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Anthropologist Margaret Mead once commented, "Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s
the only thing that ever has."
This same principle applies when forming a business-education partnership.
Once a business has agreed to serve as a partner, the first step is to
form a small steering committee of energetic, creative people who will
oversee the partnership. The size of the committee doesn’t matter; the
enthusiasm created by caring, committed people is what’s important.
A steering committee consists of a small group, usually three to five
people from the school (which may include the school principal, teachers,
parents, student representatives and school service personnel) and an
equal number of people from the business. The committee should not become
excessively weighted with representation from the school or business.
Representation should be balanced so that each partner has an equal voice.
The committee should meet on a regular basis, usually once a month for
about an hour. The members may be volunteers or appointed by the principal
or by the business management, but each member must be willing to invest
the time and effort to meet the needs of students, the school and the
business. The members of the committee are responsible for reporting any
information to their colleagues. A chairperson should be elected to
facilitate the meetings.
Partnerships prosper when trust and respect develop between the partners
and each partner fully understands the needs and capabilities the other.
Over time, partnerships should evolve from cursory participation to active
involvement in numerous school activities and programs.
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