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Introduction
As a young adult, an important key to your success will be preparing for the
transition from high school to your first career. To help you make this transition,
School to Career will guide you through important twenty-first century life
and career skills that you will need as you graduate from high school.
By studying this text, you will learn personal skills, decision-making skills,
and employability skills that will help create a foundation as you prepare to
be on your own. Skills for success such as teamwork and problem solving,
communicating on the job, and leadership are also covered. You will have an
opportunity to research and learn about careers using the States’ Career Clusters
to help you define your future goals. As part of the learning process, you will
assess your skills and abilities to help make decisions about a career that is a
good fit for you. Included in your exploration will be learning about college
and other postsecondary programs that might help you reach your goals.
School to Career is the first step for preparing for the challenges you will
face after graduation. By studying this text, you will be able to make the most
of your study time and learn how to prepare for your future.
About the Authors
Joseph J. Littrell, the original author of this text, taught industrial and
vocational education to teachers in training at Arizona State University. Littrell
began his career teaching industrial education in Nebraska and Oregon public
schools. Later he taught engineering at the University of Missouri. He earned
degrees from Peru State College in Nebraska, the University of Minnesota,
and the University of Missouri.
James H. Lorenz is professor emeritus and chair of the department of
engineering technology at Middle Tennessee State University. He has taught
graduate and undergraduate teacher certification courses and undergraduate
drafting courses for over 25 years. Lorenz conducts numerous in-service
training programs for teachers and has directed SkillsUSA activities at
district and state levels. He began his career teaching drafting, cooperative
education, and graphic arts at the secondary level. Lorenz holds degrees
from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, the University of Minnesota, and the
University of Georgia.
Harry T. Smith served as a professor emertitus of curriculum and instruction
at Tennessee Technological University where he was the program supervisor
of industrial education from 1975 to 2002. Smith’s primary responsibility
was teaching instructional media technology and occupational education
licensure courses to undergraduate and graduate students in the college of
education. Earlier, Smith taught industrial education at the secondary level in
Missouri and the postsecondary level in Missouri and Michigan. Smith holds
degrees from Northeast Missouri State, Central Missouri State, and Michigan
State Universities.