Welcome
Heather Manka-Pendrak
mankaph@gcsnc.com
Governor’s Teacher Network Participant
March 30, 2015
A Race to the Top Initiative
NC Department of Public Instruction
Educator Effectiveness Division
How NC Industry Can Help
Shape Education
Heather Manka-Pendrak
Lucy Ragsdale High School
Guilford County
Session Objectives
• Educators will be able to explain how business
partnerships will benefit students.
• Educators will be able to use knowledge gained
from the session to implement industry based
learning in the classrooms.
• Educators will be able to create partnerships that
foster collaboration with the business community.
Hats Off Activity
• I would like for everyone in the group to select a
hat from the table where they are sitting.
• Think about why you selected that specific Hat?
• Now look around at all the hats people have in the
room.
• Is there another hat you wish you could have
instead?
• I want you to get up and trade hats for one you
like the best.
• When you had another chance to select a different hat
what caused you to select that other hat?
• So what draws us to pick or select certain things?
• Now think back to the choices you made in high school
or college.
• Is the choice you made for a career then similar to the
reasons you had when selecting a hat or what about the
decision you made to change your hat?
1. Good fit
2. Looks Fun
3. Makes me feel good
4. Comfortable
5. No other choices
6. Familiar
If you knew what you know now about your career
path in high school would you have made different
choices?
Most people make decisions that are safe or
familiar.
Most parents wouldn’t discourage their
son/daughter from becoming a Doctor,
but what about becoming an Embalmer or a hot
dog vendor?
I personally would have chosen the ice cream taste
tester @ an average of $56,000 a year! (Smith. J)
So this led me to begin to think about my students
and their future.
What
is theDoes
first thing
that comes
to mind
What
it Mean
For
My
when you think about our students as future
Students
leaders?
This initially was my first response
as well, but once I regained my
composure I began to ponder a
question about our students.
What will motivate our
students to work harder?
Then I asked myself,
“What Motivates Me?”
If Money is what motivates students
then what if we offered to pay them to
go to school?
Well at least
something Since that idea clearly
better than
won’t work
“You want
I thought about the
fries with
idea of WORK instead!
that?”
anyway
.
So I did some research & found that according to the NC
Public Schools Consolidated 2012 Report trends indicate that
students historically have been dropping out of school to
pursue training at a Community College since 2005-2006 as
the number one cause of student dropout rates.
So basically students are following the
money, and if they are following the
money then maybe we should start to
look at what we are doing in the
classroom to answer the Question
“Why are we doing this?”
So I asked myself,
“How Can NC Industry
Help Shape Education?”
If we want students to buy into
what we are teaching we need to
teach them skills they will need to
get a job and get some money.
So I began to wonder,
“What is so different
about what we want
our students to do and
what businesses want
their employees to
do?”
We want students to:
1. Become Leaders
2. Become creative problem solvers
3. Learn to work with and communicate with
others
4. Gain Confidence
5. Become engaged in what we are teaching
6. Feel successful
7. Be passionate about their own learning
8. Be competitive in the 21st century job market
9. Make Money & move out of our Houses!
(Sorry, Mom talking on the last point)
What Business Leaders are Looking for:
1. Leadership & Management skills
2. Creative problem solving & analytical skills
3. Communication skills
4. Professionalism
5. Teamwork
6. Planning & Organizational Skills
7. Passion & Motivation
8. Computer & technical skills
9. Flexibility
10. Confidence
(So they will eventually move out!)
These are
the Skills
that make
up
Today’s
21st
Century
Worker
Computer Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Analytical Skills
Communication Skills
Initiative Passionate
Organizational Skills
Respect Confident
Enthusiastic Flexible
Compromise Manager
Hard Worker
Leadership Skills
Team Work Punctual
Self-Directed Planning
Supportive Committed
Reliable Professional
Math Skills Creativity
Reading Skills
http://stockarch.com/images/illustrations/just-chillin-3572
These skills are not much different
than what we teach everyday, but
the difference is How & Who is
saying it.
So now the questions that need to be
answered are:
1. What are the effects of incorporating
desired job skills into the curriculum?
2. What effect will having business
partnerships have on student perceptions of
school?
3. What educational remodeling needs to
occur that get students to buy into what we
are teaching, will improve instruction, keep
students engaged, motivated to learn, and will
prepare them for the “Workforce”?
I conducted research this year in
partnership with the Governor’s
Teacher Network.
What?
Here is What It’s All About
Governor’s Teacher Network
Pathway 1 Teachers: Professional Development
• Identify problems of practice around
instructional needs and conduct action
research projects in their schools.
• Investigate and analyze the effectiveness of
strategies and practices on student learning.
• Create professional development sessions and
materials to be posted in Schoolnet and the
Professional Development System in Home
Base.
Action Research
Systematic inquiry conducted by teachers and
other educators to find solutions for critical,
challenging, relevant issues in their classrooms and
schools.
Mills, Geoffrey E, Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher,
2014
What is Action Research?
Classroom and school research conducted by
teachers to:
•Positively impact student outcomes
•Identify and promote effective instructional
practices
•Create opportunities for teachers to become
reflective practitioners
•Share research results with other educators
Mills, Geoffrey E, Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 2014
Action Research Plan
•The problem that I researched is “How NC
Industry Can Help Shape Education”.
•By using industry-based attributes I saw a
way to motivate students to learn, increase
graduation rates, and create industry prepared
graduates.
I Incorporated The Following
Industry Aspects In My Classes:
• The 10 top skills employers are looking for in its
employees into my lessons
• Formed collaborations with business partners
• Created student perception surveys to identify
what educational remodeling needs to occur that
will get students to buy into what we are teaching,
improve instruction, keep students engaged,
motivated to learn, and that will prepare them for
the “Workforce”
So Where Do Educators Fit In?
So I am here today to
present my results,
provide resources, and
lessons based on specific
student feedback that
will help enhance and
support instruction at the
local and state level.
Results
According to my
research 42% of
my students didn’t
think or were not
sure if school was
preparing them
for the workforce.
Results
60% of the students
surveyed indicated
that Career and
Technical Education
classes better
prepared them than
traditional courses.
Results
With regards to
motivation to do
better 73%
believed they
were motivated to
work better when
others were
depending on
them.
Results
89% surveyed
wanted to learn
job skills
Results
If you answered yes, explain why this would interest you.
Answered: 34
Skipped: 4
Results
So How Do We Do It?
1. At your tables you will find large sheets of paper.
2. Select a person from the group to write the following:
3. Write down what it is each person at the table teaches or
does, and match it to anyone who teaches a similar subject
or job. (Calculus, & Algebra will list their subjects together)
4. Circle the similar subjects.
5. Identify what someone could do with the knowledge from
that subject? (Ice cream taste tester is knowledgeable
about food science)
6. Place these jobs or careers around the subjects closely
linked to that subject. (Try to be creative)
7. Draw lines to connect the subjects to the jobs.
So How Do We Do It?
8. Think about who you know personally that has knowledge
of any of the careers listed at your table.
9. Everyone will write their names under any of the jobs listed
and what they do or their job title as well as anyone else
they may know that is knowledgeable about the subject or
job . (Don’t have to list last names or the person may do it
as a hobby or side business)
10. How many names do you now have of people that can help
you “teach” your subject?
11. These people most likely work for a company or business.
You have now established a list
of potential business partners.
Fitting Businesses Partnerships into your
Curriculum
1. Each person will write down what your students do in your
class that is a task or project that would be performed by
one of the businesses or jobs.
2. Is there a way that your students can do this task for the
benefit one of the businesses or for the students to benefit
from the company? (Job shadowing, field trip, mentoring,
assisted project development, or as simple as provide
career day information)
3. Time to “Get out of your comfort zone!”
4. Find a person in the room with the same or similar hat as
you.
5. Introduce yourself and find out why you both selected the
same/similar hat. (Get the conversation started)
What Do I Do Next?
7. Ask them about what they do. Any hobbies or interests, and
you answer likewise.
8. Find out what do they need help with in their
classrooms/jobs or businesses?
9. Let them know what you and your students can provide or if
you know of someone from your table that might be able to
help them, and if so introduce them to each other.
10. By the time you are done you should have established at
least 3 solid connections to someone other than yourself
that is knowledgeable in your subject area.
How Does It Fit Together?
1. Think about one of your objectives
2. Now that you know what another person can
help bring to your classroom write the objective
to include that partnership. (Brainstorm within
your group for assistance)
3. Select one person from your group to share
your ideas with the whole group on a
partnership idea.
Brag About It?
•Publicize – Everyone loves free publicity and
your schools are no exception, and the
businesses will appreciate it as well, because it
is a benefit that you can give them for free!
•Everyone loves a good community outreach
story, and it will get your students and your
school noticed for going outside the box.
Where Else Can You Go
•Colleges/Universities love to recruit and will be
more that willing most times to help out.
•Non-Profit organizations love to get students
involved and it will satisfy your service learning
requirement.
•Career Fairs
•CTE Dept.
•Your Own Family & Friends
•Your Student’s Parents!-a connected parent is a
supportive parent & many times have skills and
connections you may not know about so “ASK”.
Putting It All Together
•Involve All Stakeholders
•Make Connections
•Form Relationships
•Integrate Careers
•Invite Some Help
•Implement the Connections
•Advertise & Publicize
•Reflect on Changes
•Q & A session
References
1. Smith, J. (2013, March, 23) Forbes, 10 Unusual Jobs that Pay Surprisingly Well. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/05/23/10-unusual-jobs-that-pay-surprisingly-well/
http://www.animationplaza.com/3/animations/people_m/miscellaneous/vp_woman_getting_scared.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaiSHcHM0PA Jerry Maguire “Show me the money” audio clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp6gaB-YmVA Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure “No Way” audio clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ4z0GR4Vu8 Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure “Excellent” audio clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcJmqgBKUnw Jacob Chalkey Go Nuts Logo
2. Brooks, C. (2013, March, 13) Fox Business, 10 Job Skills Every Employer Wants. Retrieved from
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/14/10-job-skills-every-employer-wants/
3. Casserly, M. (2012, December, 10) Forbes Entrepreneurs. The 10 Skills That Will Get You Hired In 2013.
Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/12/10/the-10-skills-that-will-get-you-a-jobin-2013/
4. Doyle, A. (2014) About Careers, Top 7 Most Important Soft Skills: In Demand Soft Skills Employers Seek.
Retrieved from http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2014/04/10/top-7-most-important-soft-skills.htm
5. Hansen, R. S. & Hansen, K. (ND) Quintessential Careers. What Do Employers Really Want? Top Skills
and Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers. Retrieved from
http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html
6. Hart Research Associates. (2013, April 10) The Association of American Colleges and Universities,
Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success, the Association of American Colleges And
Universities. It Takes More than a Major. Retrieved from
http://www.aacu.org/leap/documeNts/2013_employersurvey.pdf
7. University of Kent Careers and Employability Service. (ND) What are the top ten skills that employers
want? Retrieved from http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/top-ten-skills.htm
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Conclusion of Presentation
Thank you for your participation
Contact Information:
•Heather Manka-Pendrak
•Guilford County Schools
Ragsdale High School
•1000 Lucy Ragsdale Rd.
•Jamestown NC 27282
•mankaph@gcsnc.com & http://tinyurl.com/kuu222w