Increased collaboration among local schools and high-tech companies promises big dividends for local students. New programs will better prepare students for college courses and, ultimately, for lucrative careers.Essentially, they’ll be getting smarter faster. This has numerous ancillary benefits for the entire community. More students will be able to stay home to pursue higher education. And high-tech businesses will benefit from a more highly skilled workforce. Educators and business leaders are venturing beyond their respective silos, transcending lines that used to separate private and public sectors. Also, the gap between K-12 and Clark College, already narrowed by Running Start and other programs, is getting even smaller.
Here are a few examples of these partnerships, with kudos from The Columbian for the participants’ teamwork and creative vision:
Engineers from silicon wafer manufacturer SEH America Inc. and teachers from Evergreen Public Schools were scheduled to meet Wednesday to plan a new type of science class at the district’s four high schools. A materials science class will explore the most important components in high-tech industries, “stuff” such as polymers, composites and semi-conductors.
Many of these students will enjoy a head start on college engineering courses; others will be able to advance directly to local manufacturing jobs. Beyond the science aspect, the students in this class will also acquire critical-thinking skills and develop a good work ethic and the techniques of teamwork that are valuable in the job market.