2007-2008 Career Center Course Descriptions 
This website has been designed to assist students and parents in selection of courses that are taken off campus, at the Career Center, as an extension of the home high school. The Career Center provides opportunities for students from all Omaha Public Schools high schools to study electives that are not available elsewhere. New this year, students must be juniors in order to consider enrollment in these courses. Students receive transportation from their home school to the Career Center for all programs except for Zoo Partnership. The Career Center School is located at 3230 Burt Street, in the west wing of the Teacher Administrative Center.

The fields of study at the Career Center include Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing, Broadcasting, Commercial Design, Construction Academy, Culinary Skills, Health Occupations, Photography, Small Engine Repair/Welding, Web Business Development, and Zoo Partnership. Students learn in hands-on, lab oriented classes that provide career awareness along with current technology in the related areas. These opportunities better enable students to achieve their highest potential in a rapidly changing, technological world of work and society.

Students earn two credits per semester for each full year course. Classes meet approximately 80 minutes daily.

The need for a competitive and more productive work force with broad skills translates into a need for programs that encourage students to consider their career options while in high school. The Career Center teaches students skills that are required for successful, gainful employment and successful post-high school experiences—whether the experience is work or education or a combination of both.

Students register for Career Center classes through the home school counselor during regular class registration.

If you have any questions or are interested in a tour, please call the Career Center at 557-3700.

Junior Year Options:
Automotive Technology 1-2
Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing 1-2
Broadcasting (TV/Radio) 1-2
Commercial Design 1-2
Construction Academy
Culinary Skills 3-4
Health Occupations 1-2
Photography 1-2
Small Engine Repair/Welding
Web Business Development 1-2
Zoo Partnership 1-2 

Senior Year Options:
Automotive Technology 1-2, 3-4
Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing 1-2, 3-4
Broadcasting 1-2, 3-4
Commercial Design 1-2, 3-4
Construction Academy
Culinary Skills 3-4, 5-6
Health Occupations 1-2, 3-4
Photography 1-2, 3-4
Small Engine Repair/Welding
Web Business Development 1-2
Zoo Partnership 1-2
Summer Internship or Externship

WELCOME TO THE CAREER CENTER WEBSITE

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Omaha Public Schools Career Center is to provide a cost effective delivery system for selected elective opportunities, enabling all students to achieve their highest potential in a rapidly changing, technological society.

VISION

The Career Center believes that all students can learn and that the global nature of today's society demands well-trained, technology-literate individuals. It is our vision to empower students with the technological skills necessary to be successful in a rapidly changing information based world.

EDUCATIONAL AIMS

1. High Student Achievement
Utilize established, industry standards to measure student progress.

2. Safe and Secure Learning Environment
Apply district and industry safety standards to Career Center classrooms and labs.

3. Professional Work Force
Teach the technological and self-management skills necessary for gainful/successful employment and for successful postsecondary experiences.

4. Partnerships
Involve business, industry, and institutional partnerships for all Career Center departments.

5. Effective and Efficient Use of District Resources
Coordinate educational programs in high demand career areas that are best suited to be located in one central OPS location.

PHILOSOPHY

In today's information age, which has been greatly influenced by the rapid development of technology, it is imperative that the Career Center provide students with educational opportunities that enable them to reach their potential and to adjust to our rapidly changing world. As changes occur, educators will emphasize attitudes and concepts, which will incorporate new product and service developments.

HISTORY OF PROGRAM

Omaha's Technical High School experienced several years of declining enrollment. To boost enrollment, the OPS School Board decided that the high school should become a magnet school. As a magnet school, Technical High School offered several courses that were not offered in other OPS high schools. Students from all over the district had the option of attending Technical High School. The magnet plan did not cause the desired increase in enrollment and Technical High School was closed at the end of the 1983-84 school year.

The OPS School Board approved a plan to convert all but the west end of Technical High School into administrative offices for the district. The original Technical High School building became the Teacher Administrative Center (TAC). The west end of the TAC building was named the OPS Career Center.

Several parents connected with Technical High School at the time of closing were concerned that their children would not have an opportunity to complete certain specialized courses. The opening of the Career Center in 1984 allowed some of these students to complete programs in their interest areas.

The Career Center was established in 1984 as an extension of all seven high schools to consolidate programs then scattered throughout the district and provide a central location for technologically related programs. The closing of Technical High School and the commitment to continue to serve students' educational needs at the site served as the reasons for this beginning. Since the approval of programs by the Omaha Public School Board in February 1983, a major focus of the Career Center has been and continues to be providing unique educational programs at the former Technical High School location that are too costly to offer at each high school.

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL

We are fortunate to have these Adopt-A-School partners for the O.P.S. Career Center.

Ahern Fire Protection
AIM Institute
Albertson's
Ancona Midwest Food Service
Barnhart Press
Bumper and Auto of Omaha, Inc.
Business Printing Services, Inc.
CompUSA
Continental Fire Sprinkler Company
Dean's Camera
Downtown Omaha, Inc.
Field Paper Company
Independent Roofing Company
InFlight Productions
Jensen Tire
Johnny's Café
KPTM - Fox 42
Midas-Auto Experts, Inc.
Mitchell Broadcasting (Sweet 98 & KQKQ 98.5 FM)
Redshaw Paint
Sgt. Peffer's
89.7 the River, IWCC
WOWT - Channel 6

The primary objective of each community and school partner is to plan and implement a program which helps prepare students to compete more successfully in modern society. Secondly, the partners should seek to improve administrative-managerial activities through application of combined professional expertise.

GOALS

 

To develop a better understanding of the free enterprise system including the needs and requirements of industry.

To develop a better understanding by the community of the needs and responsibilities of the school system.

To provide students/staff with enrichment experiences of motivational purposes.

To utilize business expertise to supplement the skills of school personnel.

To utilize school personnel expertise to supplement the skills of business.

To assist the school system in making students more employable.

To increase staff and student awareness of the many contributions that businesses and civic organizations make to the community.

To increase the awareness of businesses and civic organizations of the many contributions made to the community by the staff and students.

To improve student attitudes toward school.

SkillsUSA -

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force.

SkillsUSA is a career serving student organization (CSO). Students embrace our slogan "SkillsUSA: Champions at Work" by learning leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development - traits that go into shaping responsible, reliable employees who will one day become leaders in the workplace.

Adult Education - Click here to learn more

High Schools - Click here to discover more about Omaha Public School High Schools..