Effective communication, time management, sticking to deadlines, showing up on time and when expected — these executive functioning and soft skills are in-demand in the modern workplace.
During the one-day Road to Readiness program, Independence educators and administrators listen to straight talk from local employers representing many different industries.
“It’s our job to prepare students for their futures and as teachers, we need to continually update our knowledge base of what the future looks like — the skills, ideals and ethical components businesses are seeking in potential employees,” says Mike Pennington, Director of Curriculum and Technology Integration for Independence Local Schools.
The Road to Readiness initiative is rooted in conversations between the city’s Economic Development Department, Independence Schools and the business community. The program launched with an event at the Civic Center in November 2023, gathering educators and local employers with the theme: Culture of Work – Employer Perspectives on Hiring and Working in the Current Global Economy.
The idea of this initiative is to ensure students are future-ready in today’s dynamic economy and then explore how to embed these skills into the curriculum.
A spring 2024 Road to Readiness program included visits to employers who spoke to educators about what today’s businesses want and need.
Notable was a growing gap in communication and time management skills, which is an area of focus at Independence Schools. An equally impactful take-away: Career exposure in high school can introduce pathways that lead to a fulfilling life. For instance, David Hughes, Vice President of Gray Media/WOIO-TV19, says he traces his career path back to a high school video production class.
“We have more than 800 businesses in Independence, and they are looking for ways to give back to the community,” says Jessica Hyser, Economic Development Director, calling the Road to Readiness initiative a way for “teachers to get out there and build connections.”
Connecting in the Community
“As we work within our four walls here, we can see a bigger piece to connecting what students learn to workforce needs — and it was eye-opening,” says Jamie Vanek, Principal, Independence Middle School.
In-person tours throughout the business community are insightful for educators.
“Often, we still go back to the Flintstones era when we think of what manufacturing is or what an office looks like, but not until you are out seeing it and experiencing it can we understand how the workplace has evolved drastically, especially during and after Covid,” Hyser says. “The tours gave teachers a look at the diversity of what’s available in the local workforce.”
The caravan of educators stopped at Kurtz Brothers’ headquarters, which runs landscape supply centers in Northeast Ohio. Also on the agenda was CBIZ, an accounting and insurance advisory firm, along with Liberty Home Mortgage, Redwood Living, Grice Corp., MCG Architecture, CSA Group and Wild Republic.
With Hughes serving as the lunchtime speaker, he emphasized to educators that high school students are searching for their passion, adding that students should look on companies’ websites for staff emails and connect to ask questions.
Following a tour and talk with CSA Group, teachers returned to see what happens at the global standards development corporation that tests, inspects and certifies companies. Hyser says, “They are actually putting car batteries and other lithium ion batteries through extreme conditions to see how they perform.”
Without knowing what CSA is all about, a student might not realize that an interest in tinkering or pushing the limits can translate to a role in testing and standards, Hyser points out.
During the initial business event in November 2023, Ben Tyrrel, assistant to the special agent in charge at U.S. Secret Service, brought his armored vehicle, opening the doors for teachers to tour.
All this immersion informs curriculum planning, classroom projects and field experiences. It’s a connect-the-dots win for employers and students.
“We’re learning what skills are necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. We can tie that to the curriculum and explain to students, ‘If you were looking in your own backyard at a wealth management firm, engineering company or any one of our many businesses, these are skills you will carry into the workplace,’” Vanek relates.
These meaningful connections go a long way toward helping students understand that even the everyday mechanics of classroom culture are important skill-building opportunities that are highly marketable to employers.
“Getting your work done on time is important not just because your seventh-grade teacher expects it, but the employers who are hiring students also see this as important for being successful,” Pennington relates. “Anytime we can take students out and give them real-world experience is beneficial.”
Also, Pennington says visiting local employers and recognizing the skills they are seeking is what is expected of graduates and what they are prepared to do affirms the district is on the right track.
Paving Career Pathways
Road to Readiness illustrates the Independence business community’s interest in “not just being a tenant, but a good corporate citizen,” Hyser says, relating that when MAI Capital moved to Independence in 2022, the organization specifically told the city it wanted to get involved.
So, MAI Capital has been hosting student groups at their offices to expose students to the financial field and show teaching staff what these careers entail.
For the student who wonders in class, “Why am I learning this?” these experiences are a case-in-point explanation.
Wild Republic moved to Independence from Twinsburg and is a leader in the plush toy industry, selling its stuffed animals to aquariums and zoos across the globe. Teachers probably didn’t realize they were going to learn about ecological preservation and environmental stewardship from a company that makes stuffed toys, but they did.
“For Earth Day, they came out to Independence Primary School and educated a fourth-grade class about recycling and taking care of the environment, and all the things they make at the company from recycled goods,” Hyser shares. Each child went home with a plush toy and a fresh perspective.
“They, like many Independence businesses, want to ensure the development of our workforce and be a part of our community,” Hyser relates.
The Road to Readiness momentum continues, and Vanek says it has helped open up even more conduits in the community for career exploration.
“There have been some great partnerships formed where the business community is reaching out saying, ‘We’d love to speak to your students or come to a job fair,’” he says.
Now, Pennington wants to explore how parents can get involved, further strengthening connections and highlighting what the modern workforce is looking for in qualified candidates, noting that this might mean earning a technical certificate or on-the-job training. There are many pathways toward a bright future.
He says, “The city has always been such a great partner and this collaborative program emphasizes the importance of what we do as a district.”
