Business Partners

There are so many roles that an associate from an employer or organization can play in an ecosystem where learners of all ages have access to a robust continuum of experiential/real world learning experiences. Employers play a key role in creating access to quality experiences that allow students to see how their interests, aptitude and skills align with opportunities in our region. Check out this complete menu of opportunities for Employer Engagement Roles.

A critical ingredient to a thriving regional economy is a ready supply of diverse, skilled talent. Kansas City is committed to creating an ecosystem where learners of all ages have access to a robust continuum of experiential/real world learning experiences that help them develop the  knowledge, skills and behaviors critical to success in life and work. Kansas City employers play a key role in creating access to quality experiences that allow students to see how their interests, aptitude and skills align with opportunities in our region. Employers can engage in a variety of ways that make sense for them. Ultimately, a student’s journey is informed by multiple touches, with deeper experiences delivering the most direct results in terms of job readiness and interest alignment. To support scaling of experiential/real world learning opportunities as a community, we have developed a common framework and language to make it simpler and easier for everyone to understand the options and how they can engage in a way that best suits their needs. Check out this document that explains the four overview areas:  explore, engage, immerse, and ecosystem support called Kauffman Employer Engagement Strategies.

Your involvement in what we call “ecosystem support” is crucial.  Your role would be one of advocacy, job and career path info, curriculum input/design or even providing facilities or equipment.  Real world learning strives to increase collaboration between districts seeking industry-specific guidance with employers in our region through industry section alignments.  According to data from MARC and KC Rising, the KC high demand industry sectors include advanced manufacturing, design and build, finance and insurance, information and technology, and life sciences.  In addition, the Lee’s Summit School District has identified industry sectors as part of our career and technical education (CTE) programs.  If you want to get involved in ecosystem support, check out our CTE advisory website.

A client-connected project requires that an employer associate initiate and validate student work. They will provide feedback on job performance throughout the project.  In essence, the role of project sponsor is the source of the student project.  A client-connected project must involve at least 24 hours of work with 4 hours engaged with the project sponsor.  The project is jointly evaluated by the project sponsor and the classroom teacher.  It is the completion of the client-connected project that counts as a market value asset, which would earn the student(s) the Diploma Plus.  

On the other hand, the entrepreneurial experience project originates from the student or group of students.  Students identify a compelling social or market problem and mobilize resources to research and solve it.  Student(s) in collaboration with teacher liaison identify employer associates who are willing to review their project.  The entrepreneurial project culminates in a shark-tank type presentation of the project.  Project reviewers evaluate the project.  The project reviewer helps ensure the approach reflects real-world expectations and skills.  It is the completion of the entrepreneurial experience project that counts as a market value asset, which would earn the student(s) the Diploma Plus.  Check out this document that explains the difference:  Employer Engagement Roles - Project Sponsor vs Project Reviewer Roles

Employers may want to scaffold engagement perhaps by starting with agreeing to be a subject matter expert (SME) for a teacher’s students.  Then, an employer/organization may want to host student(s) for job shadowing either onsite or virtually.  The ultimate engagement would be a full-blown internship.  It is the internship that counts as a market value asset, which would earn the student the Diploma Plus.  Check out this document that helps explain the differences.   Employer Engagement Roles - Exploration vs Immersion