PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS LESSONS IN OCCUPATIONS.

Byline: Cynthia Teed Daily News Staff Writer

At 17, Yadira Cardenas has her feet on the ground and is ready to tackle the world of fashion merchandising.

Pretty enough to be a model, Cardenas, a junior at Valencia High School, is studying her chosen field through the Regional Occupational Program offered by the William S. Hart Union High School District.

In addition to her junior class studies and after-school job flipping patties at In-N-Out Burger, Cardenas, book smart and industrious, wants to spend any free time she has learning and working in her intended career as a fashion merchandiser by studying under ROP teacher Summer Kessler.

Cardenas is one of Kessler's 30 occupational program students at Valencia High.

ROP offers classes for students and adults who want to begin training for occupations in demand. From banking, cosmetology and travel agentry to physical therapy and computer hardware, students can learn on the job and from instructors who have experience in the career area they teach.

``It's the latest thing in education,'' said Jan Burns, ROP coordinator for the district.

California has 72 ROPs, with about 12 in Los Angeles County. Locally, the program is open to any high school student or adult who lives in the community. ``But like any other state-funded program, we've been really short of money and had to turn dozens of kids away, I'm sorry to say,'' Burns said.

Finances for occupational programs might be changing, however.

``Our district just received a grant called School to Career and a federal grant that is offered throughout the U.S. to help schools start changing their curriculum,'' Burns said.

Schools will begin to fold career-oriented tasks and skills with academic, because educators, Burns said, have learned that kids who are only book smart don't succeed in the real world.

``And we intend to help all kids be as successful as possible,'' she said. ``I love my job, and I'm grateful every day I can make a difference for students who want help.''

Kessler will teach math skills to her fashion merchandising students as they learn the bookkeeping and cashiering skills necessary for the occupation.

``We already teach related skills, combining the world of work with academics, so the grant is nothing new, but we might get some extra money,'' Kessler said.

That's the problem Burns faces: money and space.

``I hate to turn students away. We have to do that now because we have just outgrown our resources,'' she said.

Burns fears that if the district builds two more high schools and no more money is earmarked for ROP to expand, then deserving students will continue to be turned away.

About 2,000 students participate in ROP each year and receive certificates of completion in occupational training. ROP students still earn a diploma through their regular high school, attending classes after school and in the evenings.

John Moskal teaches acting and performance in ROP. Moskal, an industry professional, lists credits from NBC's ``City Guys,'' ``Days of Our Lives,'' ``Knotts Landing'' and ``Happy Days.''

``It's really important for the students to see what constitutes an actor's auditions tape and know what the business is like. I wish someone had told me all this when I started,'' Moskal said.

Ricky Roben, one of Moskal's ROP students, just got a lead in a short subject film, ``War's End,'' and has played opposite Kirk Cameron on ABC's ``Growing Pains.''

Like Burns and Kessler, Moskal said he's really proud of his students - all of them.

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Photo

PHOTO Yadira Cardenas, 17, gets some fashion tips from occupational instructor Summer Kessler.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News