CareerSpark & JA Inspire®

CareerSpark for Middle Grades

Students gather for an eye-opening and activity-based expo to engage with local professionals. Through hands-on activities, students explore career clusters, helping them visualize their futures and build a strong foundation for their high school studies and career paths.

Middle Grades Expo Communities and Presenting Partners

Stanford, IL - Olympia School District

Greater Springfield, IL - Illinois Department of Innovation Technology & Learning Technology Center

Greater Peoria, IL - Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

Logan County, IL - Lincoln Economic Advancement & Development

East Central Illinois - Education for Employment System #330

CareerSpark for High School

High school students also have the opportunity to connect with local employers through an interactive expo in a blended learning platform with our without a guest speaker, where they can gain valuable insights to help them secure the right job or next postsecondary education or training step for their aspirations. 

High School Presenting Partner - Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

Classroom Curriculum

The JA Inspire curriculum, which is free to educators, is a dynamic and interactive resource designed to empower middle and high school students with the knowledge and skills needed to explore and plan for their future careers. Through a blend of classroom-based or self-guided instruction and hands-on activities, students learn how to make informed decisions about their education, training, and career goals. This initiative aims to empower students to understand and pursue the diverse career opportunities available in Central Illinois in a thoughtful, strategic way.