While that deserves credit, Penn Manor School District personnel say that’s just one piece of the puzzle to finding success in the workplace.
That’s why Penn Manor has partnered with local business representatives, the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board and CareerLink of Lancaster County to create the Comet Credential program, which officially began Wednesday.
The first of its kind in Pennsylvania, district officials said, the initiative is designed to teach students the “soft skills” necessary for succeeding in the modern workplace — skills such as time management, communication, decision-making and writing.
Honing these skills, Penn Manor High School guidance counselor Melissa Ostrowski said, “sets you apart. It makes you special. And that’s what you want to be in the marketplace and in your classroom.”
The entire freshmen class — roughly 400 students — will complete online courses throughout the year during homerooms and allotted testing times. After each completed course, students receive a credential, which students could add to their resume or LinkedIn page, Ostrowski said.
In total, it will take about 23 hours to complete every course, although finishing the entire program isn’t required, Ostrowski said.
The district is using a $5,000 career readiness mini-grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry to create incentives and other additions to the program.