Deb Prowse | Career Academy Coach | Beloit Memorial High School
January 2022 - I Believe in our Kids, our Teachers, and our Community
From Understanding to Connections to Opportunities
For 30 years, I taught math, both at the middle school and high school level. I have taught
everything from 7th grade general math through AP Calculus BC (college level Calculus 2). Over
those 30 years, I found that if I could make math challenging, interesting, intuitive, and/or
relevant to students, they often found success. Some students like to work together to solve
challenging problems; others like to work independently, all need to be able to do both.
I grew up in Beloit, attending Todd, Aldrich, and Beloit Memorial. At every level, I had
experiences that allowed my talents and interests to grow. I learned high school Geometry in my
drafting classes in grades 7-9 as I applied the concepts necessary to complete the drafting
assignments. I formalized my learning of Geometry in my 10th grade Geometry class. I learned
how to speak in front of groups in my Marketing classes and the DECA Club, so my college
Speech class was a breeze, even for this shy kid! The business proposal I wrote in my Marketing 2
class taught me as much about writing as the essays I wrote in English class. In fact, the proposal
gave purpose to the skills I was learning in English.
I did not recognize these connections while they were happening; I began to realize them as a
young teacher trying to help my students gain an intuitive understanding of mathematics. As I
grew as a teacher and I thought about my students and (eventually) my own children’s
experiences in our schools, I noticed that some students had similar experiences to mine. In
contrast, other students seemed lost and had far different experiences. When the position for
Career Academy Coach opened, I decided that this was a great opportunity for me to continue to
grow, learn, and serve in a new capacity.
Academies Open Up Doors to a Bright Future
Beloit is my home. I bleed purple. I believe in our kids, our teachers, and our community and am
hopeful that the academies will help many more of our students have a high school experience
that will allow them to explore interests, find relevance in their course work, to find ways to
grow as a community member, so they are well-prepared for whatever path they choose after
high school.
For years, individual teachers and groups of teachers have achieved this for some of our students;
the academies provide this opportunity for each and every student. As the Career Academy
Coach, I hope to continue to find ways for our school to partner with the business community,
parents, local educational institutions, and local non-profits. Through our career academies and
the partnerships we build, I am hopeful each of our students will find their talents and passions
and build on those to develop the skills and confidence to progress toward a career that will
allow them to live comfortably, provide for their family, and contribute to the greater good of
their community.
Career, College, and Community Ready
Through the community and parent partnerships, I also hope to educate our students and
parents about the variety of opportunities our students have to enter high-pay, high-demand
careers. There are multiple ways students can prepare for these careers. Whether they enter an
apprenticeship, attend a local technical or community college, attend a 4-year college or
university, or enter the military, these careers are accessible to our graduates. In fact, a student
who works hard throughout high school, challenges themselves to take rigorous courses, and
who takes every opportunity to learn, will graduate from our high school with industry
certifications, college credits, and/or an associate degree in a field of interest.
Whether your student wants to be a nurse, a welder, an entrepreneur, a financial planner, a
scientist, a project manager on a construction site, a restaurant owner, an engineer, or any of a
number of other careers, we have an academy and a pathway that will help them explore and
prepare for their next steps. Couple this with the amazing amount of extra-curricular activities
and athletics offered to our students, and the sky is the limit. Your student will find their place
and be in a position to look ahead to their future.
When our students thrive, our community thrives, and then we will all look forward with
excitement and anticipation.
