Mesa Public Schools is partnering with industry and community partners to enhance and strengthen the connection between industry and classroom experiences.
Most children understand that when they grow up, they can be a doctor, a teacher, or even a firefighter. But when industry professionals step into classrooms, a student’s entire world opens to limitless possibilities and career paths.
Renee Parker, director of community partnerships at Mesa Public Schools, shares that students enjoy connecting with individuals who have industry expertise and knowledge.
“Our industry partners like Honeywell and Intel become true community educators, by delivering content, sparking excitement, making learning more meaningful, and providing real-world experiences. They make it easier for students to understand a subject’s relevance in the world,” Renee shares. “And it truly is activating our community to inspire our students to do better, be better, and do more.”
One exciting partnership with Intel illustrates the connection between industry, school, and the future workforce. The multinational corporation hosted a contest to create a flashlight holder prototype. Students were charged with solving a real problem by using their learning experiences to create the model. Brandon King is a sophomore at Red Mountain High School who received top honors for his design which is now being used on Intel’s engineering floor and featured in their employee catalog. Brandon and many other classmates are on Intel’s radar so they can provide mentoring and support to other students.
BUILDING A PIPELINE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Mesa is joining forces with the City of Mesa and its Community Collaboration Challenge to get more community stakeholders involved in determining best practices for students. They are using platforms like Community Share and AARP Foundation Experience Corps to connect educators with volunteers who want to help make a difference in Mesa schools.
On a national level, Mesa is working with the U.S. Department of Education, AmeriCorps, and the Johns Hopkins Everyone Graduates Center through the National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS). The goal is to implement support that includes high-impact tutoring, mentoring, and programs that boost pandemic learning and recovery efforts. The NPSS is a nationwide three-year effort that brings together experienced organizations to recruit, screen, train, support, and engage caring adults who will work in close coordination with educators serving in roles such as tutors, mentors, and student success coaches.
Renee shares that it is inspiring to see the community come together to support education. The district has volunteer opportunities from grandparents who read to children at their local school to industry partners who enhance the learning experience in the classroom.
“We can tailor an experience based on interests,” Renee says. “We have volunteer opportunities that might include a regular weekly occurrence, a semester-long project, or even a singular event.”
For more information regarding volunteer and community partnership opportunities, please visit mpsaz.org/volunteer.