technical or Community College
A one to two year program is offered at a community, junior or technical/career college degree or certification program.
What can I expect if I earn with this type degree or certification?
Potential Annual Salary: $20,000 +
Certifications are available in some computer, technology, or medical fields. Length of these programs could be as short as 6 weeks to 18 months.
What about salaries? The pay is substantially higher than salaries for high-school graduates. Salaries can start between $26,000 and $36,000 per year, and generally your pay will increase at a faster rate than that of people with only a high school education.
Career Options for a 2 year Program: Computer Support Specialist, Medical Record and Health Information Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Hygienist, or Legal Secretary
Two year programs usually grant an Associate’s degree and your courses will transfer to a four year college or university.
Many students who graduate from Allen ISD choose to attend Collin College located in Plano, McKinney, or Frisco. Attending a community college can save you money. 21

22. Jobs Requiring certifications
Starting Salaries with Certificates and/or 2-year Associate Degrees
Licensed Vocational Nurse $41,494
Accounting Clerk $19,933
Radiologic Technologist $33,881
Electrician $26,108
Physical Therapy Assistant $32,928
Chemical Technician $33,208
CAD Drafter $35,983
Electronic Technician $35,161
Forensic Science Tech $28,313
Point out that many good jobs in the economy do not require a four year degree. The jobs in this slide all require 1 to 2 years additional training beyond high school. Classes can be taken at community colleges or at a variety of career/technical colleges and institutes.
Students can enter these occupations and earn money that will more easily support a family. But to train for these jobs, they will need a strong high school background with math, science, and other courses: those courses that are part of the Eagle Scholars Program.
Several jobs listed here are related to health care and high tech industries. These will continue to be big growth areas in the future. As the population grows and Baby Boomers age, there will be a tremendous need for trained healthcare workers—ranging from people with certifications to advanced degrees. Energy companies will be looking for thousand of people with certifications and 2 year degrees. And some of the salaries are even higher than those you see here.
Source: Texas Workforce Commission—Wage Information Network, Texas Statewide Entry Wage 22

23. Option 4: 4 Year University
A four-year program is a college or university program that results in a bachelor’s degree.
A four-year university also offers master’s degree and doctoral degree programs
What can I expect if I earn a four-year degree?
Potential Annual Salary: $40,000+
Finally, an Eagle Scholar has a fourth option: a four-year program at a college or university. You will earn what is called a Bachelor’s Degree in 4 years and you will earn it in a specific field: math, art, IT, business, accounting, etc.
Job possibilities with a 4 year degree include Network Analyst, Database Administrator, Teacher, Engineer, Financial Manager, General Manager, or Accountant.
These positions offer even higher pay: $36,000 plus. In fact, many engineering jobs start at well over $50,000 per year. For advanced degree-holders, the benefits may be even higher. 23

24. professional Jobs Starting Salaries with 4-year College Degrees
Chemical Engineer $50,060
Wildlife Biologist $41,400
Registered Nurse $47,710
Accountant $42,233
Network Administrator $48,520
Teacher-Allen ISD $45,000
Physician’s Assistant $64,770
Statisticians $52,490
Computer Software Engineer $67,620
What are the jobs for people with 4-year college degrees and what do they pay?
Here you see average starting salaries for the Dallas area in several fields. Depending on where you live in Texas, some salaries may be higher or lower.
Engineering and medical positions will be in high demand as more Baby Boomers retire. These are definitely careers worth investigating.
Note that the figures above are beginning salaries; with experience and good job performance can come substantial increases. For example, while a new accountant may start out at about $36,000 per year, the average salary for an experienced accountant is almost $70,000 per year. An experienced registered nurse averages more than $65,000 per year!
Source: Texas Workforce Commission—Wage Information Network, Texas Statewide Entry Wage; US Dept of Labor; US Census Bureau 24

25. Planning. . . Choices to Make: Required Courses (graduation plan)
Elective Courses
Career & Technical Education (career pathways)
Dual Credit (Collin College)
Clubs & Activities
I encourage you to make the most of your high school opportunities.
Become an Eagle Scholar by taking at least the Foundation High School Program or higher. Challenge yourself by taking tougher courses—even if you can’t make A’s and B’s.

26. Start Now . . .
Make choices that will give you the best OPTIONS over the next four years!
Explore Naviance
Talk to people who have jobs that interest you
Talk to your parents about saving for college or technical school
Work a part-time job and save!
Get involved in clubs, organizations, and activities at school (this is a must)
Volunteer in your community (Service Learning)
Begin investigating career possibilities—it’s not too early. You will have several opportunities to take a “career interest assessment” and explore careers in fields of the most interest to you.
Talk to your parents and your school counselor about your interests and ideas.
Attend College Night at Allen High School next fall – every high school student is invited!
Plan to take dual credit college courses for college and high school credit while you’re still in high school. You’ll save money and get a head start on your future!

27. In summary
Your choices and your performance – even in 9th grade will affect your future
You have options after high school – start researching and planning for them before senior year
Allen High School (9-12) has resources to help students and families make the right choices (College and Career Center)
There are great jobs waiting for people who are prepared! It’s not too soon to begin thinking about your future, investigating possible careers and finding out about the education/training that would be needed. You can begin by talking to your high school college and career advisors and your counselors and other adults and by researching on the Web. I recommend a Web site called “Achieve Texas” as a starting point. This is a site created by the Texas Education Agency, and can be found at There you can find information to help you prepare for a lifetime of success. You can download college and career planning guides for all 16 of the U.S. Government’s career clusters. They’re loaded with helpful information for you and your family. Last year Allen High School College and Career Pathways Advisors visited your campus and gave you an opportunity to explore the BRIDGES website ( You created a profile and may have explored some of the Achieve Texas pathways. Go back to that website and update your profile and do more exploration of careers. As a ninth grader, you will be given an opportunity once again to explore Bridges, take a career assessment, and review your four year plans.
So what do we mean by “career cluster”? It’s a group of occupations or broad industries that share certain things in common. The health science cluster, for example, includes doctors, dentists, healthcare administrators, clinical laboratory scientists, X-ray technicians, physical therapists, registered nurses, pharmacy technicians—and this is just a small sampling. A wide range of education and training is represented here, from high school to advanced degrees. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, eight of America’s 20 fastest-growing occupations are in health services. So you may want to check out the Health Science career planning guide, as well as many of the other 15 booklets. In each booklet you’ll find a list of 25 careers related to that cluster, job descriptions, education levels required, salaries, number of job openings each year. You’ll also find lots of practical advice on high school courses that will help prepare you for that career cluster, extended learning opportunities and post-secondary study. Each booklet includes information about college admissions, financial aid, and additional tools to help you in your career and education research.
You will use your Bridges account to register your college entrance exam/s scores/s, your plan for high school and beyond, your completed college application, etc. If you do not have a Bridge’s account, you will be given an opportunity at the beginning of your ninth grade year to create your Bridge’s account and profile.

28. You Can Graduate Class of 2018 “Sr’s 18” as an Eagle Scholar!
So. . . Four years from now, will you be a part of the select group of Seniors recognized as Eagle Scholars?
I certainly hope so, and I would be honored to be there to see each one of you receive this recognition. It will be a wonderful first step toward a bright future.
Thank you.
Questions?
Presenters: Please remember to hand out a Reality Check Bookmark and an ID Key Ring to each student.