Streetsboro High School is bringing the community into the classroom with the launch of its Rocket Career Café series, a biweekly program designed to expose students to diverse career paths through conversations with local professionals.
The initiative kicked off on Friday, November 7, with Scott Wilson, a firefighter from the Streetsboro Fire Department, who shared insights about emergency services, training requirements, and the rewards of serving the community.
The Rocket Career Café sessions take place every other Friday during the school’s intervention period. Each 30-minute session features 20-25 minutes of presentation followed by a question-and-answer period, giving students in grades 9 through 12 direct access to professionals across multiple industries.
The lineup includes speakers from healthcare, technology, education, public safety and business sectors. Upcoming presenters include Rachel Metich, a cybersecurity specialist with Northeast Ohio CyberConsortium; C.J. Scarcipino from Streetsboro City Schools discussing school administration and operations; Sara Jonas, director of marketing at Team Wendy; and Ryan Coy, a senior solution engineer at Snowflake who will discuss artificial intelligence and software careers.
Healthcare professionals scheduled to speak include occupational therapist Stacey Roberts from Streetsboro Schools, personal trainer and kinesiotherapist Kim Davis, and Jay Jonas, an athletic trainer from Kent State University's Athletic Training and Sports Medicine program.
The series will also feature more local emergency responders, with Kevin Grimm from the Streetsboro Fire Department presenting on firefighting and paramedicine in March, and business leaders like Heather Maloney, regional controller at Aramark Healthcare Plus, discussing finance and accounting careers.
The Rocket Career Café connects students’ classroom learning to real-world careers while strengthening the partnerships that make Streetsboro special,” said Streetsboro High School Principal Patrick Griffis. “We’re proud to create and maintain the strong community connections that help our students explore new possibilities, learn from local professionals, and see how their education prepares them for the future.”
Students must register for each session they wish to attend, and there is no limit on participation. The program runs through April 17, 2026, with sessions paused during the district's winter break from December 22 through January 2.
The Rocket Career Café aligns with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s career cluster standards, exposing students to fields including health science, information technology, law and public safety, marketing, finance and human services.
