Education & Workforce

Volunteers Make a Big Impact through Project TEACH

On April 20, Manatee Chamber members and volunteers headed back to the classroom, speaking with fourth graders about career choices.

Now in its 30th year, Project TEACH (Teach Everyone About Career Horizons) is designed to help students begin to think about what they would like to be when they grow up. While students can easily imagine being a doctor, veterinarian, star athlete, video game designer or even a YouTube influencer, there are many career choices right here in our community that they aren’t familiar with including: high-tech manufacturing, skilled trades, business services, law enforcement, business ownership, hospitality, and so many others.

The morning started with an Orientation Breakfast at Wakeland Support Center and then volunteers headed to their classrooms. All in all, Chamber volunteers visited 141 classrooms.

An important aspect of the program is getting the students to begin thinking about what type of education they would need to land that dream job. Post-secondary education is important and with the great educational options in our region, students do not have to travel far to receive world-class training and find a career. Special thanks to the Manatee Education Foundation for serving as our presenting sponsor, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bradenton Marauders for catering, and Wakeland Support Center for hosting the Orientation Breakfast.

If you are interested in volunteering for programs like Project TEACH or would like to be more involved with the Chamber’s education and workforce programs, please contact Michele Jones at MicheleJ@ManateeChamber.com.

Project TEACH volunteers visit Manatee County fourth grade classrooms to guide activities designed to help students think about possible education and career pathways.

Dr. Fradley, Principal of Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication, volunteers at Stewart Elementary.