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What is Partners In Education?
Partners In Education is a program connecting Lee's Summit students, their curriculum and the business community. Each of the 27 school sites in the Lee's Summit District has, on average, 3-5 businesses whose employees serve as resources and volunteers in the classroom. In addition, more than 175 additional local companies partner with the district, bringing the total of local businesses who are Partners In Education to over 250. A complete listing of all participating businesses can be found under the 'Listing of Partnerships' tab.
How many different types of partnerships are there?
There are four types of partnerships - District, School, Program, and Internship. More information about partnership types can be found under the 'Types of Partnerships' tab.
How do I become a business partner?
The first step in becoming a partner is to contact the Partners In Education Director, Laura Maxwell, by email: laura.maxwell@lsr7.net or phone at (816) 986-1109.
After an initial overview of the program, prospective partners are asked to have their business' employees complete an interest inventory, which will be used to determine the best type of placement. Proximity and frequency of availability are also considerations.
Some businesses choose to participate in more than one type of partnership (i.e. School where they partner with a particular school and District where they offer their resources to additional schools that might have occasional needs). A business is eligible to participate in as many types of partnerships as they choose, so long as they are able to fulfill the requirements for each.
Is there a 'good' or 'bad' time of year to become a business partner?
We welcome businesses to engage in partnerships regardless of the time of year. By joining in the spring or early summer, businesses have the opportunity to plan for the forthcoming school year, but businesses who join in the winter or early spring, have a chance to 'test drive' and get a feel for what might be a good fit for pairing the business resources with the curriculum before the summer planning process occurs.
How do I find out which businesses are working with each of the R-7 schools?
Business partners are recognized in several ways. A complete listing of businesses participating in each type of partnership can be found under the 'Listing of Partnerships' tab. Each school also maintains a school website and bulletin board in the school which recognize that school's partners.
There are many types of businesses that participate - from small businesses with five employees to large businesses with 500. Some are corporations, some are retail businesses, and some are service organizations, not-for-profit or civic organizations. What they all have in common is the willingness and vision to help Lee's Summit fulfill its academic and development goals for students.
Is there a fee associated with being a business partner?
Absolutely not! Providing curricular connections and bringing 'real-life' application to classroom instruction is the focus of Partners In Education, not money. Your contribution of time and expertise as a business partner is invaluable, providing students a glimpse into what their futures may hold in a given career path. Some business partners do choose to contribute financially or donate resources, but there is no requirement to do so.
What are some of the ways businesses partner with schools?
*Serve as mentors or tutors for various subjects and grade levels (reading buddy, lunch buddy, etc)
*Make class presentations on a subject pertinent to your business
*Assist with special school programs such as science or career fairs
*Speak to a class on work ethic/skill sets important for success in your industry
*Work with a particular program (i.e. Robotics) to help that program fulfill its curricular objectives
*Collaborate with school staff and students to implement a community service project
*Provide job shadowing opportunities for students
*Offer student/parent 'workshops' at your place of business
For a comprehensive look at the ways Lee's Summit business partner resources have been integrated into the curriculum, see the Problem-Based Learning Knowledge Bank under the 'Partner Resources' tab. This gives specific examples of projects by curricular area, grade level and partner resources required.
What are some of the ways students give back to their business partners?
Schools and students are encouraged to give back to the partnering businesses in ways that are developmentally appropriate. At the elementary level, that might include singing at the business partner's location during the holidays, providing artwork to display in the business, or conducting service projects.
At the secondary level, if students possess skill sets that would be beneficial for their business partners they may be called upon to do so. For example, students have re-configured software systems for for business partners, collaborated on designing marketing techniques aimed at their demographic group, and worked with city employees to create viable plans for various projects, such as a new recycling center or proposed land development.
Who benefits from Partners In Education?
Everyone! Teachers and students benefit from seeing the application and relevance of curricular concepts in the business world, and the businesses benefit by having the opportunity to influence the skill sets that students are acquiring now and will bring with them as they enter the world of work.
Partners In Education provides the opportunity for students to learn more about career paths that utilize their strengths and aptitudes, which will enable them to make more prudent post-secondary decisions. By participating, businesses are literally investing in their futures. Today's student will become tomorrow's new hire. Collaboration is critical to successfully preparing our students for their futures, and Partners In Education is the vehicle driving that collaboration.
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