Business is from Mars, Education is from Venus

Ann Fields, Miami-Dade County Public SchoolsDayl Walker, Connecticut Business & Industry Association

Sonja Brouwers, Clark High School AOF Advisory Board

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The Languages of Business and Education Partners Can Be As Far Apart as the Planets

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Identify the problemSchool and Business Cultures have fundamental differencesFrom acronyms, to conflicting calendars to the differences between business writing and educational jargon, business and education are worlds apartBusiness partners collaborate; teachers rely on themselves – team approach vs. silo mind-set

“Collaborative behavior isn’t routine in the school environment.”David Moore, Senior Vice President, National

Academy Foundation

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Why is this a problem? Just like personal relationship building, communication is key to achieving goals.

Business Partner Frustration ? Academy Directors not following through with work-based learning leads – nationally and locally

Academy Director Frustration ? School Site Coordinators not following through with Academy Director procedures

School Site Coordinators – Why can’t they understand that we are testing and we are not in our classrooms?

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Intergalactic Disharmony: Communication Disconnect Between

Education and Business

•School Hours vs. Business Hours•School Year vs. Calendar Year•Business CEO’s Choose Staff; School CEO’s Assigned Staff•Advance Planning Time vs. Bureaucracy/Red Tape o Extended Classroom Experiences o Student Attendance at special events o Administrative/district/school board approvals

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Best Laid Plans of Business and Education

Internship Providers Orientation snarled by a little traffic . . .

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From the Other Perspective

Dr. Lupe Ferran Diaz, DirectorMiami-Dade County Public Schools

Sandra Edwards, President SageMark Sales and Marketing

Chair, AOHT BoardSoley C. Gonzalez, Community Relations

S FL Educational Federal Credit UnionVice-Chair, AOF Board

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Why Do We Need to Address This Problem?

I’m Very Busy and This Will Require A Lot of Work, So….

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Business: What’s In It For Me?

A Big Return on Investment!

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Business ROI•Added Value to Your Brand and Perception in the

Community•Benefit to Your Employees•Creation of a More Highly Skilled Workforce

Pipeline for Possible Future Employees

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Educators: What’s In It For Me?

A Super Hero!

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Educators Receive Meaningful Assistance• Support for Your Program from Influential

Business Leaders• You Provide the Academic Rigor to Students;

Business Supplies the Relevance• Unique Opportunities to Enhance Your Program• Expert Advice and Services• Opportunities for Funding• The Power of Networking• Internships!

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It’s All About the Students

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Communication is Important to Bring the Business-Education Relationship Into Balance

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Communication• One person responsible for school and one for

business Email, cell phone, office phone Find a champion if you can

• CC all involved people (volunteers, teachers, principal, office)

• Changes – let people know immediately• Timeliness – check emails 2x day

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Initial Email• Who: Students - #, grade, type Adults – teachers, volunteers, others• What: lecture? Hands-on demo? Tech needs• When: Date, time, contingency plan• Where: where to park, sign in, meet, room #• Why: Goals for school/goals for business

• CC: principal, AA, teachers,

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Respect Each Other• LISTEN• Business people

Volunteers Return to offices with emails/calls/work waiting Business needs are a priority

• Teachers and schools Fewer resources Older technology Little control over schedule Teach the children who walk through their doors

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Honor CommitmentsBusiness volunteers• Show up if you say you will• Call immediately if you have to cancelSchools• Be sure the students are there

Tutoring/mentoring Class activities

• Understand that business needs take precedence

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Feeling Welcome• Business people may be nervous

Parking, entrance, room #, where to meet• Students greet visitors

Handshake, eye contact, say name clearly Smile, tell them why they love school

• Name tags Helps students address the visitors by name Helps business people address students by name

and remember them• Principal

Stop by to say, “Thank you”

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Gratitude

• Charm School Lesson #1: Say, “Thank you”• Charm School Lesson #2: Write thank you

notes Teachers vs. students Handwritten vs. electronic Proof for grammar and punctuation!!

• Make them feel good about the time and effort they spent. Photos PR

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Say, “Thank you”

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Start Small• Work out the kinks under the radar screen• Find the champions• Make people feel good – students, teachers,

business people• Use the students• Do evaluations

Facilitates continuous improvement Use data to give companies feedback

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Start Small: Career Posters

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Start Small: Career Poster to Tutoring

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Start Small: Tutoring

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Start Small: Tutoring to Lunch with Young Engineers Program

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Start Small: Lunch with the Presidents

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Interns and Business Sponsors – Photo sent to all companies, school system, etc.

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Any Questions??