CCR Champions is a spotlight series from Connor Harrington, CEO of Kuder, that celebrates educators and school districts leading the way in preparing students for college, careers, and life. From classroom innovation to statewide change, these champions are redefining career readiness, making it more real, relevant, and accessible for every student.
In this case study, we delve into how a Nebraska school district is enabling all of its students to gain career-connected experiences before graduation with a steadfast commitment.
At Bancroft-Rosalie, a PreK–12 district in Nebraska where every student is known by name and supported with intention, an educational transformation is taking shape, one built on opportunity, empowerment, and a deep belief in the power of career readiness. Here, in a school serving just under 300 students, learners are doing far more than preparing for graduation. They are earning college credits, securing internships, pursuing two-year degrees, and stepping confidently into futures shaped by their strengths and aspirations.
This powerful shift isn’t the result of a single person or program. It’s a collective effort driven by dedicated educators, community partners, and an advising system that places students at the center of every decision. Among the leaders in this work is Jacob Cole, School Counselor, whose commitment to helping each student discover their unique pathway is supported by a passionate team and the robust tools of Kuder Navigator® in Nebraska Career Connections, a custom platform to support Nebraska educators and students.
Together, they are proving that rural schools are not limited by size, they are strengthened by connection.
For Jacob and the team at Bancroft-Rosalie, career readiness is an ongoing journey. Now in his third year, Jacob helps guide approximately 282 students, supporting everything from elementary lessons to individualized academic planning. And he knows the importance of this firsthand, as a Bancroft-Rosalie graduate himself that leveraged the Navigator system to pursue his career goals.
A key goal of their college and career readiness programming is simple yet profound:
Empower students to explore careers based on their interests and strengths, then use those insights to build meaningful schedules.
This vision is put into action every January, when the school begins building next year’s course schedules early enough to support dual-credit planning and pathway alignment.
This early work is essential:
97% of eligible juniors and seniors took dual-credit courses last year, a powerful indicator of how deeply students are engaging in future-focused learning.
These opportunities are made possible through strong partnerships with local community colleges, whose dual-credit offerings help students take real steps toward degrees, industry certifications, and advanced coursework.
Just as importantly, Jacob and the staff use the education plan and scheduling data from Kuder Navigator to dynamically inform the courses they offer each year. When students’ career interests shift, course demand shifts and the school adjusts. Instead of guessing what students might want, the counseling team and administrators use real-time planning data to build a master schedule that directly supports student goals and career pathways. This ensures students can access the classes they need to pursue specialized degrees, dual credit options, and pathway experiences without being limited by traditional scheduling barriers.
What’s happening in this district is nothing short of remarkable.
Last year, 38% of seniors earned associate degrees before finishing high school through dual-credit programming.
This year brings yet another milestone:Two determined young women are on track to complete a specialized two-year degree aligned with a BSN nursing program.
This achievement marks the first-ever completion of its kind for the school and reflects the long-term power of consistent, student-centered planning.
Behind these percentages are real stories, students who now step into adulthood with not just a diploma, but a degree, a direction, and the confidence that comes from knowing they’ve already achieved something extraordinary.
One of the biggest challenges in career development is helping students “see” their future. Many struggle to understand how their interests connect to careers, or how high school coursework connects to long-term plans.
For this rural school, Kuder Navigator bridges that gap.
Jacob shares:
“For some students, it’s hard at first to see the big picture. But once we walk through their core classes and explore careers based on their assessments, everything starts to click. After that, it becomes second nature.”
Navigator gives students access to:
• Personalized career assessments
• Research tools for majors, colleges, and occupational pathways
• Planning dashboards that guide course selection
• College and career exploration that connects directly to their schedules
• Real-time data that informs building-wide planning
For staff, Navigator helps eliminate guesswork. Course demand becomes clear. Pathways begin to structure themselves. Students gain relevance, purpose, and motivation.
“It makes my life a lot easier and it gives students clarity. They understand why their choices matter.”
Jacob Cole, School Counselor
Career readiness in this district is lived. For the past five years, the school has operated one of the region’s strongest internship programs. Every Friday, students leave campus to work in their local community. These are not short-term experiences but yearlong placements, and for many students, they become transformational.
This academic year: 60% of internship placements are paid, providing students with income, responsibility, and early professional experience.
Students who cannot secure a placement continue coursework at school, and those enrolled in specialized college classes through ESU’s Pathways to Tomorrow program complete job shadows, especially in pathways like health sciences. Many of these experiences are supported through the school’s strong JAG program, which helps build employability skills, secure placements, and expand opportunities.
The result? Students develop a deep, authentic understanding of their chosen fields before graduation. They begin senior year not wondering what to do, they already have a plan.
This district’s success is powered by educators who go above and beyond. One shining example is James Hulstein, the school’s outstanding Social Studies teacher.
In 2025, James was named Nebraska History Teacher of the Year, an honor awarded by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field. This award underscores what students already know: James is a dedicated educator who inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for history. He is also one of the school’s many dual-credit certified teachers, further expanding opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school.
His recognition reflects a broader truth about the district:
Excellence isn’t an exception here, it’s a culture.
The school’s younger students and junior high learners are deeply engaged in career exploration, especially through Navigator’s research tools and interest assessments.
Students enjoy:
• Discovering their strengths
• Exploring real college and career options
• Having a way to visualize their schedules at any time
And for staff, the impact is undeniable.
“I would recommend Kuder to anyone, hands down. The ease, the applicability, the resources… it’s vast. It can feel overwhelming at first because there’s so much there, but once you understand it, it becomes incredibly powerful.”
Jacob Cole, Counselor
From dual-credit success to yearlong internships, from award-winning educators to strategic advising supported by Kuder Navigator, this Nebraska district is proving what’s possible when every student is valued, supported, and believed in.
Students are not just graduating.
They are stepping boldly into futures they have already begun building.
They are earning degrees.
Securing internships.
Discovering their passions.
And shaping their paths with intention.
This is not just a school success story.
It is a testament to what happens when a district of caring educators commits, fully, creatively, and relentlessly, to helping students pursue their dreams.
If your team is ready to advance career readiness, contact our team today to learn how our robust solutions can support your initiatives.
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