College & Workforce Readiness

Outside Groups Build Bridges Between School, Business

March 25, 2015 3 min read
Myles Taylor, left, ties a tie for fellow student Maliak Peters at a career fair organized by Academies, Inc., which was held at Philadelphia’s convention center. The teenagers were preparing for a “Dress for Success Relay.”
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

When it comes to collaborating to shape career and technical education programs in schools, educators and businesses don’t always speak the same language. To fill that need, a growing number of third-party entities have formed to bridge such communication gaps in their own communities.

In Philadelphia, for example, the nonprofit Academies Inc. enlists local businesses to help implement the career-academy model in schools, said Constance Majka, the organization’s director of innovation and learning. “Good intentions don’t always translate into an effective outcome,” she said. Having Academies Inc. as a single point of contact for employers helps them form lasting partnerships with schools and avoid repeating mistakes, she added.

By providing orientation for both sides, businesses learn they shouldn’t show a 50-slide PowerPoint presentation to children, and teachers learn how to support business partners in the classroom, said Ms. Majka. The structure also keeps teachers from relying on the same businesses or business partners over and over again for classroom collaboration.

“Educators are probably the worst communicators to business, trying to explain to [businesses] what we are doing and what we want to do,” said David M. Kipphut, the deputy of career and technical education for the Philadelphia school district. Trainers from Academies Inc. have taught Mr. Kipphut to understand the mindset of businesses, and to be more focused and clear.

Since expectations can differ, there can be trust issues initially in forming partnerships. “When we connect students with a job opportunity, we want the student to learn and be productive,” he said. For example, a student in a health program working in a hospital should not be shredding paper in a records office. Developing a learning plan that outlines the competencies a student is expected to gain—and that is signed by the employer—can help avoid that pitfall, he said.

Staying Committed

Academies Inc. matched Nelson J. Shaffer, an official with a local engineering company, with Abraham Lincoln High School in North Philadelphia, where he provides executive coaching for the principal and mentoring to students. Mr. Shaffer, the executive vice president of the Pennoni Associates engineering firm, puts in about 10 hours a month at the school and said he is committed to volunteering for the long haul.

“The business community needs to be involved in the education system,” he said. “It’s one thing to contribute money, but money isn’t going to cure the disconnect.”

Sometimes employers are asked for their expertise, but when plans and priorities change, the projects never get off the ground, according to Academies Inc. For example, a few years ago an automotive advisory committee in Philadelphia met for months making recommendations for a new diesel mechanics program only to have the school reform commission grant control of the school to a charter management company and not adopt the program, according to Albert J. McLaverty, the organization’s associate director of industry organizing.

Staff members at Academies Inc. tried to assure committee members that their work was appreciated and steered them to another project. Mr. McLaverty said the long-term nature of the volunteer commitments allows the agency to encourage continued participation despite setbacks.

Through Academies Inc., Frank C. Fesnak has arranged for local business owners to come into the Roxsborough High School classroom in North Philadelphia, where he teaches a business and technology course. “It’s fascinating to [students] to have somebody real explain what it’s like to run a business every day,” he said. His students practice networking with employers, giving their “elevator speeches” and handing out personally designed business cards. “It forces students to think about themselves and the skills they bring to the market,” he said.

A version of this article appeared in the March 25, 2015 edition of Education Week as Nonprofits Link Businesses to Career-Tech Programs

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar Navigating the Rapid Pace of Education Policy Change: Your Questions, Answered
Join this free webinar to gain an understanding of key education policy developments affecting K-12 schools.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

College & Workforce Readiness Student Loans in Default to Be Referred to Debt Collection, Ed. Dept. Says
The Education Department will begin collections next month, officials said Monday.
3 min read
The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington, Dec. 3, 2024.
The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington on Dec. 3, 2024. The department said this week it was resuming collections on student loans that are in default.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
College & Workforce Readiness Then & Now Why JD Vance’s Changing Rhetoric on Tariffs Matters for Schools
In a 2017 Education Week interview, Vance said education, not protectionism, is key to a strong American workforce.
7 min read
Then and Now, JD Vance, manufacturing, trade schools and jobs
Liz Yap via Canva with Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP<br/>
College & Workforce Readiness Q&A How One Educator Is Tackling the Question, 'Why Do I Have to Learn This?'
Monica Goldson, a long-time educator, is working to link learning to real-world experiences with Junior Achievement.
6 min read
Monica Wardlow, from left, with Citizens First Bank, works with Warren East Middle School seventh graders Autumn Simmons and Aaleah Richie Wednesday, March 13, 2019, during Junior Achievement's JA Girl$ financially literacy program at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College in Bowling Green, Ky. The JA Girl$ program is a gender-specific initiative designed to teach girls and young women about financial literacy, career preparation, and entrepreneurship.
Monica Wardlow, from left, with Citizens First Bank, works with Warren East Middle School 7th graders Autumn Simmons and Aaleah Richie Wednesday, March 13, 2019, during Junior Achievement's JA Girl$ financial literacy program at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College in Bowling Green, Ky. Junior Achievement aims to bring real-world experiences into the classroom.
Bac Totrong/Daily News via AP
College & Workforce Readiness Spotlight Spotlight on CTE and Beyond: Expanding Opportunities for Students
This Spotlight will help you explore innovative approaches to CTE, real-world learning experiences, and more.