Educators in Industry provides teachers and counselors with the opportunity to “step out of the classroom” and into the workplace in order to discover first-hand about what their students need to know:

• The scope and variety of career opportunities that exist “out there”
• The connection between the workplace and what is being learned in school
• The training/education required for specific career paths
• The “soft skills” necessary to be successful in the world of work
• The future workforce trends

Educators in Industry was started four years ago in Santa Cruz County by Your Future Is Our Business (YFIOB), a local non-profit business/education intermediary. Through the efforts of YFIOB and the Work Based Learning Resource Center at Cabrillo College, over 600 high school and community college teachers and counselors have connected with professionals in private and public sector workplace settings. Participant evaluations overwhelmingly reflect that these opportunities have provided them with:

• Specific information regarding career opportunities and hiring expectations that will help them better prepare students
• A greater understanding of the relationship between education and the workplace
• Insights that directly impact teaching and curriculum
• Awareness about “hidden” jobs and career ladder possibilities which they can share with students
• Connections for networking

How many educators usually attend a site visit?

Employers determine the number that their site or staff can comfortably accommodate. Typical groups range from 6 to 15 participants. Groups usually include teachers and counselors from several different schools.

How long is a site visit?

Most site visits last about 3 hours, although they can vary from 90 minutes to all day. Sometimes the site visit includes lunch. Each employer/organization determines what will work best for their site.

What does a typical visit usually include?

• A welcome/overview with an appropriate staff person(s) provides educators with a sense of the scope of the business/organization. This may include the history, structure of the organization, services/products provided, breadth of jobs, “what makes this organization a success” and includes time for Q&A.
• A tour of the site or specific departments can be done either as a whole group or in smaller groups. Sometimes educators are matched in groups of 2-3 with a specific department head or employee for a more in-depth look at a particular aspect of the organization or business. This might include attending a meeting, a demonstration, or simply observing people at work and asking a few questions.
• The last half hour is used by the educators to do a debriefing session somewhere on site.

What educators usually like to see or learn about?

• The primary mission/activities/scope of the organization, the physical layout, the use of technology
• The breadth of jobs, employment or internship opportunities
• Individual employee “success stories”
• Recruiting, hiring, training, promotion processes
• Recommendations and future trends

Who is the contact for Educators in Industry?

Vera Chesnut,  Program Administrator
Your Future Is Our Business
831-477-5651
vechesnu@cabrillo.edu