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Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

Archives for February 2023

Larkin High School Introduces Students to Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades Professions

Alignment Career Panel- Teachers and Students

Larkin High School Hosts Automotive, Electrical, Engineering, Large Equipment Maintenance, Manufacturing, and Welding Career Opportunities

On February 22, Larkin High School in partnership with Alignment invited business professionals to its campus to share with students the high demand apprenticeship and job opportunities in automotive, electrical, engineering, large equipment maintenance, manufacturing, and welding.

Katie Lauesen, counselor for Larkin High School coordinated the event with teachers and students. They worked together to identify students with interest in these careers. As a result of their efforts, over 200 students benefited from the event. Diane Kriescher, Engineering (PLTW) teacher, recognized Alignment and the business community. “Thank you so much for orchestrating the career panel at Larkin High School today. The speakers were phenomenal. It’s always a great day when students have exposure to career fields and educational options.”

Alignment appreciates its business and postsecondary partners, who chose to spend their day motivating students about the future and advising them how to navigate their high school experience to best prepare for these professions.

Participating Organizations

Altorfer
Elgin Community College
Elgin Sweeper
IBEW Local 117
IBEW Local 196
Illinois Department of Employment Security
ITW Shakeproof
Lauderdale Electric
Manufacturing Careers Internship Program
Mechanics Local 701
Nicor
Universal Technical Institute

Automotive, Large Equipment and Maintenance Panel
Electrical Panel
Engineering and Manufacturing Panel
Welding Panel

Alignment prepares students for summer internships and the senior job fair 

Alignment’s program manager, Edgar Montes, leads student discussions.

Over 500 High School Students Ready to Develop Resumes and Prepare for Interviews

To prepare interested juniors in applying this spring for summer internships and to help seniors seeking employment after graduation prepare for the senior job fair on Thursday, April 20, Alignment provided U-46 students with work-based learning skills including an application, resume and interviewing skills workshop. Alignment’s program manager, Edgar Montes, led students in a discussion of application tips, resume development, and interview preparation. 

Alignment is also offering interested students the opportunity to have their resumes reviewed and edited by local human resources partners within the Alignment Collaborative to include Gail Borden Public Library, Junior Achievement, and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) for a three week period during mid February thru early March. Over 500 students to date have attended the initial application, resume and interview workshop, and we are looking forward to the opportunities they have to use these skills applying for internships and summer jobs.

Alignment’s Executive Director, Nancy Coleman, leads discussion on internships.

School District U-46 High School Counselors visit Advocate Sherman Hospital and Elgin Community College

Providing experiences for high school counselors to better advise students seeking careers in healthcare.

Counselors and administrators from all five School District U-46 high schools and the Dream Academy participated in the U-46 Healthcare Day with visits to Elgin Community College (ECC) and Advocate Sherman Hospital on January 27, 2023.

The  event, sponsored by the Alignment Collaborative for Education in partnership with School District U-46, was planned to better equip counselors in guiding students interested in healthcare careers towards appropriate high school course offerings to include CTE program and its Health Sciences course offerings. 

Nancy Coleman, Executive Director, Alignment Collaborative for Education, praised the commitment from Advocate Sherman, ECC, and U-46 in providing this opportunity to high school counselors. “Their experience strengthens their understanding of how healthcare careers can begin and flourish,” said Coleman, “while students are completing their high school experience with a seamless pathway to post-secondary education and optimal employment opportunities.”

The tour at Elgin Community College included visiting health science programs and labs to include certificate and degree programs in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, Ophthalmic Technician, Radiology, and Surgical Tech.

“We are excited to introduce these programs to high school counselors to share with students about these high demand career opportunities,” said Wendy Miller, Dean, Health Professions, Math, Science and Engineering, Elgin Community College. “ECC continues to expand its program offerings in the health professions to meet the workforce development needs of our local healthcare industry.”

After the ECC visit, counselors went to Advocate Sherman Hospital and were welcomed by Advocate’s president, Sheri DeShazo.  Following a discussion of Advocate’s role in the community and the healthcare industry, counselors met key department leaders in Medical Lab Services, Nursing, Pharmacy Services, Radiology, Rehabilitation Service, and Respiratory Care.  Counselors learned about current and future job openings and salary data as well as promotion opportunities within each of these healthcare fields. Counselors then visited almost every wing of the hospital to tour each of these operations.

“As a long-time partner of Alignment Collaborative for Education, Advocate Sherman Hospital is honored to host U-46 high school counselors for Alignment’s healthcare career pathways field trip,” said DeShazo. “As the nation faces a healthcare worker shortage it’s increasingly important for us to educate students about these career opportunities, and our local high school counselors are key partners in this effort. Within the field of healthcare, there are many different roles with varying education requirements, so events like this can provide important information for a broad spectrum of healthcare careers that counselors can take back to their students.”

Alignment and School District U-46 are grateful to partner with Advocate Sherman and ECC to engage counselors and students in career exploration within healthcare, one of the strongest and fastest growing industry sectors within the Greater Elgin area. ECC and Advocate Sherman contribute greatly to the economic prosperity of the Elgin area and its quality healthcare system. Both are long-term partners with the Alignment Collaborative for Education and are always looking to the future assisting the region with workforce development initiatives starting in the middle and high schools.  

Sheri DeShazo welcomes school counselors at Advocate Sherman
Massage Therapy Classroom
Surgical Tech Lab
Medical Assisting Lab