Program Will Bring Business And Education Together For Good

Teachers are known for their ability to touch the future, but area business people will have that opportunity as well thanks to a partnership between Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) and the Lancaster Chamber.

An open house to introduce the First Choice Discovery Program, a work-based program offering career exploration and mentoring to every sophomore, will be held at Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) on Thursday, Sept. 22, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Follow-up events focused on mentor training, critical skill building, resumes, and interviewing will be held monthly during 2022. A career pathways fair is planned for February 2023.

According to PVSD assistant superintendent Rich Eby, the program fits neatly into the district's goals. "Our vision continues to be (that) we want to prepare every (student) for his or her post secondary first choice," said Eby, who noted that one way to reach that goal is to help students earn an industry-based credential. "We call it a diploma plus," said Eby.

To make that happen, First Choice career coordinator Jared Erb hopes to connect students with members of the local business community. "There's something different that happens when they are hearing from someone in the business sector because it's outside of their normal context," said Erb. "We are looking to bring in as many partnerships as possible ... to help tell the stories of ... different (career) clusters (we have distinguished) and help kids broaden their perspectives." The program involves a number of aptitude and skills assessments that may lead students to explore possible job choices and from there work to build critical workplace skills.

By involving members of the business community in a mentoring capacity, the program puts an emphasis on relationships. "Some kids don't have the ability to develop social capital," explained Eby.

"This program is an attempt to build human capital with an adult for every kid," added Erb, who hopes that by Job Shadowing Day, which will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, the district will bus students to a number of employers around the county.

Mike Sensenig, who is helping to organize the program, said that the concept grew out of searching for ways to better prepare students for the workforce. "The percentage of PVHS students going directly into the workforce is pretty significant," he said. The Chamber has been extremely helpful in (creating) the structure with Jared." Sensenig added that in the present job market, the program offers a win-win for employers and students. "The goal here from the business side is to be able to present what we have to offer in all these vocations," Sensenig said. "There are great job possibilities." Sensenig noted that approximately 120,000 county residents may retire from the workforce in the next 10 years, making the program timely. "There has to be change in the way we get people ready to work," he said.

Readers who have questions about the program may email jared_erb@pequeavalley.net or call 717-768-5510, ext. 5518.