Contact:
Miles Tokheim, MMSD – 663-5265
Jessica Burda, GMCC – 443-1952
New Position Seeks to Connect Students and Teachers with Local Businesses
Madison – The Madison Metropolitan School District and Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced a new partnership today to connect high school students with on-site work experience through youth apprenticeships. A cornerstone of the partnership will be a new position that will meet the needs of existing students and increase the
capacity for future students participating in the Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Youth Apprenticeship is a rigorous elective program for high school juniors and seniors that combines academic and technical classroom instruction with mentored on-the-job learning. The new Youth Apprenticeship Facilitator will serve as a liaison connecting all program partners with the ultimate goal of growing the number of student participants and
apprenticeship opportunities.
For Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Alexander, collaborating with Madison schools to support youth apprenticeship was a natural alignment.
“This is a great opportunity for local businesses to give back to our community and invest in the future,” said Alexander.
Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendant Dan Nerad agrees.
“When teachers and employers create learning opportunities that expose students to the skills, experiences and attitudes necessary in today’s work place, students can apply what they learn in the classroom while the employer gains qualified staff,” said Nerad. “This win-win opportunity is why the Madison School District is pleased to be entering into this partnership with the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce to further develop youth apprenticeships.”
An additional benefit of the program is the unique collaboration that is formed between public educators and on-site work mentors, with both partners working to give students advanced skills that can be applied in the future to obtain quality jobs.
“A student participating in the program receives an education that is not only academically rewarding, but also relevant to the types of jobs out there in today’s workforce,” said Alexander.
Interested applicants for the Youth Apprenticeship Facilitator position should contact Shari Minnameier at The QTI Group, at (608) 257-1057 Ext. 1308.
