The Packer Profile
The Packer Profile directly results from feedback from students, staff, and family stakeholder groups during the 2021-22 strategic planning process. The Packer Profile identifies the community's shared aspirations for students and what it means to be a graduate of APS. It reflects what our students, staff, and families desire each day for our students and supports their preparation to become college, career, and life-ready.
APS graduates are entering an ever-changing world filled with endless possibilities. To support our students in achieving their dreams after high school, APS staff will model and guide students towards their development of the Packer Core Values. The core values will hold our system accountable to focusing our instruction, student engagement, and community collaboration in supporting our students to make a difference in the world.
At APS, we've designed multiple Career Pathways to help students discover their strengths and interests in order to explore career opportunities and make a plan for the future.
At APS, our goal is to provide meaningful learning experiences that feel relevant and impactful to our students.
The Packer Portfolio is a digital portfolio that students in Austin Public Schools use to celebrate their progress and growth in the Packer Core Values.
Career Exploration Resources
As students work to explore their career options and pathways, these tools can be invaluable in helping them to make informed decisions.
- The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) offers a wide variety of Career Exploration resources including a Career and Education Explorer, a Career Pathways Explorer, and an Employment Outlook tool.
Packer Profile Principles
The Packer Profile reflects 3 key principles to guide student experience throughout their education at Austin Public Schools:
- Career Pathway Exploration: Students will leverage their interests and abilities to connect with local professionals and explore future careers and educational opportunities.
- Meaningful Learning Experiences: Core content and instruction will provide students with meaningful lessons and skills relevant to their relationships, community, and future careers beyond Austin Public Schools.
- Packer Portfolio: Beginning with the class of 2027, students will celebrate their progress by sharing a digital portfolio with the community that demonstrates their journey and growth in the Packer Core Values.
Packer Core Values
APS Packer Profile Task Force
During the 2023-24 school year, and first year of implementation of the Packer Profile, a task force was created to guide and support the alignment of the Packer Profile across the PK-12 system. This team was assembled to gather feedback, share ideas, and discuss how to support emerging elements of the Packer Profile as elementary, middle and high school teams begin to connect work at their sites to the three main elements (Career Exploration, Meaningful Learning Experiences, Packer Portfolio) of the Packer Profile.
Members Include: Matt Schmit, Bryce Hoffa, Emily Hovland, Jane Carlson, Jessica Cabeen, Dewey Schara, Karen Dunbar, Kirsten Norby, Kane Malo, Sheila Berger, Andrea Malo, Jill Rollie.
Community Partnerships
We are very excited to be implementing the Packer Profile at Austin Public Schools which will allow students to explore different career pathways, develop a personal learning portfolio, and engage in authentic learning in the classroom.
We are asking community members to complete the survey below as a way to continue to develop a contact list of community members who are willing to make connections with our students and staff. This is a great way to connect our schools and community, to help our students grow and explore through their learning, and to create connections for business in the future. We hope you will consider getting involved and that you will take a few minutes to complete the survey as a way for us to have a database of community members for staff and students to connect with in various ways.
https://forms.office.com/r/CG92MBPnmn
Please reach out to Packer Profile Coordinator, Emily Hovland, with any questions: emily.hovland@austin.k12.mn.us
School-Community Learning Partnerships: Essential to Expanded Learning Success
Program Coordinators
Emily Hovland
Packer Profile Coordinator
emily.hovland@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800 ext: 1844
The Packer Profile Coordinator will develop Packer Profile Lessons supporting student growth in the area of our Packer Core Values and exploration of the Career Pathways, support students in development of their personal Packer Portfolio, and collaborate with staff and the community to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities in the classroom.
Jane Carlson
Career Pathway Coordinator
jane.carlson@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1800 ext: 0151
The Career Pathway Coordinator helps students discover their strengths and interests, explore career opportunities, identify a career pathway, purposefully select courses in their 4 year academic plan that align with their pathway, and assist in the journey to a successful career.