What's the best way for educators to stay abreast of workplace and industry trends? By experiencing it for themselves… That's why on Election Day 2004, a team of 20 from Queens Vocational and Technical High School spent the citywide professional development day with senior executives and employees at North Fork Bank's Melville, L.I. headquarters. "[Teacher Job Shadow Day] was one of the best professional development programs that I've ever participated in," effused Jeanette Newman, Assistant Principal and leader of the team. This group is in the throes of designing a new Entrepreneurial Studies small learning community, one of three set to open at Queens Vocational and Technical High School in Fall 2005.

The visitors - teachers and administrators, as well as the school's parent coordinator - dined, discussed and debated with their North Fork Bank hosts in arranged meetings with senior executives as well as while touring the handsome, airy building.

     

Teacher Job Shadow, a new initiative of the New York Citywide School to Work Alliance, fortifies the relationship between a business and a school while providing valuable professional development opportunities for school staff.

North Fork, long involved with educational projects, was excited to host the group because of the multiplied effect such a program can have. One educator who is up-to-date on the industry's professional opportunities and skills requirements has the potential to broadcast their knowledge and enthusiasm to hundreds of students and colleagues.

"Teacher Job Shadow Day exceeded my expectations," reflects Stacey Cooper, Senior Vice President of North Fork and coordinator of the program. "A fun, exciting day for us. It was really nice to have hosted the team from Queens Vocational and Technical High School. I hope it was motivational for them because what they take from it is the most important thing." During a debrief discussion at the end of the day, educators already began sharing ideas about how they plan to apply the day's experiences to learning and instruction. In addition, they will incorporate some of the principles into the design of their new school, for example infusing verbal and writing skills, personal appearance, and social skills into the expectations and the curriculum.

Because teachers and guidance counselors are high school students' primary portals to career information and inspiration, it is critical that educators are up-to-date on the demands and realities of today's workplace. Even though more and more companies are creating ways for high school students to gain exposure to the real working world, few programs exist that expose educators to the contemporary workplace. "This is the missing link in all our career readiness activities," bemoans one principal about the lack of strong teacher-industry connections.