New program at New Haven high school helps students plan their future careers

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – Their high school graduation is still three weeks away, but New Haven Public Schools are already celebrating more than a dozen Wilbur Cross High School seniors.

They are part of the first class graduating from a program that is truly a lifesaver: Emergency Medical Technician class.

“They grinded it out, they realized how hard it is, and this really is like two college classes,” said Michael Powers, BLS Programs Coordinator. “So, they were able to buckle down and get through it, and they did really, really well and I’m really proud of them.”

That hard work means Sherlyn Baranda already has her state EMT license and plans a career in health care.

“A few of us Latinos are not well represented in the medical field and I really wanted to become one of the first in my school and in general to be able to be in the medical field,” Baranda said.

The EMT class is part of New Haven School’s “Pathways” program.

“It’s a plan of study that we put in place for our students that enter the pathway that leads to multiple advanced course opportunities, certification programs and work-based learning,” said Supervisor of College and Career Pathways Dina Natalino.

Current and future Pathways include culinary arts, manufacturing, education, business and bioscience. The district works with employers to figure out what skills are needed.

By the time they graduate high school, a Pathways student will have already taken about a semester’s worth of college credits

With the EMS course, and all of the pathways courses, the students choose them and can see how these courses will help them with their future. As a result, they’re more likely to stick with them.

“These are the things that engage our students,” said New Haven Schools Superintendent Dr. Madleine Negron. “These are the things that are going to make it interesting for students to show up every day.”

They plan to keep showing up and now that they’ve seen the importance of emergency medicine…

“We’re the first people who see babies being born, or the last hand to grab on when they’re taking their last breath,” Baranda said.

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