Business Education Partnership
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce and HFM BOCES (Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services) have collaborated to form a BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (BEP). The BEP connects HFM BOCES school districts and programs with our regional businesses to help support a well-prepared, capable and adaptable workforce. In turn, these partnerships can help improve student achievement and educational competitiveness.
The BEP is looking for businesses to get involved with programs such as
- HFM PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School, located at Jansen Ave in Johnstown) is a new model for secondary education that trades classrooms for “innovation spaces” and ditches lectures for group collaboration and hands-on learning. Here, students take the lead role in their learning, choosing pathways to their careers and take college-level, credit-bearing courses from their first year. PTECH aims to look and function more like a hybrid between college and the workplace. The 6-year sequence emphasizes individualized pathways to completion, workplace experiences, mentorship, in-depth project-based learning and real-world experiences. At the end of the program, students in completion will receive a High School diploma and a two year Associate’s degree from Fulton-Montgomery Community College completely free of charge. HFM PTECH pathways are in Advanced Manufacturing, Business Management, Information Technology and Health Sciences (Facebook: HFM PTECH, www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/ptech/).
- Agriculture PTECH (Ag PTECH), a PTECH school with an emphasis on Agricultural Studies and Environmental Sciences, located in St. Johnsville where students can choose from nine Associate’s degrees from SUNY Cobleskill (Facebook: HFM Ag PTECH, www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/agptech/).
- Foothills PTECH, a PTECH school with an emphasis on two academies, Health & Medical and Gaming & Coding. (Facebook: Foothills PTECH, https://www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/foothills-ptech/).
- Career and Technical Education, HFM Career & Technical Education offers students an avenue for career exploration and enrichment through practical learning applications. Juniors and seniors from HFM BOCES component school districts who are interested in pursuing career training as part of their high school experience are eligible to attend. (Facebook: HFM Career and Technical Center, https://www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/cte/.
- Pathway Programs, school districts within HFM BOCES offer incoming freshmen pathways to explore career options and then implement what they learned after they graduate high school and enter the workforce. These students will obtain stronger workplace skills and improved behavioral/social tools with the long-term goal of an improved student life outcome. School districts include: Amsterdam High School, Canajoharie High School and Mayfield High School.
Ways in which businesses can get involved:
MENTORSHIPS
Sophomore year at PTECH is all about teaching students professional skills needed to be successful in the workforce. Mentoring occurs monthly during the school year to expose students to a variety of seminars including professional presence and dress, succeeding at an internship and many more.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Guest speakers can be asked to attend “Pathway Panel Discussions” at all PTECH programs to highlight each degree pathway available. Guest speakers are also encouraged to participate during project based learning to serve as an expert related to the project.
GUEST JUDGES
Guests are asked to serve as guest judges for final presentations to add a level authenticity to projects.
ADVISORY COUNCILS
Participate by serving on a Pathway Advisory Council by coming together with school administrators, teachers, school counselors and students to help formulate curriculum for specific pathways that will provide the best opportunities for career exploration while helping to shape the region’s workforce of tomorrow.
JOB SHADOWING
Single- or multi-day work experiences where Juniors learn about a job/career by walking through the work day as a shadow to a staff member at your business.
INTERNSHIPS
Real-world experiences geared for seniors and upperclassmen to gain authentic experiences in their related career pathway. Internships can be paid or unpaid and can range for a week to several months.
WORKPLACE TOURS
Provide a tour of your place of business to students, teachers, school counselors, etc.
WORKPLACE CHALLENGES
Workplace Challenges provide students the opportunity to work on real world challenges from local businesses in a collaborative, team-based environment, applying instructional content to technical workplace problems.
Get involved with the Business Education Partnership to become a partner in education and invest in our region’s future!
CONTACT:
Nicole Walrath, Director of Workforce Development, nicolew@fultonmontgomeryny.org or nwalrath@hfmboces.org.
Jenna Patterson, Business and Education Partnership Coordinator, jennap@fultonmontgomeryny.org or jpatterson@hfmboces.org.