We’re excited to share that Adrienne Whitaker has officially completed her final state requirement and is now fully certified to serve Martin County Schools as our Career Development Coordinator for the Career and Technical Education Department.
The Career Development Coordinator (CDC) licensure add-on consists of two parts: the CDC Induction and a Facilitating Career Development (FCD) course.
The CDC Induction for Career and Technical Education (CTE), particularly in North Carolina, is a specialized 10-week blended learning program mandated for new CDCs to support their role in facilitating work-based learning, career assessments, and student transitions. This induction covers key responsibilities, including implementing the NC Standard Course of Study, fostering industry partnerships, and utilizing career development tools to prepare students for post-secondary education, the workforce, or the military.
The FCD course is a 120-hour comprehensive training program provided through the National Career Development Association (NCDA). It is designed to equip career service providers with the skills to help others with career planning and finding meaningful employment. The curriculum is grounded in NCDA’s 12 nationally recognized core competencies in career development, including employability skills, labor market information, and ethics.
CDCs manage work-based learning (internships, job shadowing), career development plans, guest speaker coordination, and support for CTE and special populations.
The role focuses on developing students’ employability skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, often through the NCDPI Portrait of a Graduate framework.
A major focus of this role is on establishing relationships with business, industry, and community partners to enhance student opportunities. A perfect example of this focus is Power Up Your Potential, the annual MCS Career and College Fair coming up on March 19, where Whitaker and her colleagues bring the local business community together to introduce students to post-high school opportunities.
The induction ensures CDCs can effectively guide students in navigating career pathways and gaining practical experience before graduation.
In this role, Whitaker begins career conversations with students across the district as early as fifth grade. She helps them to identify possible interests for their futures.
Whitaker, who has spent her entire career with Martin County Schools, began this role on January 3, after serving as a school counselor for more than a decade - most recently at Martin County High School. She is also proud to be a graduate of Martin County Schools.