Business Engagement Opportunities

The experiences extend beyond the exploration phase of career planning and into work experience. Modeling of job functions and providing opportunities for students to engage in the work is expected. The students will develop a deeper level of understanding of the inner workings of the industry and the complexity of the career field by collaborating with others. Internships are typically paid. Students should receive feedback from the employer about their job performance as an opportunity to further understand and engage in the work. Students have the opportunity to earn course credit for this experience and are released from the last block of the day.

Looking for a NEW way to engage in schools?

LAUNCH represents the collaboration of education, business, and community, providing students with a unique, immersive experience, resulting in highly-skilled, adaptable, global innovators and leaders. LAUNCH connects professionals with highly motivated students and receives real challenges from business and industry partners in a project-based environment. Students gain support from experts, mentors, teachers, and people working in relevant fields. Please visit our website for more information about our LAUNCH Program by clicking here.

Connect with Dr. Robert Hall on how to get your company involved at hallr@elmbrookschools.org

Student Mentorship/Job Shadow

A career exploration opportunity for students that occurs through planned on-the-job visitations in a student-selected career field. Students will be matched on an individual basis with an adult mentor working in a specific career area. This workplace learning experience can occur in one or multiple workplace settings during and/or outside of the school day. Examples may include giving a student(s) a tour, short meet and greets with various employees to get an overview of their work/responsibilities in various departments, allowing students to conduct informational interviews, small projects in the office, etc. Experiences may last for as little as an hour to 40 hours for an experience. Students can earn .5 credits for a 40-hour experience. Program expectations are linked HERE. 

Guest Instructors/Speakers

Business partners come into classrooms to teach students about a particular topic, participate in panel discussions, provide feedback to students on projects, etc. The business partner guest could instruct for one block/period, a day, or multiple days. It may also be possible for classes to go to the business partner’s workplace to receive the instruction.

Research or Career Mentor

Students are paired with a mentor within a related career field to support the students in one of two areas: 1) a research mentor to support, advise, and provide feedback during the AP research development, or 2) career and education pathway support who can advise students on how to network, develop an education pathway, and understand the acumen within a specific field.

In order to deliver an agile, timely, and relevant curriculum, teachers need to continue to grow and acquire new content knowledge and skills. Business partners can play a key role in helping teachers acquire knowledge and skills that can be used to deliver the curriculum to students. Businesses may provide opportunities for educators to visit to learn more about careers and potential careers for their students and bring lessons from business and industry to the classroom.

In an effort to deliver the most relevant and timely curriculum, there may be opportunities for business partners to donate value-added equipment and supplies. It may also be possible for classes to go to business partners’ workplaces to use industry tools, equipment, and supplies.

Business partners have the opportunity to fund a variety of opportunities that would enhance the learning experience of Elmbrook students as well as help our work-based learning program grow and expand to meet more diverse needs.

This option is for businesses/companies interested in supporting enrichment opportunities for students within a specific career cluster and/or providing scholarships for students pursuing post-secondary education through a technical school, college, or university.