During National Career Development Month, The DeBruce Foundation hosted a free virtual event, Employment Empowerment for K–12: From Classroom to Career, bringing together hundreds of educators nationwide to explore how classroom practices can prepare students for thriving futures. During the event, The Foundation highlighted its Agilities© K–12 Resources, which now include over 90 free classroom tools and lesson plans designed to help educators integrate Career Literacy into everyday learning.
The event featured insights from Dr. Brad Johnson, bestselling author and global education keynote speaker, alongside Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and COO of The DeBruce Foundation, and K–12 educators from partner school districts. Together, they shared the latest research, practical tools, and success stories to help students connect their learning today to career success tomorrow.
Through segments from Piper School District, Blue Springs School District, and Joplin School District, attendees saw how teachers across grade levels are using The DeBruce Foundation’s Agilities Framework to help students identify their strengths, increase engagement, and see the relevance of what they learn in school to the world of work.
“When students develop Career Literacy and build strong networks early, they gain the confidence and skills to pursue meaningful, empowered careers. Educators are the key to making that happen,” said Dr. Taylor Knight. “We are thrilled to offer nearly 100 free tools and lesson plans to help K-12 educators build career-literate classrooms – and brighter futures for their students.”
The DeBruce Foundation’s research shows the measurable impact of its tools: Students who used Agilities tools explored three more careers than peers in control groups. They also experienced a 17 percent increase in confidence to overcome obstacles.
All of The DeBruce Foundation’s career exploration tools and research are freely available to educators, students, and communities as part of The Foundation’s philanthropic mission to expand career pathways and increase access to economic opportunity.
Everyone can access the full virtual event recording, featured resources, and research findings at: DeBruce.org/November
The DeBruce Foundation is a national foundation whose mission is to expand pathways to economic growth and opportunity. The Foundation is committed to helping individuals unlock their potential and find career pathways. By developing solutions such as the Agile Work Profiler©, we change how people pursue careers. By partnering strategically, we increase experiences and exposure to widen career opportunities, starting with youth and working across the lifespan. Learn more at www.DeBruce.org.