IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO “RAISE A VALLEY”

Problem

What are we doing today to prove that every learner counts? In partnership with the Lancaster Chamber, Pequea Valley School District is seeking ways to address the ever-evolving workforce gap which needs to be filled. We believe schools need to approach educational programming differently in order to provide employers with dependable high-skilled employees.

Solution

In response to the workforce gap, Pequea Valley has developed a mentor program encompassing an entire grade level which meets on an ongoing basis throughout learners’ 10th grade year. This program serves as a conduit for employers to share their vision while also benefiting them as learners’ Post-Secondary First Choices align to their employment needs. This has and will continue to be a win-win for both employers and future employees to thrive and fill the workforce employment gap! The PV (PostSecondary) First Choice vision encompasses many career-related activities throughout the K-12 journey. For example, the PV Early Learning Initiative ensures all learners be “kindergarten ready” in order to increase their level of literacy by 4th grade, and assists in putting learners on a positive trajectory to be prepared for their “Post-Secondary First Choice.” The PV 10th Grade First Choice Discovery Mentor Program will act as a catalyst in each learner’s career journey by better informing their decisions in their junior and senior years where crucial decisions are made in transitioning to postsecondary pursuits, ultimately addressing the employer staffing crisis through increased knowledge and perspective from professionals in local industry aligned to learners’ current first choices.

According to youth.gov, mentoring programs provide many positive benefits for youth including increased high school graduation rates, better lifestyle choices, improved interpersonal skills, and stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers. With this mentoring initiative, the need for increasing relationships with the professional community is essential in establishing the connections necessary to bridge employer staffing needs. Our goal is to help each learner advance in building human capital through establishing meaningful connections in their journey towards obtaining a career allowing them to be independent and fulfilled.

MENTOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES (2022-23):

• Why 10th Grade?: We wanted 9th grade programming to be entirely devoted to exploration of possible careers. Also, facing the difficulty in scheduling junior and senior learners for an ongoing mentor program due to being out of the building frequently because of First Choice Customized scheduling – going to dual enrollment, CTC, pre-apprenticeships, internships, Co-ops, and/or job shadows, we targeted our entire tenth grade simply for the reasons that we needed something special to do for this grade level regarding career exploration, and this is the last time we would have all of our learners on campus throughout the entire school day with minimal interruptions.

• Open House: Invited potential mentors to an open house in September where we shared our First Choice vision, and employed their support in conveying the need for a broad-stroked mentor program which will serve the entire grade level.

• Mentor Training: Mentors attended a training session in October, highlighting the specific goals of the program, tools to be utilized throughout the sessions, and further sharing best practices for developing mentor / mentee relationships. During these trainings, we partnered with presenters from Kitchen Kettle Village Human Resources Department, the Factory Ministries, MissyJeans Consulting, and Intercourse Merchants Association to present to the mentors and describe the tools and techniques we would use in the program.

• Session 1 – Building Critical Skills: Mentors and mentees took assessments to discover their personal strengths. They collaborated through team-building activities to build relationships and deepen understanding of their personal strengths.

• Session 2 – Resumes & Interviewing: Learners developed resumes aligned to their personal strengths and First Choices, crafted a 30-second elevator pitch, and engaged in mock interviews.

• Session 3 – Career Pathway Fair: Acquired knowledge from industry professionals regarding their career journey and gained advice for pursuing opportunities towards exploring their First Choice. Fifty-five companies and community partners attended the fair, sharing connection opportunities.

• Session 4 – Job Shadow Day: Aligned to First Choice interests, eleven groups of learners visited twenty-two companies engaging in hands-on learning activities and presentations regarding a typical day in the life of highlighted career professionals.

• Session 5 – Next Steps: Observed a panel discussion of recent PV graduates commenting on their first choice journey in the first few years following graduation. Engaged in small group discussions with their mentors to hear about their personal career journeys and advice they have for next steps.

• Data Collection: Learners took pre- and post-surveys to ascertain their perceived personal growth over the course of the program. Collected information and feedback from the mentors regarding program efficacy compared to desired outcomes.

Here is a slide deck showcasing the highlights of our program: https://tinyurl.com/pvmentorprogram

Impact Outcomes

Impact on Business Partnerships:

The impact at this point is both broad and specific; many learners have indicated they had their first choice confirmed by these experiences, mentors have been able to speak to future steps, connections have been made for future internships and/or employment opportunities.

Increased awareness and collaboration for businesses in school programs, which has also resulted in industry tours, internships, classroom presentations, and actual employment for our current juniors and seniors.

For the mentoring program, we have had 44 mentors from 40 different local companies and community organizations. These organizations showed their enthusiasm and support in helping to “Raise the Valley.”

The Factory Ministries has hosted interns in early childhood education and maintenance and has been integral in providing leadership and guidance to our learners as mentors, internship supervisors, session and classroom presenters, Career Fair Vendor, and many other ways of partnering such as spearheading the Together Initiative.

We have also partnered closely with Kitchen Kettle Village, providing van transportation at the conclusion of the school day for learners who work there part-time but cannot drive themselves. KKV has hosted job shadows, supplied 4 team members serving as mentors and session presenters, attended the career fair, and middle school events as well.

This company is “all in” with our school and we highly value their ongoing partnership.

Many other companies have been essential partners. Notably, Thomas E. Strauss has provided four team members to be mentors and has been a tremendous partner in providing first choice opportunities for our learners such as internships, job shadows, and local employment opportunities.

STORIES: SUCCESS STORIES

Following each session throughout this program, staff, learners, mentors, and teachers have reported positive outcomes as a result of the collaborative interactions for the First Choice. Following our first session, a learner stopped a staff member in the hallway and said, “Honestly, my friends and I thought this was going to be boring, just sitting and listening to presentations, but this was really fun!” “Discovery Mentor Program.”

Below is a list of companies who have been integral in multiple First Choice Discovery Offerings:

Frameworks Consulting

Lancaster Chamber

Thomas E. Strauss, Inc.

Pepper Lane Fudge

Tel Hai Retirement Community

Baron Insurance Group

Ufinancial

Fulton Bank

Fulton Bank International Group

Kitchen Kettle Village

Select Building Services

Paradise Township

Servants

Haller Enterprises

Integrous Fencing

J.G. Graybill Plumbing

Clark, Inc.

LJDesign

Berk’s Homes

Luthercare

Lighthouse Vocational Services

White Chimneys / CRNP

JangOhari Family Chiropractic

Snapology

Stoltzfus Meats

McDonald’s Franchise

The Factory Ministries

Lion’s Club Gap

Snapology of Lancaster and Reading

CAP Community Action Program

Grace Point Church of Paradise

Advanced Food Processing Intercourse Merchants Association

Army National Guard

Resources: Benefits of Mentoring for Young People, youth. gov, https://youth.gov/youth-topics/mentoring/benefitsmentoring-young-people, retrieved 4/23/2023. LT

BY JARED ERB, First Choice Career Coordinator, Pequea Valley School District

Contact Jared at jared_erb@pequeavalley.org

BY RICH EBY, Assistant Superintendent, Pequea Valley School District

Contact Rich at rich_eby@pequeavalley.org

BY ERIK ORNDORFF, Superintendent, Pequea Valley School District

Contact Erik at erik_orndorff@pequeavalley.org