In today’s rapidly evolving world, preparing students to succeed in college and careers must begin long before they reach high school. We often think of College and Career Readiness opportunities at the secondary level. However, we must prepare our students at the earliest level possible. In the San Francisco Unified School District, we aim to cultivate independent thinkers with a sense of agency. Students should have attained academic and creative skills to lead productive lives and contribute to our community.

Elementary school is a critical period for developing the foundational skills and habits that set the stage for lifelong learning. Through mastery of core academic subjects — like math, English, science and art — students build essential problem-solving and critical thinking skills. These competencies align with Common Core State Standards and are integral to the SFUSD Graduate Profile, which identifies key capacities every student should possess by graduation.

SFUSD has developed the Graduate Profile, which outlines six essential competencies students need to thrive in school, careers, and to thrive in the 21st century.

Content Knowledge: We help our students master the fundamentals they need to know to succeed — like math, English, computer science, and art — and develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Career and Life Skills: We help our students acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to navigate the real world. We partner with companies to expose students to real challenges and learn how to solve them.

Global, Local, and Digital Identity: We equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the future. They learn new languages, understand new technologies, or participate in local apprenticeships.

Leadership, Empathy, and Collaboration: We organize activities in teams to help students learn to work together. We encourage students to work with partners outside the classroom, too — such as family members or mentors — to prepare them to lead and collaborate.

Creativity: We provide opportunities for our students to be creative and at the center of solutions. They tackle problems like the California drought or work to improve their physical school environments.

Sense of Purpose and Sense of Self: We believe in every one of our students. We nurture their growth and teach them life lessons so they can recognize their purpose and value. We encourage each student to reach their full potential, whether they require extra support or a new challenge.

At Sunset Elementary, these graduate profile principles come to life through the annual Career and Read Aloud Day. Email invitations to read and present are sent to our parents/guardians and the community at large. On the Career and Read Aloud Day, parents, caregivers and community members visit classrooms to share their career journeys and read a beloved book. Each class has two to three readers visit their room. This unique experience not only introduces students to a wide array of professions but also sparks curiosity and broadens their horizons. Some careers showcased during the event include: teacher, banker, color designer, firefighter, mechanical engineer, city planner, psychologist, chef, musician, neuro-physical therapist, law enforcement officer, nurse, state assembly member, district superintendent, dentist and so many more.

The Career and Read Aloud Day speakers delve into what roles and responsibilities their jobs entail, and what type of preparation they needed to get there, whether it was practicing and honing skills, attaining college degrees and/or participating in internships. Students learn from the guest speakers and ask many questions sparked from presentations. Students are encouraged to consider their own interests and how they would like to impact the world.

Through these presentations, students see the diverse paths available to them while connecting academic skills to real-world applications. For example, a neuro-physical therapist might discuss the importance of helmets in protecting our brains, and linking biology to personal safety. A city planner might share how math and engineering create better communities and how red-lining has affected our neighborhood makeup of residents. These examples inspire students to envision futures they might not have previously considered.

A fifth grade student reflected on the event and said, “A few positive things about Career Read Aloud Day is that it gives me the chance to learn about different careers in an engaging way. Listening to professionals share their experiences helps me discover new job opportunities, explore my interests, and feel inspired about my future.”

When students were asked what other careers they wanted to learn more about, they listed: baker, fabric designer, artist, chef, mechanic, voice actor, tennis player, cosmetic chemist, pilot, army personnel, writer, and YouTuber. The Career and Read Aloud Committee, comprised of the school librarian, parents and principal, put a call out to ask for volunteers to represent these professions, highlighting the community’s enthusiasm to share their experiences with young learners.

The focus on college and career readiness at Sunset goes beyond asking the students: What do you want to be when you grow up? It is an approach that integrates academic excellence with skill-building opportunities and community involvement. By embedding leadership, empathy, and creativity into everyday learning, students are prepared to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Preparing students for the future is not a task reserved for high school; it begins in elementary school with intentional, engaging, and meaningful opportunities. SFUSD’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, coupled with events like the Career and Read Aloud Day, ensures that students are ready to meet the challenges of college, careers and beyond. By starting early, we enable every student to unlock their potential and build a brighter future.