Fallbrook High School is preparing students for careers

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook High School Career Technical Education (CTE) and Regional Occupational Program (ROP) department has begun on-the-job training with student internships at area child care and preschool facilities throughout Fallbrook.

The students are encouraged to choose an age level that they would like to work with. Next, they are trained in child care skills and then placed out in the community. The students spend time after school for a minimum of three hours per week working with young children.

As part of their training sessions, students must complete TB tests, earn pediatric CPR & First Aid cards, study and pass basic child care skills tests, complete a resume and a background clearance. Once the students complete the ROP child care program, they are ready to enter the workforce as a preschool teacher. Many past students are now working in the field, several here in Fallbrook.

Fallbrook High School has a very active CTE department. The school offers two different child training courses, “Child Development” and “ROP Child Care Careers”. Both of these classes develop an understanding of the skills needed to teach, work with, and care for infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-age children. The ROP class includes the on-the-job training.

“Students that complete both classes can earn a Certificate of Competency,” said Ms. Tabish, Fallbrook High School child care instructor. “This gives them a great advantage when entering the work force.”

Students in the Fallbrook High ROP child care program learn so many work place skills that make them marketable. They learn basic business skills, stages of child development, lesson planning, time management, presentation skills and so much more.

Students in the Fallbrook child care program are exposed to a multitude of career options in this area. Students develop many of the needed 21st century skills that will help them become successful later in life. Students work on many project-based learning opportunities such as creating a lesson plan file and developing an electronic career portfolio. The child care program at Fallbrook High School is part of the career technical education department.