1/26/2014
IT TAKES A VILLAGE…
A Model of Community Collaboration
Tara Parker
Pitt County Schools
Benefits of Community
Collaboration

For Students:
 Enriched academic experiences
 Motivated students (which improves performance)
 Awareness of career opportunities
 Connection to successful role models for students
For Schools:
 Resources
 Awareness of workforce needs
NEA’s Priority Schools
Campaign

 2011 – NEA published a report entitled:
Family-School-Community Partnerships 2.0
Collaborative Strategies to Advance Student Learning
 Document provides 10 key strategies in order to
have effective partnerships
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NEA’s Priority Schools Campaign:
Ten Strategies for Effective Partnerships

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Agreeing on core values
Listening to the community
Using data to set priorities and focus strategies
Providing relevant, on-site professional development
Building collaboration with community partners
Using targeted outreach to focus on high-needs communities,
schools, and students
Building one-to-one relationships between families and
educators that are linked to learning
Setting, communicating, and supporting high and rigorous
expectations
Addressing cultural differences
Connecting students to the community
Pitt County Schools
Health Sciences Academy

Vision:
The Pitt County Schools Health Sciences Academy is a model
education system that contributes to meeting the healthcare needs
of the community by preparing students for healthcare careers
Mission:
To prepare students to enter the health care workforce and/or
postsecondary health care education
Brief History

 1995 – 2000 – Informal discussions centered on the need to
“home grow” a qualified pool of applicants to fill shortages in
the healthcare industry
 “We feel it’s a far better use of our money to grow our own health
professionals, and it’s far better for our young people if they develop
the skills they need to get good-paying jobs right here in eastern
North Carolina” (Faulkner, 2005).
Dave McRae, Retired CEO
Vidant Health
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Brief History

 November 2000 – Formal partners prepared a resolution
to create the HSA and implement the program in all 6 Pitt
County high schools by the end of 2003
 Planning process began in 2001, which included
 PCS teachers, counselors, and administrators
 Medical professionals from throughout the district
 Hospital Administrators
 Post-secondary Institutions
 August 2001 – Advisory Council was created
Explanation of the HSA

 A long-term workforce development program in all
6 Pitt County high schools
 Students interested in health careers are recruited in
the 8th grade, and they can apply as late as the 10 th
grade
 Acceptance is based on grades and discipline
 Specialized curriculum focusing on Math, Science,
and Health Sciences
Explanation of the HSA

 Students are enrolled in a regular high school setting and are
no different than other high school students
 Students have access to
 Career exposure opportunities
 SAT/ACT/WorkKeys preparation workshops
 Seminars to assist with interview skills, study skills,
college preparation, and career preparation
 Student Ambassador program for leadership development
 Specialized courses
 Specialized counseling
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The Role of the HSA
Counselor

 Presence in each school once a week
 Career and college counseling
 Recommendations for scheduling
 Educating students on GPA calculations
 Address discipline concerns if necessary
 Communication
Program Requirements

 Students must maintain a minimum weighted GPA
of a 3.0.
 Students must maintain a discipline history without
out-of-school suspensions.
 Each year, students must complete a minimum of 25
hours of volunteer work in the community. Of the
100 cumulative hours through high school, 25 hours
must be in a medical setting.
Snapshot of HSA
Enrollment

1200
970
Number of Students
1000
830
800
687
600
400
713
332
397
491
474
518
534
567
200
0
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Snapshot of HSA
Graduates

120
Number of Students
100
80
60
40
20
0
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Snapshot of HSA
Graduates

Community
collaboration and
partnerships are crucial
to our program’s
success and continuous
development!!!
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Official Partners

 Pitt County Schools
 Vidant Health
 Eastern Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
 East Carolina University and the Brody
School of Medicine
 Pitt Community College
 Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of
Commerce
Pitt County Schools

 High school program under the Educational
Programs and Services Department
 Works collaboratively with the Career & Technical
Education (CTE) Department, but not a division
within CTE
 Collaboration with high school Health Science
departments, HOSA programs, Science departments,
and Math departments
 Advanced course opportunities offered in the
registration guide related to health sciences
Pitt County Schools

 Diversified staff (funded by Vidant Health)
 Administrator
 HSA Counselor with a Career Development
Coordinator and CTE Training
 HSA Counselor with Counselor Training
 Full-time Program Assistant
 Offices in Central Office, but counselors have an
office in each high school
 Support for recruitment in the middle schools for 8th
grade
 Elementary Outreach Program
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Vidant Health

 Main financial partner
 Direct relationship with the Administrator of Vidant
Health Careers
 Health Career Fair for newly accepted 8th graders
 Shadow Opportunities @ Vidant Medical Center
 Presence at HSA events
 8 Health Science Internship positions for HSA Seniors
 VolunTEEN program
 Staffing for Teddy Bear Hospital (Elementary Outreach
Program)
Eastern AHEC

 Financial support for exploration programs
 UNC Sports Medicine Symposium
 Destination Health Careers Summer Program
 Financial support for SAT preparation workshop
 ACT Preparation Workshop
 Youth Health Service Corps – Leadership training
East Carolina University and
the Brody School of Medicine

 Advisory council members from the College of Nursing,
School of Allied Health, Department of Athletic Training,
School of Dental Medicine, and the Brody School of
Medicine
 ECU Health Sciences Division Dinner and Information
Session for HSA Seniors
 Brody School of Medicine Honors Medical Research
course for PCS Seniors
 Brody Ambassador Program
 Intern from Health Education & Promotion for
Elementary Outreach
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Pitt Community College

 Advisory council members include the Dean of Health
Sciences and Associate’s of General Education
Department Chair
 Bonus on Health Science Admission Rubric for HSA
graduates within 5 years of high school graduation
 Destination Health Careers summer program
 Dual enrollment opportunities
Greenville-Pitt
Chamber of Commerce

 Connections to the private business community
 Assistance in making contacts with health
professionals outside of the hospital setting for
resource
Unofficial Partners

 Non-profit organizations that allow our students to
volunteer in their organization
 Local businesses that provide discounts to help us
fund our supply and event expenses
 Medical providers that allow our students to
volunteer and shadow within their practices
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Benefits of Effective
Community Collaboration

Retrieved from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills Website
Impact on 21st Century Skills

 Life and Career Skills
 Counselors help students explore interests and
strengths in relation to college and career planning
 Experiences that expose students to health careers at
an early age to help guide decisions
 Learning and Innovation Skills




Communication
Collaboration
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Benefits of Effective Community
Collaboration
Adapted by Tim DeCresie, Pitt County Schools Media & Instructional
Technology Coordinator
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1/26/2014
Collaboration is a
TWO LANE ROAD!
Benefits of Partnerships
for the HSA

 Updated information on trends and shortages in the
healthcare workforce
 Updated information on changes in the
postsecondary Health Science programs,
requirements, and initiatives
 Name recognition of the Health Sciences Academy
throughout the district
 Countless resources for our students and graduates
to access when searching for a career
HSA’s Contributions to
Our Partners

 Coordinator serves on postsecondary Advisory Councils
as requested:





PCC Associate’s of General Education
PCC College of Nursing
PCC Medical Assisting
ECU Health Services Management Program
Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) Project
 Provides quality preparation for future students and
professionals
 Recruitment for postsecondary schools and Vidant Health
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HSA’s Contribution to Our
Local Community

 Development of our youth with intense focus on
post-secondary and career planning
 Community Service for non-profit organizations and
medical providers
HSA’s Contribution
Outside Pitt County

 Serve as a resource for any school district interested
in creating a similar program to develop future
healthcare professionals
 Presentations to inform school leaders and postsecondary institutions of effective practices in
community collaboration and post-secondary/career
development
Summary

 To produce globally productive citizens in the 21 st
Century, schools must utilize community
partnerships to provide students the opportunity to
make real-world connections and form relationships.
 These partnerships must include give-and-take
between all entities in order to be beneficial for all of
those who are involved.
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Summary

 The Health Sciences Academy has effectively utilized
community partnerships to help develop young
adults with an interest in working as a healthcare
professional.
 Our graduates have left high school with a sense of
purpose and direction. This outcome leads to
successful college experiences and highly qualified
candidates for careers.
References

Faulkner, J.H. Pitt County Schools, (2005). A chronicle of the
Health Sciences Academy. Greenville, NC: Pitt County
Schools Board of Education.
National Education Association. (2011). Family-schoolcommunity partnerships 2.0: Collaborative strategies
to advance student learning. Washington, DC: Author.
Retrieved from: http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/
Family-School-Community-Partnerships-2.0.pdf
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 2006. Framework for 21st
century learning. http://www.p21.org/our-work/
p21-framework (accessed December 13, 2013).
Questions?

If you are interested in gaining more information about
the Pitt County Schools Health Sciences Academy,
please contact:
Tara Parker
parker@pitt.k12.nc.us
252.830.5042
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