New YouScience Navigators Bring Workforce Insight Directly Into Springfield Schools

Using funding from the EXPAND 2029 campaign, the Greater Springfield Partnership (GSP) is piloting YouScience in local schools to give students a clear understanding of their aptitudes and career options. The program’s strength comes from the people delivering it every day. Three navigators, each with unique experience, are working inside classrooms to help students connect assessment results with real opportunities.

Morgan Hanrly Guides Shawnee High School Students Toward Career-Connected Learning

Morgan Hanrly grew up in Springfield and attended Clark State before building a career in recruiting and professional development. After leading workforce programs at a nonprofit, she transitioned into the role of YouScience Navigator at Shawnee High School.

In this new role, Hanrly partners with teachers to embed career exploration into coursework. In Samantha Kennedy’s alternative algebra class, students use their YouScience results to select a career and salary, then build financial plans to understand real-world budgeting. In Robert DeLong’s material sciences class, she is helping students map aptitude results to specialized careers in engineering and manufacturing, including pathways that don’t require advanced math.

Hanrly is also engaging local employers, leveraging the GSP’s network of businesses, to provide job exposure and training opportunities. Her goal is to reduce the number of Springfield graduates leaving the community for work by showing them practical career paths connected to the local industry.

Ron Long Brings Coaching and Business Experience to Northwestern Schools

Ron Long spent 20 years as a business owner and more than a decade coaching basketball at Northwestern. He now applies those skills as a YouScience Navigator, integrating career readiness with leadership development.

At Northwestern Jr./High School, Long initially prioritizes seniors and juniors while engaging 10th graders as a secondary group. He frames the YouScience assessment as a tool for self-discovery rather than a test, helping students see how their skills align with specific industries. His coaching background shapes his approach to building student confidence and persistence.

Off-campus events like “SHE DIG” are a perfect example of how a student’s YouScience aptitudes align with potential career interests. This event helped introduce young women to careers in heavy equipment, with many getting to operate various pieces of equipment under direct supervision. Additionally, all Clark County Schools, with the help of the Greater Springfield Partnership, are creating Discovery Days that focus on a wide range of career options, including IT, business, and real estate, providing students with practical exposure to high-demand fields.

Dara Errett Strengthens Technology and Student Connections Across Schools

Dara Errett, a long-time Springfield resident, supports both Northwestern and Shawnee schools in her role. With a background as a preschool teacher, photographer, and real estate agent, she brings a practical understanding of career transitions and the challenges of finding the right path.

Errett manages the program’s visibility by updating school technology and social media while also working directly with students. She emphasizes the importance of one-on-one support, particularly for seniors preparing to graduate. Her outreach includes planning field trips that expose students to local industries, such as construction and manufacturing.

By balancing technology, communications, and student guidance, Errett ensures the program reaches both classrooms and individual learners.

The Navigators’ Collective Impact

Together, Hanrly, Long, and Errett are embedding career readiness into daily school life. They administer assessments, interpret the results with students, collaborate with teachers, and establish direct connections with local employers. Their combined efforts demonstrate that the implementation of YouScience can be a model that can be scaled across Clark County.

Take Action To Support YouScience Expansion

Greater Springfield Partnership is working to expand YouScience to more schools. Business leaders and community partners can strengthen this effort by providing career exposure opportunities, internships, and industry insights to support the development of these skills. To learn more about partnership options and next steps, contact Kaitlyn Tyler, the Talent and Education Manager at the Greater Springfield Partnership.