45 business and school representatives came together for a WE2BA meeting on Thursday. (Photo by Stefan Czaporowski)
WESTFIELD – At the Westfield Education to Business Alliance’s (WE2BA) first meeting since breaking for the summer, held last Thursday at Mestek, 45 district and business leaders came together to review their progress and make plans for the coming year.
Westfield Public Schools superintendent Stefan Czaporowski talked about the career events and elementary career days that were held last year. In the elementary schools, businesses and parents went into the classrooms. “Most of the presentations were absolutely phenomenal,” he said. He said students heard about careers they might be interested in.
The next career fair that is planned for the middle school will be a different model. Chris Tolpa, English language arts supervisor said they will be asking businesses to come in and inform teachers about their work, and give relevant hands-on examples. The middle school career fair will be held in the North Middle School gymnasium on October 17. Tolpa said the goal is to form collaborative relationships and see how businesses and the schools can work together. Businesses are asked to bring their own tables to the event, which 120 middle school teachers are expected to attend.
Chamber of Commerce director Kate Phelon said that teachers want to know what skill sets are needed in the workplace. She said the Chamber will be sending out flyers for the career fair, and businesses can contact her to sign up. Phelon said she is inviting the Secretary of Education and Workforce Development to what she described will be “a cool event.”
The combined high school career fair at Westfield State University will be planned again for both Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy. Last June, 46 companies participated, showcasing their work. Phelon said the goal for this year’s event will be 75 companies. She said that businesses should focus on informing students about what skill sets are needed in their line of work, and bring lists of openings.
Czaporowski said from the district’s perspective, even if students are planning to go to college, letting them know what skills they are looking for in prospective employees is helpful.
“This is the bridging we’re doing,” Phelon said. She asked all the principals to let the chamber know the dates of career fairs they are planning, and she will send out eblasts to members.
Czaporowski said he is also planning to continue staff tours of businesses, held in the mornings from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
Another goal is to continue the district-wide focus on workforce development through internships and job shadowing. Czaporowski said they are looking at different curriculum teaching soft skills and professional competencies to help prepare students for jobs. College and career counselor Tara Bean will be working with students from both WHS and WTA to help them find opportunities. She may be reached at [email protected].
Another program to be continued this year will be mentorships with individual students. Last year through WE2BA, 22 people were trained and met with students on average 45 minutes per week one-on-one as mentors. Tina Macy, the district’s VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) coordinator, said the program received accolades from volunteers, and the mentors want to continue. Principals also thought it was a great opportunity for the students.
Macy will contact each school to locate the students and continue matches, if that makes sense. For mentors whose students moved, she will see if they can rematch them with another student. She said this year, there will be an abbreviated training lasting 30-40 minutes that will answer questions and review program essentials.
“This is an incredible initiative of this group. We want to engage your colleagues,” said Phelon. Macy said she is also available to go to work sites for training.
Czaporowski said the students are chosen by the principals in each school, as ones who may benefit from time spent with a caring adult.
Christopher Rogers, administrator of student services said that he and the student he mentored read the same book over the summer. They plan to kick off this year setting some goals together. “It was a fantastic experience. Even though I have children of my own, sometimes it’s great to see what goes on in the mind of a child,” Rogers said.
Macy, who will be coordinating the WE2BA mentorship program, said there are volunteer resources on the district website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org on the Volunteer page. A mentorship signup sheet was passed around at the meeting, and six new volunteers signed up for the program.
Phelon said WE2BA meetings will be held on the third Thursday of every month from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The next meeting will be on September 21 at a location to be announced. After the meeting, Phelon was excited. “Nobody’s doing this,” she said.
