By MARISA CASTANEDA
Communication specialist
Manteca Unified School District
Lathrop High School students are gaining hands-on experience in real-world careers through the City Speaker Series, a career exploration program aligned with the school’s business curriculum in collaboration with the City of Lathrop.
Lathrop High School is a part of the Manteca Unified School District, which leads a renowned Career Technical Education (CTE) program.
The program supports career-based learning opportunities across its schools to help students prepare for post-graduation success.
Through CTE-aligned programs and partnerships, students gain access to experiences that connect classroom learning to post-secondary pathways, including school-led initiatives like the City Speaker Series.
The City Speaker Series was developed through a collaboration between Lathrop High School Principal Melissa Beattie, teachers Ashley Wright, Allison Birakos, and Ryan Teicheira, and City of Lathrop partners, including Vice Mayor Jennifer Torres-O’Callaghan, Parks, Recreation, and Fleet Director Todd Sebastian, and Recreation Manager Melissa Stathakopoulos.
What began with two business classes at Lathrop High School serving 50-60 students has expanded to include an additional class, with 80 students participating this term. Now in its third year, the series connects students with city professionals through monthly speaker sessions and hands-on field trips that showcase a variety of careers.
The program enhances classroom instruction by helping students link their learning to future occupations.
“The program aims to inspire students, deepen their understanding of local government, and strengthen connections between young people and their community,” said Todd Sebastian.
A core reason the Speaker Series was created is to help students explore future workforce options while developing business professional skills and connections.
“We really wanted to emphasize how important it is to have conversation skills, people skills, knowing how to build connections, and networking,” said Ashley Wright, Business Teacher at Lathrop High School.
The program features real-life training and career exploration, showing students the full circle of business operations within the public sector and even professional growth: how employees advanced to their current positions.
Students say the program has introduced them to future professions they had never previously considered.
Speakers represent areas such as engineering, economic and community development, parks and recreation, fire and police services, human resources, finance, and transportation.
“It has definitely inspired me to explore different careers,” said senior Mariah Joaquin. “I never thought that I would be interested in a career like the ones we learn about. I didn't even know some of these jobs existed.”
Teachers say the series is having an impact that goes beyond introducing careers; it’s inspiring action. Some students have already taken the next step by applying for jobs, a clear sign that the connections are forming.
As the program continues to grow, teachers hope it will continue to inspire students to ask questions, build connections, and discover the many opportunities available within their own backyard.
“It really just takes one conversation to open up 100 opportunities to something,” said junior, Emily Chavez-Hernandez.
