The Ila Elementary School second graders wear capes, wave wands, hold action figures, speak of superpowers and talk of favorite animals. They laugh and are eager to speak up as Melissa Yarbrough blends these topics with another big idea: jobs. 

Madison County’s work-based learning coordinator, “Mrs. Y” as many call her, has launched “Building Blocks for Bright Futures,” a program she’s designed to get children at Madison County’s five elementary schools thinking about career possibilities at a young age, while learning about words like, “employability,” “dependable,” “flexible,” “punctual,” “helpful,” “communication.” 

“It is important for elementary aged students to learn about employability skills because the skills lay a foundation for lifelong success at school, home and in future careers,” said Yarbrough. “If students understand how classroom lessons relate to future jobs, hopefully they will become motivated to learn and see value in their education.” 

Yarbrough, aided by a $335 HireSmart Cares grant to cover the cost of props and materials, has the students practice handshakes and introduce themselves to each other. She talks about confidence and the skills needed to be part of a work environment. 

One student chimes up about working together: “Offer other people congratulations,” the student says, and Yarbrough enthusiastically agrees and emphasizes the need for positivity and encouragement of others. 

The children share their ideas about what they’d like to be when they grow up. The answers come without hesitation, each student eager to claim their dream: a painter, builder, nurse, welder, artist, veterinarian, mechanic, or military service member.  

Then Yarbrough shares something that shifts the conversation from imagination to possibility. She explains that a number of Madison County High School students leave school in the afternoon and go straight to jobs. They’re not waiting until they’re grown up. They’re gaining employment experience right now in a wide range of roles, including fast food jobs and grocery stores, but also in skilled trades, where they make things with things with their hands. These are real jobs that pay and build résumés. 

Yarbrough helps young students recognize that work is already connected to them — through their dreams, through the skills they’re building every day in school, through the older students in their community who are already out there working. When you practice being dependable and helpful and communicative now, you’re not just being a good student. You’re preparing for something real. 

HireSmart Cares is a Madison County-based nonprofit dedicated to helping K-12 students develop the skills and perspectives they need to have successful careers without the burden of college debt. The 501c3 provides grants to educators like Yarbrough who find innovative ways, like the “Building Blocks for Bright Futures” initiative, to help students find their career path. Find out more at hiresmartcares.org, where educators can also find a digital grant application form to seek funding for their job-readiness initiatives.