Empowering Students. Connecting Schools. Strengthening Our Workforce.
The Crawford County K–12 Career Education Alliance is a community-driven initiative focused on career exploration, workforce readiness, and educational support for students from elementary through high school.
By providing hands-on opportunities, in-school programs, and educator support, the Alliance helps students make informed decisions about their futures—whether they plan to attend college, enter the workforce, or pursue technical training.
Who We Serve: K–12 students, educators, school counselors, and families across all six Crawford County school districts.
How We Help: Events, workshops, field trips, guest speakers, summer camps, mentoring, and educator engagement.
Our Impact: Thousands of students each year benefit from direct career education experiences and exposure to local employers, industries, and opportunities.
Our Mission
The Career Education Alliance exists to:
Support students in understanding career options early and often
Equip educators and counselors with resources to guide career conversations
Build strong community partnerships between schools, businesses, and workforce organizations
Prepare the next generation of skilled workers, leaders, and innovators in Crawford County
Collaborative & Community-Driven
Our work is made possible through extensive collaboration with schools, businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations. Key partners include:
- School districts, counselors, and teachers
- Local manufacturers and employers
- Postsecondary institutions and training providers
- Nonprofits, workforce boards, and volunteers
- United Way, Chamber of Commerce, NWPA NTMA, Women in Business Roundtable, Junior Achievement, and many more
What We Do
The Alliance offers a diverse range of programs that align with career exploration, skill-building, and real-world exposure:
In-School Programming
- Career presentations and panels (K–12)
- Job search and resume workshops
- Interview skills and mock interview events
- Post-secondary options exploration
- Classroom guest speakers (all career fields)
- Autism Career & Social Skills Days
Career-Related Field Trips
- Local business tours and industry visits
- Crawford Tech field trips
- STEM-related trips and employer panels
- Summer tours for teachers (Act 48 eligible)
Special Events
- Crawford County Career Awareness Fair (8th grade students + 60+ businesses)
- Manufacturing Day student experience
- District Transition Fairs
- Educator in the Workplace program
- Junior Achievement in-class programs
After-School & Summer Opportunities
- Career clubs and STEM mentoring programs
- STEM Camp (2-day summer experience)
- Career Camp (3-day hands-on career camp)
- Passport to Manufacturing (Saturday event for grades 3–9 + parents)
- Manufacturing Academy (with NTMA Academic Outreach)
- 4th Graders As Scientists (with Allegheny College)
Why It Matters
Early exposure matters. Students who explore careers early are more confident and intentional in their education paths.
Community support drives success. Volunteers, presenters, and donors make these opportunities possible.
We’re building a stronger local workforce. Through direct connections with local employers, students see real pathways to stay, work, and thrive in Crawford County.
Get Involved
You can support the K–12 Career Education Alliance by:
- Volunteering to speak or host a student tour
- Volunteering to participate with mock interviews with High School Seniors
- Sponsoring a field trip or lunch
- Donating to support student experiences
- Participating on planning committees or panels
- Spreading the word in your networks
Together, We’re Inspiring the Future
From 4th grade science experiments to high school resume writing, the K–12 Career Education Alliance is sparking curiosity, building confidence, and preparing students for the paths ahead—whatever they may be.
Join us in creating a brighter future for Crawford County.