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Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

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First Responder Internship Launches as a Multi-Municipal Partnership

This summer, ten high school students from school districts U-46, 300, and 301 had the opportunity to participate in the First Responder Internship offered by the Bartlett Police Department, Hanover Park Fire Department, and Hanover Township Emergency Services. This internship allows students to explore all aspects of this career pathway as it gives them a chance to get a feel for what it would be like to work in jobs such as criminal justice, emergency response, fire safety, forensic science, healthcare, and public safety. 

Between practicing search and seizure scenarios and fingerprint collection at the Bartlett Police Department, earning CPR certifications at the Hanover Park Fire Department along with using drone technology at Hanover Township Emergency Services, this internship offers many hands-on opportunities that help prepare these interns for the workforce. Aside from learning about First Responder careers, students have been able to form bonds with one another and create ever-lasting memories. Karissa Hernandez, a student from Dundee Crown High School, goes on to say “… It’s like a community here. They really are brothers and sisters.” 

As a high school intern for the Alignment Collaborative for Education, I had the great opportunity to be on-site and witness all of the captivating activities taking place. I was blown away by the vast amount of career paths they get to explore as well as all the different aspects of each one respectively. I learned an immense amount of valuable information solely by watching these interns. This internship helps prepare students going into the First Responder industry, giving them a strong grasp of what it is truly like to work in this field while also gaining valuable life skills that they can carry with them no matter the career. Any students who have even the slightest bit of interest in any of the career paths associated with being a First Responder should consider applying for this internship in the summer of 2025. It is a great opportunity with an even greater reward.

Article by Imaan Azeem, Alignment Collaborative for Education Intern, Elgin High School
Video Producer: Addison Tinerella, Alignment Collaborative for Education Intern, South Elgin High School
Video Assistant: Imaan Azeem, Alignment Collaborative for Education Intern, Elgin High School

Thank you to the Seigle Foundation

Mark and Robin Seigle with Governing Board Chair Bill Wright at EXPLORE 2022
Mark and Robin Seigle with Governing Board Chair Bill Wright at EXPLORE 2022

Alignment was recognized by the Seigle Foundation with a $37,000 grant award in support of its work to prepare our youth for future personal and career success.

This generous funding will allow Alignment to continue expanding its work-based learning initiatives for middle and high school students throughout the U-46, 300 and 301 school districts. That work includes career exploration as early as middle school advancing to more specialized, industry specific opportunities for high school students and includes Resume Workshops, Career and Technical Panels, Postsecondary Days, and Job Fairs. Through our growing Internship Program, students will have the opportunity to be placed in various work-based learning settings across multiple industry clusters. These opportunities are made available by Alignment’s large network of over 200 partners committed to building a future workforce that meets the economic and social growth of the community.  

Nancy Coleman, Alignment’s executive director expressed our appreciation to the Seigle Foundation: “Alignment could not have a better partner than the Seigle Foundation. Their human and financial investments are critical to the success of these students, their families, and the future strength of our region’s workforce.”

Alignment and Business Partners Serve Over 10,000 Students

Alignment's End-of-School-Year Highlights 2024

Alignment concludes the 2023-2024 school year serving over 10,000 students from School Districts 300, 301, and U-46.  Partners from across the region have come together to support preparing students to graduate academic and career ready.  We salute our school administrators, teachers, students, and business partners for a job well done!

Highlights include:

  • Alignment designs First Responder Pilot Internship Program partnering with the Bartlett Police Department, Hanover Park Fire Department, and Hanover Township Emergency Services.

  • District 300 students complete Advocate Sherman and the Well Child Center Medical Rotation Pilot Internship Program.
  • Bartlett, Elgin, South Elgin and Streamwood high schools receive Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation high school recognition certification.

  • Fifty-two (52) organizations recruited at the annual Senior CTE Job Fair attracting 549 students.
  • Edgar Montes graduates with the Elgin Leadership Academy Class of 2024.

  • Summer Internship Program attracts over 300 student applications from School Districts 300, 301 and U-46.

  • Alignment joins Larkin CTE teachers to congratulate graduates and parents recognizing them for their CTE program completion.

  • Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 judge the Bartlett STEM Showcase admiring the students’ creativity and technical expertise.
Advocate Sherman and Well Child Center Medical Rotation Pilot Internship Program
AED Foundation High School Recognition
Bartlett STEM Showcase
CTE Senior Job Fair Attracts 549 Students
Alignment and Larkin CTE Teachers Congratulate CTE Graduates
Alignment’s Edgar Montes graduates with the Elgin Leadership Academy Class of 2024

Alignment Hosts CTE Senior Job Fair for School Districts U-46, 300, and 301

Alignment CTE Senior Job Fair Student overview image

Connecting students from nine high schools to regional employers

Nine high schools from School Districts U-46, 300, and 301 had the opportunity to send over 500 students to the annual CTE Senior Job Fair. Students visited with 50 business and community organizations across the region representing the automotive, culinary, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing industries. Many students as a result of the resume workshops had resumes ready to share with employers.

In addition to learning about job openings across these industry sectors, all students had the opportunity to attend Elgin Community College (ECC) information sessions to help them prepare to transition to postsecondary opportunities as they graduate in May. Joined by Northern Kane County Region 110 and the three school districts, Alignment considers this event to be the opportunity to showcase with students employment opportunities throughout the region as soon as they graduate from high school in May.

Bill Wright, Alignment’s Governing Board chair, visited throughout the day commenting about “the importance of this event as it seamlessly connects students preparing to graduate to employment opportunities that lead to positions in high growth industries with multiple advancement opportunities. We appreciate the support of our business community in bringing these opportunities to students as they prepare for the future workforce.”

Thank You to Our Sponsors

AED Foundation
Advocate Sherman Hospital
AT&T
City of Elgin
Elgin Community College
Elgin Sweeper

Elgin Township
Exelon
First Mid Bank & Trust
Grand Victoria Foundation
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
Hoffer Foundation
KCT Credit Union

David and Sandy Kaptain
Lauderdale Electric
Nicor Gas
Seigle Foundation
United Way Metro Chicago
Wolko Design Group

Thank You Exhibitors

Advocate Sherman Hospital
Altorfer CAT
Aperion Care Fox River
Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital
A-TEC Ambulance
Avantara
Bartlett Park District
Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical
Bob Loquercio Auto Group
Boys and Girls Club of Elgin
Bria of Geneva
Business and Career Services Inc.
D300 Human Resources
D301 Human Resources
ECC Culinary Department
ECC Apprenticeship Program
ECC Ophthalmic Technician Program
ECC Welding

ECC WIOA program
Elgin Sweeper
Fox Valley Internet
Golden Corridor Family YMCA
High Point Dentistry
High Voltage Electric
Highland Oaks of Elgin
Hoffer Plastics
John B. Sanfilippo & Son (Fisher Nuts)
Judson University
KCT Credit Union
LifeLine Ambulance
Lincoln College of Technology
Luna Cakes
Manpower
MAPEI
Nicor Gas
NIU – PLEDGE Program

NIU – School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA)
Official Finders
Potbelly
Rosati’s/Rosati’s University
Standard Equipment
State Farm
Streamwood Park District
U-46 Human Resources
U-46 Plant Operations
U-46 Transportation
UTI
Village of South Elgin
Well Child Center
West Side Tractor Sales
Wintrust Bank

Nine regional high schools to participate in CTE Senior Job Fair on April 18

More than 800 students expected from Districts U-46, 300 and 301

Nine high schools from School Districts U-46, 300, and 301 will participate in the upcoming CTE Senior Job Fair on April 18, 2024, at Elgin Community College (ECC). Hosted by the Alignment Collaborative for Education and Northern Kane County Region 110, an expected 800 students will visit with more than 50 employers representing the automotive, business, culinary, education, engineering, healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, and welding industry clusters.

Students will also have the opportunity to meet with ECC’s Admissions, Financial Aid, and Student Support representatives as some plan to graduate in May and transition to ECC by August choosing both to work and go to school simultaneously.

This event in its fourth year gives students the opportunity to graduate with industry credentials earned in the high schools’ career and technical education (CTE) programs to immediately transition to the local workforce gainfully employed. “These students have a career plan upon graduation deployable to some of the best companies in the region offering upward mobility as experience grows.” shares Nancy Coleman, Alignment’s executive director.

Thank you to the following sponsors and exhibitors for making this event possible. We look forward to hearing that these students go to work in the greater Elgin area and the region.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

AED Foundation
Advocate Sherman Hospital
AT&T
City of Elgin
Elgin Community College
Elgin Sweeper

Elgin Township
Exelon
First Mid Bank & Trust
Grand Victoria Foundation
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
Hoffer Foundation
KCT Credit Union

David and Sandy Kaptain
Lauderdale Electric
Nicor Gas
Seigle Foundation
United Way Metro Chicago
Wolko Design Group

Thank You Exhibitors

Advocate Sherman Hospital
Altorfer CAT
Aperion Care Fox River
Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital
A-TEC Ambulance
Avantara
Bartlett Park District
Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical
Bob Loquercio Auto Group
Boys and Girls Club of Elgin
Bria of Geneva
Business and Career Services Inc.
D300 Human Resources
D301 Human Resources
ECC Culinary Department
ECC Apprenticeship Program
ECC Ophthalmic Technician Program
ECC Welding

ECC WIOA program
Elgin Sweeper
Fox Valley Internet
Golden Corridor Family YMCA
High Point Dentistry
High Voltage Electric
Highland Oaks of Elgin
Hoffer Plastics
John B. Sanfilippo & Son (Fisher Nuts)
Judson University
KCT Credit Union
LifeLine Ambulance
Lincoln College of Technology
Luna Cakes
Manpower
MAPEI
Nicor Gas
NIU – PLEDGE Program

NIU – School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA)
Official Finders
Potbelly
Rosati’s/Rosati’s University
Standard Equipment
State Farm
Streamwood Park District
U-46 Human Resources
U-46 Plant Operations
U-46 Transportation
UTI
Village of South Elgin
Well Child Center
West Side Tractor Sales
Wintrust Bank

Sophomore and Junior Postsecondary Day Benefits 2,200 Students

Over 35 community colleges, universities, corporate apprenticeships, and technical institutes participated in Alignment and U-46’s first Sophomore and Junior Postsecondary Day on March 5. In addition to students meeting college and university enrollment specialists, students met professionals offering sessions in the college search process, NCAA participation, military service recruitment, and FAFSA. More than 2,200 students benefited from the experience across U-46’s high schools to include visits with current college and university students advising students on the transition from high school to careers.