This workshop highlights the importance of establishing strong, collaborative relationships between the school, industry advisory board and the community to enhance work-based learning for students. Learn how to bring students and professionals together with a focus on increasing student success. Presenter: Kim Bennett, Pathways Academy of Technology & Design

2. Better Together: How to
Build a Strong Work-Based
Learning Program

3. Who we are:
Kim Bennett-Internship Coordinator
Pathways Academy of Technology & Design, Hartford, CT
(860) 695-9495 capok001@hartfordschools.org
(Academy of Information Technology) www.pathwaystotechnology.com
Darwin Kovacs-Advisory Board Co-Chair
Project Manager, The Hartford, Hartford, CT
(860) 547-4107 darwin.kovacs@thehartford.com
Bernie Sheridan- Advisory Board Member
Program and Account Management, Travelers Insurance, Hartford, CT
(860) 954-2202 bernie.sheridan@travelers.com

4. Description and Objectives
 Highlight the importance of establishing strong collaborative
relationships between the school, Industry Advisory Board, and the
business community to enhance work-based learning experiences for
students
 Provide ideas on how to develop ways to bring students and
professionals together
 Allow time to share thoughts, ideas, and successes to keep dialogue
focused on increasing student success within a work-based learning
program

5. #nafnext
Format of Learning Seminar
 Discussion versus Lecture
 Goal-100% of participants will learn or take
back to their Academy 2 new strategies of how
to bring students and Advisory Board
members/Community members together

6. #nafnext
“Growth is not defined by
what we know today. It is
what we gain through
learning and life experiences
that will define our
tomorrow.”
-Anonymous

7. #nafnext
Overview of Work-Based
Learning Program
9th Grade
 Career Day
10th Grade
 Career Interest Inventory
 Job Shadow Day
 Prepare Resume
11th Grade
 Internship Preparation
 Summer Internships
12th Grade
 Reflections on Internships: Post-Internship meeting, Presentation

8. #nafnext
Pathways Advisory Board
Use them to the FULLEST!
They serve on the Board for a reason
Want to help school and students
 Recruit potential employers
 Network with friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.
 LinkedIn Groups- Pathways IAB
 Create a “target” list for upcoming school year

9. #nafnext
Pathways Advisory Board
26 professionals from 14 companies, 2 colleges /
universities, the school district, and the school. Also
represent industry groups such as SIM, BDPA, and PMI
IAB Member Role:
 Acquire internships
 Host Job Shadows
 Speak at Career Day
 Speak on classroom topics
 Participate in Resume Workshops and Mock Interviews
 Review Curriculum
 Assist in Recruiting
 Obtain Scholarships
 Meet with groups of students – Advisory, Lunch n’ Learn
 Advise Project Teams
 Mentor Individual students
 Receive e-mail ‘Status Reports’

10. #nafnext
Start small and work your way
up
 Tours of the school
 Invite employers to speak to classes
 Volunteer at a 9th grade Career Day
 Host a 10th grade Job Shadow student for the day
 Lunch n’ Learn
 Serve as Project Mentors/Authentic Audience to
classes
 Resume writing
 Mock Interviews
 Serve as mentors to small groups of students

11. #nafnext
Use documents to support
your Work-Based Learning
Program
Examples:
Advisory Board Brochure
Sponsorship Brochure
Internship Brochure
www.pathwaystotechnology.com

12. #nafnext
9th Grade
Career Day

13. #nafnext
9th Grade Career Day
Over 25 professionals from various fields:
 Law
 Graphic Design
 Engineering
 Pediatric Dentistry
 Director of IT from local town
 Banking
 Human Resources
 Database Analyst/Software Engineer
 Information Protection/Network Security
 Gamification
 Education Technology
 Project Manager, Desktop Support
 IT Business Analyst
GUEST SPEAKER: Meteorologist from local TV station

14. #nafnext
Outline for Career Day
Speakers
• Introduce yourself and your company.
• What are you responsible for?
• What is a typical day like?
• What skills do I need?
• What are education requirements for the job?
• What kind of money can I expect (entry level/experienced)?
• How did you get here?
Answer in 10 minutes, then rotate to next speaker

15. #nafnext
10th Grade Job Shadow Day

16. #nafnext
10th Grade Job Shadow Day
“This job shadow has helped me
open my eyes to the real world
and expand my options. I now
realize the more experience you
have, the more opportunities will
open for you.”
-Pathways Sophomore

17. #nafnext
Job Shadow Day Questionnaire

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Job Shadow Day cont.
Each student receives:
 List of questions to ask
the professionals
 Reflection Form
 “Thank you” card

19. #nafnext
Lunch N’ Learns
 Monthly lunches for our “professional”
students in cafeteria
 Advisory Board members volunteer to pay for
lunch and have an “Executive Lunch”
(15 students-5 professionals)
 Discuss college and career with students

20. #nafnext
11th Grade Student Preparation
Junior Pre-Internship Questionnaire
 Academic strengths
 Personal strengths
 Career Interests/Goals
 Internship placement ideas
Junior Year Experience Course
 Resume writing
 Mock interviews
 Mock college application process

21. #nafnext
Resume Workshops & Mock
Interviews

22. #nafnext
Guest Speakers
Topics covered:
 “Interviewing Tips & Techniques”
 “Branding Yourself” & “Networking”
 “Business Etiquette”
 “Professionalism in the Workplace”

23. #nafnext
Applying and Interviewing for
Internship Positions
“Through this whole internship
process: applying, interviewing,
and actually interning, I have
now gained the confidence in
myself and knowledge of how it
feels to be working in the
business world.”
-Pathways Senior
-Pathways Senior

24. #nafnext
Internship Orientation
Panel Discussion with Professionals:
 “What to Expect in a Corporate Internship”
 “How to be an All-Star Intern”
 “What I’ve Learned Since Graduating From High School”

25. #nafnext
Employers want to see SOLID
program in place
Student Internship Guide
Internship Eligibility Requirements
Internship Agreement
Student Code of Conduct
Student Application
Teacher Recommendation Forms
Journal Entries
Final Reflection Paper
Supervisor Evaluation
Internship Presentation

26. #nafnext
During the Internship
• Maintain communication with the employer
AND student
• Schedule a site visit
• Communication is the key
to success!

27. #nafnext
After the Internship
• Post-internship reflection meetings
Send supervisor feedback
• Invite Employers to the Student Internship Presentations
• *** Employers need to hear the VALUE
and BENEFITS these opportunities
have***

28. #nafnext
“This internship at Hartford Hospital has
changed my whole future. Through hands-
on learning, I gained the confidence I needed
to be successful in the working world. After
completing this internship, I NOW want to
pursue a career in the IT field.”
–Pathways Senior
My internship provided me with the
knowledge and real world experience that
cannot be developed through a text book and
classroom learning.”
-Pathways Senior

29. #nafnext
Importance of a “Thank You”
A “Thank You” goes a LONG way!
 After Career Day
 After Lunch N’ Learn
 After Job Shadow
 After field trips
 After the interview
 Upon completion of the internship
Encourage hand-written Thank You notes

30. #nafnext
The POWER of Employer
Testimonials
“He as a lot of potential to be a great software developer. I was impressed with
how quickly he absorbed and incorporated new ideas”-Tallan
“Your student was great to work with! We expected a lot from him in a short
amount of time, and he not only completed the task but outperformed the
expectations”-Aetna
“I, as well as the other staff, truly enjoyed working with the 3 Pathways students.
Each of their unique personalities, special skills, and talents, had a great impact
on the program at the Science Center”-CT Science Center
“Your student’s resumes and interviews were far better than any college level and
beyond ones I have seen!”-American Eagle Federal Credit Union

31. #nafnext
You have to start small….
 Be patient It takes time
 Use current relationships to expand network
 Utilize all staff members to help build
relationships
 “Meet & Greet” for IAB members and Academy
Staff
 “Friend-raiser” for Advisory Board Members

32. #nafnext
Think, Pair, Share
Take 15 minutes to share in small groups:
 Summarize your Work-Based Learning Program
 Ways you have brought students together with
professionals
 Success stories you have had in your Work
Based Learning Program

33. #nafnext
Questions?

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Final Reflections
 When I get home, two things I plan
to DO with the information I
learned are…
 The most significant aspect of this
presentation for me was…