Teacher Externships: Connecting Education to the Workplace
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Teacher Externship Workshop Learning Outcomes • Develop understanding and importance of bridging the gap between education and work • Learn how to build a successful extern program
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Teacher Externship Workshop Overview • History of Houston A+ Challenge • Landscape Change = Need for education and business collaboration • How to build a successful extern program • Documentation and Measurement
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Who We Are
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Mission The mission of The Houston A+ Challenge is to promote an academically rich and purposeful education for more of our children and to demonstrate how such an education could become possible for all our children.
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Facts • Largest non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to public school improvement in the Houston area • Develops and funds programs in schools, leadership and higher education to promote higher academic achievement by all students • Invested $102 million to date in Houston area schools © 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Imperatives • Increase student achievement through: – Quality professional development – Bringing communities into the schools – Making classrooms/schools more personal for students © 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
What We Do • • • • •
Restructuring high schools Revamping teacher preparation programs Creating integrated fine arts models Placing math specialists in elementary schools Building leadership capacity through
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Texas Landscape
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Is Changing… Ethnic Distribution in Texas Public Schools 100 90 80
Percent
70 60
44.7
50
37.7
40 30 20
14.2 0.3
10
3
0 AfricanAmerican
Hispanic
White
Native American
Asian/Pacific Islander
© 2006 Houston A+ Source: TEA, Department of Performance Reporting, Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) 2004-2005 Challenge
but not as rapidly in the post-secondary world Annual post-secondary enrollment among three largest ethnic/racial groups -African American 13%
White 58%
Hispanic 29%
© 2006 Houston A+ Source: “Closing the Gaps” by The Texas Higher Education Plan, 2004 Challenge
while 2004 -2014 occupation forecasts require higher education levels
Thousands
Professional and Related Occupations Growth 2,000
100
1,800
90
1,600
80
1,400
70
1,200
60
1,000
50
800
40
600
30
400
20
200
10
Subgroups
© 2006 Houston A+ Source: “The Monthly Labor Review” November 2005, by Daniel E. Hecker Challenge
Legal
Life, physical and social science
Architecture and engineering
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
Community and social services
Computer and mathematical science
Education, training, and library
0 Health care practitioner and technical
0
in a world that is flat… • Flatteners – Political upheaval and social reform – Technological change: Internet, Digital Age – Collaboration and organization • • • •
Open sourcing Out sourcing Off shoring Global corporations (Wal-mart, Google, Microsoft)
© 2006“The Houston Source: World isA+ Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas Friedman Challenge
Best Practices High Schools That Work (2002) analysis recommends the following for higher student achievement within career oriented high schools: •
Rigorous academic core and career focus that includes the honing of skills to complete real world assignments and
•
Teachers who provide good learning experiences that involve numeracy, engaging, hands on experiences that include solving real world problems
•
Higher expectations culture that motivates students to do their best in more demanding classes and actively participating in their classes
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Alignment/Common Vision • The Three R’s: Rigor Relevance Relationships
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Teacher Externships are.. designed to connect classroom teachers with business professionals in their field of study in order to make students’ learning experiences more relevant to the workplace.
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Teacher Extern Outcomes Teachers will: • be introduced to modern workplace equipment and actual challenges in the workplace • have the chance to work together with employers to understand what students need for success in the workplace • learn ways to connect the classroom to the modern workplace • help employers understand the importance of classroom instruction • have a real world experience in a career field related to their teaching field • build alliances with local employers and gain personal mentors from the © 2006 Houston A+ workforce Challenge
Teacher Externship Areas • • • • • •
Arts, Community Service – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, DiverseWorks Communications, Media – SBC, Houston Chronicle Energy – Duke, El Paso, Enbridge, Zilka Financial Services – JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo Health Services – Baylor, UTHSC Hospitality – Houstonian
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Steps to building a successful extern program • • • • •
Select a Coordinator Build SMART Goals Develop marketing collateral (Message) Recruit Teachers, Sponsors Build and nurture relationships
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Steps to building a successful extern program (continued) • Build process for externship – Prepare – Execute – Review and debrief – Adapt and incorporate
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Maintain accountability
Find stakeholders that will support & push
Sponsor & Teacher Recruitment
Review alignment of mission and values
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Review existing relationships
Tracking Relationship
Data
Communicate
Monitor
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Documentation & Measurement • Qualitative – Artifacts (reflections, pictures, conversations)
• Quantitative – Benchmarks (surveys, people, resources)
© 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Email Message From: Mimms, Jacquelyn B Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:30 AM To: Alejandro Morua Subject: RE: Teacher Externships 1. Students have shown special interest in working on their projects, caring more for others . 2. My partnership with Wells Fargo Bank has truly been a blessed one. Since we all last met the bank has since then given my school a check for the sum of $2,289.60 for us to purchase 460 yards of fabric for our school wide project. Our school adopted Brairwood Nursing home as our grandparents, so we are making 180 lap blankets for the residents at the home. At this point my classes are in the process of cutting the fabric and stat making the blankets. I am very excited about being in the externship for the coming summer, please let me know what I need to do to get started. Jacquelyn
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Reports
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Articles
Š 2006 Houston A+ Source: Houston Chronicle, June 11, 2005 Challenge
Benchmarks
Percent
2005 Extern Feedback: How would you rate this program? 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Excellent
Above Average Rating
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
Average
Below Average
Benchmarks
Percent
2005 Sponsor Feedback: Was this an appropriate match? 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Yes
Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
No
Benchmarks Teacher Extern Growth 120
Teachers
100 80 60 40 20 0 2003 Š 2006 Houston A+ Challenge
2004
* Projected number of teachers for summer 2006.
2005
2006*