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Imagine, if you will, a world in which business was somehow given the
overwhelming responsibility of preparing college students to become
teachers.
Not working daily in a school setting or with students, business
representatives given this daunting responsibility would desperately need
the assistance of public schools in order to develop the training programs
necessary for teachers to succeed in the classroom. Businesses would
certainly need to forge strong partnerships with classroom teachers and
public schools to ensure that the training provided to future teachers is
meaningful and relevant.
In the real world, businesses do not train teachers; however, public
schools help to train students every day to compete in the real world of
business. Many students attend college directly after high school, but
ultimately almost all students end up working for a business. Doesn’t it
make sense, then, for schools to form strong partnerships with businesses
to ensure that the training provided to students – America’s future
workers – is meaningful and relevant?
This, simply put, is one of the major reasons behind The Education
Alliance’s Partnerships in Education program.
Founded in 1983, The Education Alliance is distinguished as the nation’s
first statewide education fund. In 1999, the Alliance became the first
organization to link at least one business partner with every public
school in a state.
The Alliance strongly believes that the most successful business-education
partnerships do not involve monetary contributions. The most valuable
contribution anyone can give to schools is time – being involved,
listening, caring, sharing and participating. Employees possess the
skills, knowledge and expertise that can help schools and students
succeed. Although a $50 contribution may help a school, the connection
between an employee who cares and a child who needs a mentor is priceless.
Today, the Alliance is working to strengthen existing partnerships, and to
forge new partnerships where school-business partnerships have faltered.
As a major component of this effort, the Alliance will soon begin planning
countywide meetings with schools and business partners to support and
energize school-business partnerships. The Alliance will also be
recognizing 10 of the most successful business-education partnerships in
the state, thanks to financial support from Dominion.
In the coming months, county schools systems and county board members will
learn more about the Alliance’s comprehensive program to strengthen
school-business partnerships. In the meantime, counties needing assistance
with their partnerships or systems that would like to begin planning a
countywide business-education partnerships meeting should call Ralph
Miller, our Program Manager, at 304-342-7856, or email him at
ralphmiller@educationalliance.org.
After two decades on the job, The Alliance has arrived at the proverbial
forks in the road. This organization has accomplished much of what it set
out to do when it was formed in 1983; the Alliance is now looking to
redefine its role in public education.
Instead of pausing for even a moment to reflect on past successes, this
statewide organization, its dynamic board of directors and dedicated staff
are poised to take an even more vital role by becoming increasingly
engaged at the local and state levels to enhance the quality of public
education in West Virginia.
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