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Because quality education is essential to economic vitality and a competitive workforce, the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce has a rich history of business/education partnerships. The Chamber's Education Council meets monthly and brings representatives from chamber member schools to the table with chamber business members. This forum encourages business leaders to be actively involved in education and school leaders to examine the needs of the business community.
The council also serves as the working body of the local School-to-Careers Partnership, a collaborative effort among the Alamance-Burlington School System, Alamance Community College, Elon University and the chamber. This award winning partnership promotes career exploration opportunities for students and industry tours for teachers. Additional efforts support student achievement and local teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
Career Exploration Opportunities for Students
Industry Tours for Teachers
Programs Supporting Student Achievement
Teacher Recruitment and Retention Efforts
Career Exploration Opportunities for Students
There are many opportunities for business partners to help students explore the world of work. Through the chamber’s Speakers Bureau, students hear first-hand from people who work in different career fields about their areas of expertise. Volunteers teach business and real life economics to students using lesson plans provided by Junior Achievement. The lesson plans are fun, hands-on and easy to use. Business leaders participate in area career fairs serving as role models for their professions. Job shadowing is an opportunity for high school juniors to spend a day exploring a career in which they have an interest, observing performance activities, and learning about the skills and training required. Paid and unpaid internships provide students with hands-on experience. The intern learns about a particular industry or occupation, the skills required and the level of academic and technical preparation needed.
Helpful Links:
Junior Achievement of Central North Carolina
Industry Tours for Teachers
Tuesday Tours allow teachers, counselors and administrators to visit area industries and businesses after school. These monthly onsite visits allow local educators to see and hear for themselves the skills needed to fill local positions. Alamance Up-Close provides a more in-depth business and industry tour. The Educator Internship Program provides a work-based experience for teachers. This four-day summer program matches educators with area companies and agencies. Teachers develop lesson plans using their experiences.
Programs Supporting Student Achievement
Chamber businesses are encouraged to become involved in area schools. Some have adopted classrooms while others have adopted schools. Through this program, businesses provide volunteers, non-monetary donations as well as targeted money goals. Business leaders are encouraged to serve as tutors, providing academic assistance for one hour per week. Lunch buddies serve as mentors to students by eating lunch with them on a regular basis. Many children desire extra attention and benefit from having other role models. Volunteers can serve as testing proctors or judge Senior Projects. During the months of July and August, the chamber and selected business sponsors organize a Classroom Collection Campaign. This campaign ensures that every student has the basic supplies for a successful school year.
Link for tutors and lunch buddies, Alamance Citizens for Education
Teacher Recruitment and Retention Efforts
Each spring, chamber members are invited to contribute to a New Teacher Welcome Package. In addition to relocation information, each package includes special offers from local apartment complexes, internet services, banks, storage facilities and moving companies. Also included are coupons and discounts from area restaurants, retail stores and other service providers. Another way to show appreciation to educators in Alamance County, Chamber member businesses can offer specials and discounts through the Thanks for Teaching web page. This opportunity is a win-win situation for both educators and businesses. The chamber facilitates the selection process for the SunTrust Gold Star Teacher of the Year Awards Program, recognizing the best in teaching. Each fall, chamber members host a New Teacher Reception. During the months of July and August, the chamber and selected business sponsors organize a Classroom Collection Campaign. With the aid of a suggested list of supplies and designated drop sites, Alamance County citizens are able to demonstrate their support of education.
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