Rutherford Works Summer High School Internship Program: Building Industry Partnerships and Promoting Work-Based Learning

Rutherford County, TN

Rutherford County, TN Demographics 60.32% 24.23% 15.46% White Collar Rutherford County is the largest suburb of Nashville Among fastest growing counties in U.S. 2010 – 2017 Population Growth: +18.33% 2017 Population Estimate: 310,750 2022 Projection: 338,756 Households =113,372 Median Age = 34 Median Household Income = $ 56,936 Cost of Living Index = 96.3 (100 is the National Average) White Collar 60.32% Blue Collar 24.23% Service & Farm 15.46% Sources: Nielsen

Education Education

About Rutherford Works Rutherford Works is the Economic & Workforce Development arm of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. We bring industry and education together to engage students in learning skills necessary to compete for high wage, high demand careers of the future. Our Vision: Where Passion Meets Opportunity Mission: Through an uncommon partnership with business and education, Rutherford Works empowers and inspires the current and future workforce of Rutherford County to become highly skilled, highly employable citizens to achieve a better life. We do this by matching educational opportunities with high demand, high wage jobs in Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Transportation and Logistics.

Overview of Rutherford Works Summer Internship Program Best Practices for Employer Engagement & Partnerships Developing Your Plan of Action to Grow Industry Partnerships

2018 Internship Program

Purpose 3 factors which prompted the creation of Rutherford Works High School Internship Program: Fewer high schools students are working summer jobs and part-time jobs than a decade ago Employers say that lack of work experience is one factor that prevents them from hiring young adults. Tennessee has the ninth lowest labor participation rate in the United States. Young adults represent an important part of the Rutherford County talent pool.

Program Goals Provide paid internship for up to 45 rising seniors each summer. Identify 45 job opportunities that will engage the student/employee in active, on the job learning, allow the student to provide meaningful contributions to the employer and provide constructive coaching and feedback to the student/employee.

Program Goals Cont. Provide employers with potential recruiting opportunities for high demand career fields. Increase participant and parent awareness of educational and career opportunities available in Rutherford County and Middle Tennessee

Student Eligibility • Students must be 16 years of age by the start of the internship • Students must be entering their senior year of high school • Students must have reliable transportation to and from the training and job site • Students must be eligible to work in the U.S. and resident of Rutherford County

Student Goals Students will gain experience applying and interviewing for a job by completing a job application and participating in the interview process. Students will explore career fields and career options while on the job and during work based learning classes. Students will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the foundation skills and competencies essential for success in the workplace including: Hard working/strong work ethic/sense of responsibility Written and verbal communication skills

Student Goals Cont. Ability to work well with others/team work Critical thinking Leadership Students will get a jump start on building their resume for college and future employment opportunities. Students will establish a professional network.

Employer Benefits Grow brand awareness with students and their parents. Increase awareness of industry-specific career opportunities. Identify and cultivate future talent. Training and development opportunity for managers and mentors.

Student Outcomes Applicants # of Placements Male Female Caucasian   Applicants # of Placements Male Female Caucasian Asian, African American, Hispanic, Other 2015 67 20 11 9 12 8 2016 95 39 22 17 26 13 2017 244 50 25 32 18 2018 45 23

Student Outcomes Audio – Mario Video – Peyton Ball

Student Outcomes 95% of participants say that this program has helped prepare them for their next steps after high school 80% of participants would recommend the program to high school juniors 5 students were offered jobs after the end of the formal internship program (and 1 parent went to work with a student)

Student Outcomes

17 Participating Employers 2018 Bridgestone Calsonic Kansei City of Eagleville City of Murfreesboro Family Pet Health Hot Topic Hyla Mobile Middle Tennessee Electric Murfreesboro Electric Department Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Nissan Ole South Builders Roscoe Brown Heating & Air Rutherford County Government TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center Town of Smyrna U.S. Parks Department – Stones River Battlefield

2018 Job Distribution by Pathway

Personal Leadership Training

The Final Product

Other Employer Engagement Opportunities

Other Employer Engagement Opportunities

Best Practices for Employer Engagement Don’t ask for money Invite them to your classroom Observe Speak to students Judge competitions Listen, listen, listen What can your students do to provide value for the employer? What’s in it for them?

Who is Represented on Your Advisory Board? CTE employer engagement starts with a strong advisory board. Who are they? Are they the most relevant industry in your community? Who would you like to have on your board? Do you have a relationship with your local chamber of commerce? What’s stopping you from growing your network of employers?

Create Your Ideal Advisory Board Current Members Ideal Members List current members List possible new members Who could you remove off the current list to make room for the new members?

Name of Company Contact Person Who do you know who can make an introduction When will you make the contact?

3 Outcomes From New Employer Relationships What would you like to see as potential outcomes by the end of the 2018? 1. 2. 3.

Employer Champion Good afternoon, Mr. Lee.  My name is Roger Case, and I am member of the Rutherford Works Construction Council. The purpose of this Council is to implement a program to develop a workforce within the trades of the construction industry in Rutherford County and greater Middle Tennessee region to support the anticipated high growth over the next ten years within the construction industry.  We are working with many local employers, as well as local high schools and colleges to help develop this program.   Construction is not the only industry seeing a shortage of labor.  We have five other councils with the same objective as ours. Health Care Information Technology Supply Chain Manufacturing Management Here is a link to the website for more information.    https://rutherfordworks.com/ There are several leaders and members of these councils who are working very hard in developing this program.  We would very much appreciate a meeting with you concerning these efforts.  I look forward to hearing from you. Roger Case

Questions?

Sr. Vice President for Education & Workforce Development K. Beth Duffield Sr. Vice President for Education & Workforce Development Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (C) 615-806-9839 bduffield@rutherfordchamber.org | www.rutherfordworks.com @bethduffieldtn Tyra Pilgrim CTE Director Rutherford County Schools 615.893.5815 (o) | 615.491.7004 (c) pilgrim@rcshools.net | www.rcshools.net @tyrasuepilgrim