(Back to the index) (Back to the beginning of this issue) © 2010 CORD	For years, Career Education in Palm Beach County has been proud of the strong relationships developed with business and industry partners through its Career Education Business Leadership Committee, also known as CEBLC. These partnerships have served to strengthen and enrich integrated instruction between career and technical education (CTE) and academics. They have also served as beacons of light for CTE academies and programs and have motivated the educational process to move forward through shared talents, ideas, and unique human resources that have been provided via the partnering of participating businesses. We are proud of the connections we have made in bringing education and employers to the table to reach our mutual goals in CTE, which is to provide a solid, rigorous, and relevant education and best possible preparation for all of our students and to produce future employees who are ready for the workforce. Many of the partnerships that have been made come in the form of local business representatives, each of whom serves on one of over 170 career academy advisory boards. Their primary purpose for serving on advisory boards is to provide ongoing evaluation and consultation about the academy curriculum, keeping it current with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values identified as being necessary for students to work effectively in their chosen occupations. One example of how business partners were connected with our high school career academies was through a program called "Get Real," a partnership between Career Education and Leadership Palm Beach. Members of Leadership Palm Beach (who represent numerous occupations) volunteered with each of our career academies, providing them with information and assistance from their prospective lines of work. We are also proud of other partnerships that have been beneficial to our CTE academies and programs. These include the following: Quantum Foundation provided funding for the expansion of middle school premedical and engineering career academies. Workforce Alliance and Junior Achievement provided funding and support for "Tools for Success," a program geared toward assisting ESE students interested in the construction industry. CITI provided funding and support for the development of high school career centers in three high schools. Palm Beach County's Business Development Board sponsors the PACE (People, Available, Committed, Employed) luncheon, an event that enables students to communicate with business representatives regarding job training, skills required, career development, and wages. Education Foundation provided grant opportunities and administrative services for numerous CTE-related projects. Palm Healthcare provided a summer nursing camp for students as well as professional development opportunities for medical sciences academy instructors. Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission provided access to and repair of equipment for district high school television production academies. In addition to the awesome opportunities provided to our students through these partnerships, we are also very proud of the partnerships we have built with our local colleges and universities to create pathways of learning that ease the transition of CTE academy and program students from secondary to postsecondary. Through these agreements, our students have the opportunity to earn college credits upon graduation and matriculate very smoothly into college life. We have provided our students the ability to save time and money as they can receive college credit for competencies mastered through high school CTE coursework and can begin their college programs at an advanced entry level. As we move forward in today's economy, Career Education in Palm Beach County will continue to build partnerships that are based on a philosophy of shared responsibility in helping students thrive and make their dreams come alive. See the following article for an overview of a recent CTE event in Palm Beach County. Back to the index     © 2010 CORD	Constance Scotchel-Gross is Career Education Manager and Jeraline M. Marsh is Career Education Specialist in the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida. For more information, contact Constance Scotchel-Gross at scotche@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.