(This article is part of an occasional series highlighting career exploration initiatives across the Lehigh Valley.)
How many high school students get to tour an active construction site, watch jets take off from an air traffic control tower, or learn to suture beside a licensed physician?
Students throughout the Lehigh Valley’s 17 school districts participate in exploration activities like these, thanks to the concerted efforts of educators, administrators, and local employers. 
Career exploration help students build self-awareness, learn about potential career paths, and make plans to reach future goals. It also plays an important role in building an educated and skilled talent pipeline.
Lehigh Valley employers recognize the value of career exploration.
“By giving students early exposure to manufacturing, technology, and skilled careers, we can help them understand that there are rewarding, high-growth opportunities available right here in their own community,” said Tyson Daniels, President and CEO of Polymer Contours, a custom plastic injection molding company in Allentown.
In 2025, Pennsylvania, a leading state in early career exploration, joined four other states in a nationwide initiative to strengthen career preparation, with Karianne Gelinas, Vice President of Talent Strategies at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) and Catasauqua Area School District Superintendent Christina Lutz-Doemling among the state’s participants. Catasauqua was selected as a pilot district for the Career Readiness Innovation Program, with Career Connections Coordinator Kim Flueso leading the initiative at Catasauqua Middle School.
Under Flueso’s enthusiastic and energetic leadership, and with support from administrators like Lutz-Doemling and Catasauqua High School Principal David Todd, Catasauqua has launched a program with eight career pathways and greatly expanded career exploration activities aimed at enhancing students’ employability skills.
During the 2025 – 2026 school year, juniors and seniors participated in:
- More than 600 off-campus career-related engagements
- Middle school Achievement Night with interactive career expo
- Classroom presentations by Lehigh Valley business leaders
- Shark Tank style entrepreneurship contest
“At Catasauqua Area School District, we believe preparing students for the future means exposing them to the many opportunities available after high school,” Flueso said. “By providing authentic, hands-on experiences, we empower students to pursue careers that align with their strengths and passions while making thoughtful choices that can reduce unnecessary educational debt and lead to fulfilling careers.”
Strong partnerships between school districts and local employers, like the relationship between Catasauqua Area School District and Polymer Contours, facilitate the development of quality career exploration opportunities that get students excited about building careers and futures right here in the Lehigh Valley.
“These partnerships allow employers to better understand and support the development of the next generation of talent. Building relationships with local school districts is one of the most important investments employers can make in the future of their workforce,” Daniels said. He has made those relationships a priority by engaging with students through classroom presentations, coaching, and tours of Polymer Contours.
From construction sites and manufacturing floors to healthcare facilities and airports, Lehigh Valley students are getting a firsthand look at what their futures could hold. By opening those doors early, educators and employers are helping students discover what’s possible—and strengthening the talent pipeline that will shape the region’s future.
(Photos courtesy of Catasauqua Area School District)