Brilliant Pathways Honors Local Schools for College, Career Preparation

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL
OTSEGO COUNTY

Several area schools have been honored as “Schools of Distinction” for “their outstanding efforts in preparing students for college, careers, and lifelong success,” according to a statement from Brilliant Pathways, an educational nonprofit organization. Among the 29 honored schools across the U.S. and Ireland were Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School, Milford Central School, Otsego Area Occupational Center, Owen D. Young Central School, Richfield Springs Central School, and Worcester Central School.

“These schools are forward-thinking and proactive in meeting the evolving needs of today’s students,” said Tara Smith, chief executive officer of Brilliant Pathways. “By embracing new strategies and staying ahead of emerging career and academic trends, they are giving their students the tools to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

Brilliant Pathways, headquartered in Essex, New York and which works with 150 rural and underserved schools, promotes college and career readiness for students. Partner schools honored as “Schools of Distinction” met criteria including schoolwide programming that exposed students to different college and career pathways. “Ultimately, schools must foster a strong, school-wide culture of college and career readiness, where the values of exploration, preparation, and achievement are consistently emphasized,” reads an award description shared by a Brilliant Pathways spokesperson.

That has included college and career fairs, visits to colleges, spirit weeks, mock interviews, family engagement, mentoring programs, and more. Brilliant Pathways partners with 13 schools across the Leatherstocking Region, “thanks to the generous support of The Clark Foundation,” the spokesperson said.

Richfield Springs Superintendent Tom Piatti said the district’s program advisors Jodi Bard and Jan Wust “are rock stars” for their work managing the program, which has been honored for a third consecutive year.

“We have created a positive culture centered around our students and their futures with the help of Brilliant Pathways,” Piatti said.

According to Piatti, that has included training “all our staff” as college and career readiness advisors, college visits and career fairs, and a mentoring program. The district has also collaborated with Owen D. Young Central School, another honoree.

Worcester Central School earned its fourth School of Distinction award.

“The honor of this accomplishment goes to our Brilliant Pathways mentors and scholars who worked tirelessly to be engaged in the program,” said Poletta Louis, the advisor for the WCS program. By partnering with Brilliant Pathways, Louis said, “We have access to resources, conferences and training that provide our students with foundational skills that will be beneficial for years to come.”