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Bringing the
Real World Into the Classroom
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St.
Louis School to Careers Inc. provides professional development
for teachers and counselors to help integrate the needs of the
workforce into school curriculums.
By Joyce Romine
Real life—going to the hardware store, using measurements for
cooking, operating a computer, making home improvements—require
math, science, art, technology etc., among other things. Some
St. Louis teachers are tackling these subjects in businesses and
bringing them back to their classrooms as part of the St. Louis
Summer Educator Externship Program.
The year-long program is sponsored by St. Louis Schools to Careers
Inc. (STC). It has been managed by St. Louis Community College
for the last six years and is federally funded through the state
as part of education reform. Schools to Careers seeks to create
systematic changes on how students are exposed to career information
and exploration and understand how their academic careers integrate
with their career aspirations.
Applications for the program were sent to 24 school districts
in St. Louis City and County. Within a month, 83 applicants were
vying for 32 openings. Teachers accepted into the program must
attend two workshops and another business function, work two 30-hour
weeks in a business or industry, and develop lesson plans for
their classrooms based on their experience.
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“The
Externship Program provides opportunities for educators
to participate in hands-on experiences in business and
industry so teachers can bring real world lessons back
to their classrooms to use in instruction.”
—Jane Kerlagon, regional coordinator, St. Louis STC
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“The Externship Program provides opportunities for educators to
participate in hands-on experiences in business and industry so
teachers can bring real world lessons back to their classrooms
to use in instruction,” says Jane Kerlagon, regional coordinator,
St. Louis STC. “Educators from kindergarten to high school levels
gain a connection to businesses, so students can learn by contextual
or applied learning.”
Kerlagon says businesses and teachers are matched based on six
career paths: health services; business management and technology;
arts and education; human services; industrial and engineering;
and natural resources and agriculture. About a dozen businesses
are participating. Partners work together to set goals, while
the business partner serves as an advisor throughout the year
and may be a guest lecturer or offer a site visit to classes.
“We’ve had very positive feedback on the program,” Kerlagon says.
“Businesses are pleased they can play an active role throughout
the year in helping develop lesson plans that will ultimately
improve the work force. We’re hoping businesses will continue
the relationship with teachers and schools even without us there
to facilitate it.”
Food for Thought
Tessa Greenspan, president of Sappington International Farmers
Market, is working with three teachers through the Externship
program. “This is a win-win situation,” she says. “I’’m able to
help and mentor young people, so they can take what they learn
back to their classrooms. I strongly believe that with a certain
amount of success comes a responsibility to give back and this
allows me to. In business, you’re busy. But participating in this
program is doable because the teachers come to you.”
Greenspan says the grocery business offers many practical lessons
for teachers in subjects ranging from science to art to math.
“Educators can make math more interesting by using real models,”
she says. “For example, if oranges are two for 79 cents, how much
are they each? It brings math to life. It helps students with
budgeting, too.”
Teachers in Greenspan’s market also are learning what’s involved
with importing foods internationally, so students can learn more
about the variety of countries where foods come. In addition,
they discover the role art and design has in packaging and displays.
And the world of running a business is also explored, from bookkeeping
and accounting to trucking and working with brokers.
“We can take any subject and show students how they can apply
it to real life,” Greenspan says. “It’s very interesting to see
how the three externs will take a different approach to teaching
what they learn here. Teachers are often not recognized for the
great contributions they make. It’s a good feeling to help motivate,
support and encourage them.”
Greenspan also took the teachers to a CEO Roundtable meeting at
the RCGA to show them how individuals can make a difference in
their communities. “These lessons are great things for businesses
to pass on to teachers and helps them see a whole new world that
can inspire creativity.”
Television can be Educational
The world of television offers many educational opportunities
for teachers and students, too. KSDK-TV is involved with schools
all year, but now is working personally with teachers through
the externship program, says Jeanine Meyer, community relations
coordinator.
“Although our weather announcers frequently visit schools, participating
in this externship program furthers our commitment to education
and teachers,” she says. “The station benefits from the teachers’
contributions and the teachers learn how a station and the media
operates.”
Teachers at KSDK are put to work evaluating the station’s Volunteer
5 program, which recruits volunteers for a different non-profit
agency each week. Teachers conduct surveys and evaluate the program’s
success and how to improve it, Meyer says.
“It also benefits us to learn what the teachers’ needs are in
the classroom since we visit classes so much,” she says. “Then
we’re better able to meet those needs. We feel fortunate to be
able to contribute to better learning.”
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“It’s
an opportunity to help educators understand our business
and talk to their students—from firsthand knowledge about
what our business does. That's important to us because
these students could be future employees and customers.”
—Barb Shepard, vice president of human resources at Doe
Run
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Mining for the Future
The Doe Run Company, a mining and metals company, is working with
two educators through the externship program — one in its corporate
office and one at its smelter in Herculaneum. “Participating in
this program helps us foster relationship with the educational
community,” says Barb Shepard, vice president of human resources.
“It’s an opportunity to help educators understand our business
and talk to their students from firsthand knowledge about what
our business does. That’s important to us because these students
could be future employees and customers.”
A guidance counselor working at the corporate office is reviewing
the employee handbook to update it. He also is interviewing employees
at all levels in the organization about their careers and what
their expectations are of employees. “This knowledge will help
the counselor give better advice to students to prepare them for
the work place,” Shepard says. “He was very impressed by the autonomy
people here have in their jobs and the respect they have for each
other.”
She says The Doe Run Company has supported education through other
programs, as well. “This extern program is reinforcement that
businesses and schools need to work together to ultimately create
better employees. By sharing information with teachers and improving
student development, we’ll see long-term results. It’s an investment
in the future.”
Joyce Romine is a St. Louis-based writer and owner of Streamline
Communications.
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