Yesterday, I spent a few hours with the Industrial Readiness Training program at Mount Wachusett Community College's Devens Campus. At Goodrich Academy, we have what they need (18+ year old students who want to look at career pathways). They have what we need: possible career pathways for our students. The job is for us to pull everything together and create a program that will work for all of us in such a way that we can create more pathways with other programs. This is the start of a partnership that can actually help everyone involved. We are also throwing in there a growing relationship with the Chamber of Commerce so that they can help us establish internships and work study opportunities in the areas we are piloting. I think this is essential.
I have been to so many conferences where higher education or employers speak to the fact that high school students are coming to them unprepared for the expectations that they will have on those graduates. A lot gets said at these conferences, but little is really solved because there needs to be direct conversation between the parties.
Yesterday, I started the meeting with MWCC with the question, "if I want my students to succeed in this program, what knowledge and skills do they need coming in?" The reps from MWCC were surprised and pleased that I actually wanted to know this, but they quickly came up with a short list of essentials. Then, I was able to share with them what I hoped my students would get from their program, and they were able to check those boxes. Next week, when I meet with the Chamber of Commerce, I will ask some of the same things.
We all want our students to come out of high school or college fully prepared for what comes next. we know that partnerships will help them do so. What I am finding as very important is that this becomes a valuable moment to share with partners who we have and how we can work together to meet their needs. I want a great experience for my students, but I also want to know for sure that the students I send out to the world are ready for that world. These partnerships will help.
What partnerships are occurring that you know about? How do they work? How could they work better?
I have been to so many conferences where higher education or employers speak to the fact that high school students are coming to them unprepared for the expectations that they will have on those graduates. A lot gets said at these conferences, but little is really solved because there needs to be direct conversation between the parties.
Yesterday, I started the meeting with MWCC with the question, "if I want my students to succeed in this program, what knowledge and skills do they need coming in?" The reps from MWCC were surprised and pleased that I actually wanted to know this, but they quickly came up with a short list of essentials. Then, I was able to share with them what I hoped my students would get from their program, and they were able to check those boxes. Next week, when I meet with the Chamber of Commerce, I will ask some of the same things.
We all want our students to come out of high school or college fully prepared for what comes next. we know that partnerships will help them do so. What I am finding as very important is that this becomes a valuable moment to share with partners who we have and how we can work together to meet their needs. I want a great experience for my students, but I also want to know for sure that the students I send out to the world are ready for that world. These partnerships will help.
What partnerships are occurring that you know about? How do they work? How could they work better?
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