Career and Technical Education Month® is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate CTE, the accomplishments of CTE programs, and the importance of CTE for all students of all ages. Career and technical education covers a wide range of career areas: automotive, architecture, education, carpentry, nursing, dental, medical technicians, food and fiber production, agribusiness, culinary arts, business management, communication, marketing, technology, engineering, and much more.
Marion County Schools has two, wonderful Career Coaches to assist our students with determining and planning their future careers. We appreciate all that they do for our students! (Read more about them below).
Lindsey Oliver
My name is Lindsey Fincher Oliver-Career Coach for Marion County Schools. I'm from Hackleburg and currently live there on a family farm. I've been married to Jonathan Oliver for almost 11 years and we have 2 children, Top and Finleigh. We love spending time with family outdoors and being involved in Hackleburg youth football, basketball, baseball, and church.
I have worked in education for 14 years with student recruiting, advising, and career information for the University of Alabama, Bevill State Community College, and Northwest-Shoals Community College. I'm very proud and honored to now be serving my second year as a Career Coach for Marion County Schools and absolutely love my job. I really enjoy working with middle school to high school students in helping them explore different career options and deciding on what they want to do after graduation. I hope to help make a positive impact and lasting impression in all the students' lives that I come in contact with.
Heather McCarley
I am excited to introduce myself; I am Heather McCarley. I am married to Matt McCarley, and we have two children: Titus and Nadia. We have two fur babies: Smores (cat) and Gidget (dog). I graduated from Hamilton High School in 1999. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a minor in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama.
I was employed with the Marion County Department of Human Resources (DHR) for 14 years. I spent several years recruiting and licensing foster parents. This included planning activities to encourage interest in becoming foster parents, supporting, training, approving, and licensing them. I had the opportunity to work with families and develop case plans and set goals to work toward reunification of children with their families. Other duties included having the opportunity to work with teenagers to help them prepare to live independently; this involved assisting with and exploring different careers, completing assessments, helping to complete job, financial aid, and college applications. My goal was to assist each child to become a successful independent adult. I also have worked with adults and assisted them by completing Medicaid applications, provided support, and completed case planning. Also, with my after-hours on-call duties, I responded to emergency child abuse/neglect reports.
I enjoy working with others and assisting them in being successful and am looking forward to continuing assisting others to become successful.