Three Excellent Site Visits Await You

The Global Summit on Partnerships in Education Invites you to register to see partnerships in action by visiting local schools and businesses.

Tuesday, November 19, 2002 : Choose either Alexandria City or Prince William  County

  Wednesday, November 20, 2002 : Choose Fairfax County  

  Alexandria City Public Schools and The Winkler Botanical Preserve and The Alexandria Seaport Foundation

Learning Outside of the Classroom:
Environmental Education Partnerships at Work

Come to Alexandria , Virginia , and see the Alexandria City Public Schools Partnership Program in action!   You’ll visit two model environmental education programs, The Winkler Botanical Preserve and The Alexandria Seaport Foundation, and spend most of the day modeling hands-on, curriculum-based activities (for elementary, middle and high school students) in an outdoor science classroom.

The Alexandria Seaport Foundation was founded in 1983 to preserve and celebrate the extraordinary maritime heritage of the Potomac River and Alexandria .  The programs educate people about the Potomac River and work to restore its wetlands.

The Potomac serves as a floating classroom for programs in river ecology, regional lore, marine biology, the mathematics of navigation and the physics of sailing.  Local students and teachers learn about river monitoring and wetlands restoration on the water and ashore.  The Seaport Foundation offers adults and students active educational experiences in wetland assessment, monitoring and restoration. 

The Seaport Greenhouse, on the campus of T. C. Williams High School , was developed to provide an environmental educational venue for schools and community groups in the Northern Virginia area.  An integral part of the greenhouse's design is the ability to propagate native and wetland plants for the Potomac Watershed Region.  NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided funding.  Besides Alexandria City Public Schools, other local partners include Alexandria Sanitation Authority, the American Plastics Council, and the Noland and Trex Companies.

Located in the west end of Alexandria , the Winkler Botanical Preserve is a 44-acre collection of plants and trees indigenous to the Potomac River Valley .  The preserve is a surprising retreat of natural beauty adjacent to the busy Interstate 395 and the city.

Established in 1979 by the Mark Winkler Family, the Winkler Botanical Preserve promotes the research, education and enjoyment of native plants and trees.  The Winkler Botanical Preserve has developed a model environmental education program for students and educators of the Alexandria City Public Schools.  The program provides hands-on, interdisciplinary and curriculum-based education in a living laboratory.  All elementary and middle schools receive a year-long series of free environmental education programs based on the Virginia Standards of Learning, extensive teacher training, and unique outreach opportunities that include weekend family events and after school enrichment.  The overall goal of the partnership program is to promote life-long learning for students, which results in extending their learning beyond the school day and beyond the classroom. 

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Prince William County Schools and the Forest Park High School and Lockheed Martin Partnership

You’re invited to Prince William County , home to Virginia ’s third largest school division and the 2001 recipient of the Multi-Organization Partnership Award from the Virginia Association of Partners in Education. 

Prince William County is a “school division of choice,” offering students with opportunities for rigorous and in-depth study in career fields, such as the environment, science, information technology, international studies and the fine arts.  Specialty program graduates have an advantage when entering the job market and when advancing to higher education opportunities.

Forest Park High School is Prince William’s 8th high school, housing 2,443 students in a building that covers seven acres under one roof.  Forest Park is a comprehensive high school with an Information Technology Specialty Program.  IT students are engaged in an intensive technological program of study developed through a collaborative relationship with the business and academic community.  Professional certification is offered in computer graphics, multimedia and design, A+ computer repair and the Cisco Certified Network Associate Program.

In addition to a glimpse into the academic day of Forest Park students, visitors will learn about The SWAT Program (Students Working to Advance Technology), which provides citizens with opportunities to expand their technological skills and knowledge, and will experience Learn and Serve, a for-credit program that encourages community service.

Leaving Forest Park , visitors will travel cross-county to Lockheed Martin’s Manassas facility, home to Naval Electronic & Surveillance Undersea Systems.  Despite their size as a global enterprise with more than 125,000 employees world-wide, Lockheed Martin is known for “transcending the workplace” through community service.   While at Lockheed Martin, visitors will be treated to lunch and a discussion with employees about the role business-school partnerships play in the work experience and quality of life for employers and employees.  Visitors will also be joined by Dr. Edward Kelly, Superintendent, and Lucy Beauchamp, Chairman of the School Board, as well as members of the county’s Economic Development Council, who will discuss importance of school-business partnerships in the community’s economic development plan.

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Fairfax County Schools and the Washington Area New Automotive Dealers and Ford Motor Company Technicians Apprentice Training Program

 Established at Marshall High School Academy, Ford is providing the latest manufacturer-specific curriculum, funding to renovate the existing high school automotive facility, five late model vehicles, specialty tools, equipment, and technical training for all 14 FCPS automotive technology teachers.   A few of these items include a Hunter computerized front-end alignment machine with optical sensors, asymmetrical lifts, on-car brake lathe, and volumes of CD-ROM instructional materials.   These will complement the new HP computers, classroom furniture, and peripherals provided by FCPS Instructional Services.  Our goal is to create a professional state-of-the-art automotive learning center that provides the necessary resources for high school students to learn about automotive technology in a world–class educational setting. 

Both secondary and post-secondary students are served at the newly renovated facility.  In addition to the FCPS students enrolled in auto technology at Marshall Academy during the day, graduates of FCPS that have taken automotive technology are eligible to apply for enrollment into this WANADA-sponsored post-secondary technician-training program.   This is a “no cost” educational program for all students.  The participating dealerships are picking up all related costs for the program.  In addition, WANADA is providing a free set of starter tools for each student. 

Post-secondary students accepted into this program by successfully completing an application and participating in an interview process conducted by WANADA staff work 40 hours a week at participating dealerships.  On the job they receive training, mentoring from a master technician, and an hourly wage.  In addition, these apprentices may receive college credit for the six hours of classroom instruction each week from Montgomery College in Rockville , MD.   Classroom instruction takes place two evenings a week at Marshall High School Academy and is lead by a FCPS automotive technology teacher who is a master certified technician.   Our goal is to have all students complete the eight Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) examinations and become certified automotive master technicians.   The ASE certifications are used as progress benchmarks with steady pay increases for each level achieved.  In fact, Ford Motor Company is rewarding each student with $1,000.00 for passing the ASE brakes and steering and suspension exams.

The Fairfax County Public Schools, Washington Area New Automotive Dealers, and Ford Motor Company Technician Apprentice Training Program was inaugurated in June 2001 with 15 student trainees.  Today, 12 apprentices are in the program working at various Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda and Volvo dealerships.  This is a retention rate of 80 percent.  Currently, 35 trainees are poised for the next class which begins with assignments to dealerships in May and June and classroom training beginning in September.

John Swift, operations manager for Cherner Lincoln-Mercury/Isuzu/Kia in McLean , VA , said “I would certainly take a WANADA/FORD/FCPS trainee over any tech you can find through a newspaper ad.  With WANADA doing the pre-employment screening and aptitude testing, this makes the service managers life a lot easier when you have someone who is pre-qualified.”

For the training class of 2003, 69 potential students who will be graduating from high schools this June have shown interest by filling out an application.  That number is expected to grow as WANADA program coordinators conduct more recruitment visits to the 11 Fairfax County high schools offering automotive technology programs.    Archie Avedisian, a WANADA coordinator and an active volunteer for The Boys Club of America, takes this opportunity not only to meet with the students enrolled in the automotive technology programs, but also to meet with the teachers, career counselors and building administrators.

A new study released by Automotive Retailing Today (ART) shows few students, parents, and educators are aware of the 35,000 people needed for new high-paying auto technician jobs.   ART released the results of a new comprehensive study it commissioned with Wirthlin Worldwide to measure awareness of and attitudes towards auto industry careers among students, parents and educators.  The bad news is that only two percent of all teens (13-18 years old) would choose a career in the automotive industry.  But the good news is that disinterest results from lack of information, and quickly reverses when they learn about the high demand and pay.  “Sixty-five percent said they would be more likely to seek a career as an automotive technician when they heard that, as master technicians, they can make in a range of $70,000 – $100,000 a year doing something that gives them great satisfaction,” said ART chairman Jim Willingham. 

With support and resources routed directly from the manufacturer to a high school automotive program, the results are incredible.  High expectations, industry standards, student achievement, and professionalism continue to grow and flourish at a phenomenal rate.  In addition, this partnership has rallied all stakeholders to do a better job in combating outdated images of the industry and is raising awareness among students, parents, and educators about the potential of a career in this industry.  Collectively, we are aiming to bolster our current standing and offer exceptional opportunities to today’s youth knowing very well that they hold the key to our future.   We only hope other manufacturers will follow Ford’s lead.

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