Lee County students exploring careers on converted school bus

The School District of Lee County is thinking outside of the box when it comes to the futures of young students. They turned an old school bus into a career exploration lab.

What do you want to be when you grow up? It is a question we ask kids often, and it can be a tough one to answer, but Lee County schools is hoping when students step on the converted school bus, they’re exposed to a career they might not have thought of before.

“This is the Excel Bus. It is the excellent career exploration lab,” said Kelly Thawley, Lee County schools college and career specialist.

The Excel Bus is making stops at Lee County elementary schools this year.

“Just a chance for students to explore what careers are here in Southwest Florida and start thinking about the different pathways they need to be on,” said Thawley.

The mobile career exploration classroom is designed for fifth-grade students.

Instead of rows of seats, you’ll find interactive stations for students to learn about different careers and get a jumpstart on their future.

“The earlier students start thinking about what their likes are and their dislikes, it’s just as important to know what they don’t like. Students can’t be what they can’t see. So it’s giving them a chance to see what’s possible and what the opportunities are,” said Thawley.

The district partners with big employers like the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Lee Health. The hospital system says it’s never too early to plant the seed.

“But we do believe that starting with our local and making sure that our youth understand its available. It’s one way to build that pipeline. Granted, we recognize they are a few years away from employment, but you can never start too young,” said Jennifer Thayer, Lee Health’s manager of workforce planning and development.

“I think this just shows how awesome our community is here in Southwest Florida and that many businesses are willing to interact with students and prepare a station and make it look like what a day in the life might look like so that students get to have that experience without actually being on the job site,” said Thawley.

When they step off the bus, they’re inspired to be the next doctor, dentist, construction worker, or sheriff’s deputy in our community.

The district was able to create the Excel Bus through a federal grant. The career specialist at the district actually studied to get her comercial driver’s license so she could drive the bus to all the schools.