During Career Day at Liberty Middle School, Ted Thiele demonstrated a metal detector, which he sometimes uses in his job as a crime scene investigator in Madison. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Students learned about possible job paths from about 40 experts during Career Day at Liberty Middle School on March 21.

The annual event is important “because it brings the business men and women from our community to share why they chose their profession, how to be educated or trained, job expectations and salary range and perks,” Liberty Assistant Principal Sylvia Lambert said.

Presenters included a pharmacist, singer/songwriter, police officer, NASA archivist/historian, meteorologist, solider, radiation therapist, restaurant manager, construction worker, orthodontist, veterinarian, soil researcher and athletic trainer.

In 45-minute sessions, all of Liberty’s 800 students learned about three professions. The small-group format encouraged students to ask thoughtful questions.

* “How much money do you make in this job?”

* “What education is needed for this job?”

* “What do you do each day?”

* “Do you get to travel?”

Many students received their “first exposure about daily routines and viewed demonstrations and artifacts related to the various careers,” Lambert said.

Madison police officers in the K-9 unit commanded their police dog to subdue a ‘criminal.’ The SWAT team used the gym to demonstrate their strategies.

“An artist demonstrated how to operate his potter’s wheel and craft a vase,” Lambert said. A forensics investigator shared tools, like a metal detector.

Each Liberty teacher invited one professional to speak. Surprisingly, most speakers weren’t Liberty parents but residents with whom teachers have connections.

Liberty Principal Nelson Brown and assistant principals Jamie Golliver and Lambert planned Career Day. Liberty’s office staff prepared nametags and refreshments.

Math teacher Nathan Fogg organized rotation schedules for students. English teacher Bess House coordinated Liberty ambassadors as hosts for the arriving businesspeople.

“The teamwork exhibited from each teacher and staff member at Liberty was incredible from the recruiting to organization and hosting of the 40 speakers,” Lambert said.

Some speakers already asked to return for Career Day 2015. “One presenter said he enjoys sharing his profession in hopes he’ll spark interest within the kids to consider his career,” Lambert said.