Schools and employers are joining forces to prepare all students for life after high school -– with the skills and love for learning required to continue their education and embark on a successful career path. The state’s business community -– particularly those companies in STEM-related industries, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics –- plays a critical role by connecting educators and students to the career skills and resources needed today and in the future.
NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning takes an innovative approach to creating partnerships between schools and employers. These strategies directly impact students by preparing them for success in the growing economy.
Educator Industry-Based Experiences
Connecting educators directly with industry professionals helps teachers integrate career relevance into their classrooms. These unique professional development experiences build the capacity of teachers and positively impact teacher retention.
- Externships: Offer a paid, professional position for a teacher, counselor or administrator lasting 2-6 weeks during the summer, equipping them to develop classroom materials that reflect the world of work.
- Industry immersion days: Host a full- or half-day learning experience at an industry, corporate, research-based, or university site.
- Workshops: Participate in annual conferences and school-based workshops to expose teachers to the real-world applications of what they teach.
- Co-teaching: Partner with a teacher to design a lesson/project and co-teach a class or learning activity.
Student Work-Based Experiences
Industry professionals provide students with critical skills development and career exposure by offering a continuum of work-based learning opportunities, ranging from career awareness activities to job shadowing to mentoring to internships and apprenticeships. These experiences introduce students to the world beyond school and provide critical relevance for students who might otherwise lose interest in learning.
- Job shadowing: Allow students to “shadow” professionals within your organization and learn about the varied departmental functions.
- Field studies: Host groups of students for a structured learning experience at your site.
- Classroom coaching: Serve as an adviser and evaluator for classroom projects.
- Internships: Provide students with extended, hands-on learning experiences at your site.
Financial investment: Accelerate workforce development by investing in NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning to support coaching and professional learning for educators. Contact Katie Reich at kreich@ncnewschools.org for more information.
Click here to download our 4-page overview:
The Power of School-Industry Partnerships
