Collaboration between the business and education communities is more important than ever. One primary opportunity for workforce development collaboration is partnerships between employers and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs in our local schools. These partnerships with schools and colleges can help develop and deliver CTE programs of study that meet the needs of the employer.
Employers can have many opportunities to engage in CTE programs, such as:
- Career Advising and Exploration. Provide support to career counseling and exploration opportunities, including career path information, career day events, video presentation, company tours and field trips, and career mentoring.
- Advisory Groups. Participate in program advisory groups for developing and improving programs, curriculum, and credentials.
- Curriculum Development. Provide resources and experts for developing curriculum, including learning and assessment materials, and aligning credentials. Growing interest in these training opportunities means an increased need to instructors.
- Classroom Instruction. Provide guest speakers and team teachers for delivering classroom and lab instruction.
- Work-based Learning. Provide work-based learning opportunities in the form of apprenticeships, internships, cooperative education, job shadowing, and/or student and student team projects.
- Student Organizations and Competitions. Provide support for student organizations and coach and judge national, state, and local student competitions.
- Professional Development. Conduct teacher outreach and provide externships and other professional development opportunities to school and college faculty and other professionals.
- Student Recruitment and Hiring. Conduct job fairs and other recruitment and hiring activities in cooperation with schools and colleges.
- Funding, Equipment, and In-Kind Contributions. Provide direct funding to schools and colleges for curriculum, up-to-date equipment currently used by employers (e.g., machinery and tools), and other purposes as well as provide in-kind contributions, such as access to company facilities and equipment.
Interested in learning more about how you can assist or provide guidance to CTE programs at one or all our community’s three largest public-school districts? Your professional and industry related experience is needed, and the commitment of time and energy is not demanding. Contact one of these individuals to learn more and get involved in strengthening our community’s workforce:
Want to keep learning more about how you can engage in strengthening the classroom to career connection and build the workforce in our community? Please contact Katie Ferrier (
kferrier@sachamber.org), Vice President for Education & Workforce Development.
