CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Vol. 43, No. 8
February 11, 2009
DESE and Taco Bell Restaurants Reach Out to
Students and Parents with Career-Planning Info
Teenagers and parents visiting Taco Bell restaurants in mid-Missouri this month got a free side order of career-planning information with their food.
The restaurant franchise, with stores in Moberly, Columbia and Jefferson City, partnered with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to distribute a public service flyer about DESE’s new career-exploration video series. The outreach project coincided with this month’s nationwide observance of Career and Technical Education Month.
The new video series, “What’s Your Plan? – An Introduction to the 16 Career Clusters,” invites students to explore a wide spectrum of career options. Featuring upbeat music and teenage hosts, the programs (on DVD) are now available at school and public libraries statewide.
Every counselor’s office in a public school with students in grades 7-12 has the complete “What’s Your Plan?” video kit. The programs also are available online. The flyer distributed by Taco Bell restaurants encourages parents and students to visit the Missouri Connections Web site.
The student outreach effort is a first-of-its-kind partnership for the state education agency and the central Missouri Taco Bell franchise. The nine-store franchise serves about 50,000 customers a week.
The project reflects Taco Bell’s workplace principles, said franchise owner Cameron Dunafon of Dunafon Enterprises, Inc., Columbia. “This was a great way for Taco Bell to partner with the state’s education agency to help students prepare for their future in the foodservice industry and elsewhere in Missouri.”
“We appreciate Taco Bell’s commitment to ‘thinking outside the bun’ and working with us on this project,” said Tom Quinn, DESE’s assistant commissioner for career education. “We hope this outreach effort can help build awareness and enthusiasm for career exploration and educational planning. The Missouri Connections Web site is a terrific tool that parents and students can use together in planning educational and career choices,” he said.
In observance of Career and Technical Education Month, DESE also has launched a statewide radio public service announcement campaign. The 10- and 30-second spots will run on Missouri Broadcaster Association-member stations during February and March. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of career and technical education and the importance of educational and career planning.