CAREER DEVELOPMENT

The following programs and activities are coordinated by the Shoals Chamber of Commerce's Education / Workforce Development department and are available to students in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. 
If you are a business person and would like to volunteer yourself, your business or your employees for any of the programs below,

• help inform YOUR FUTURE WORKFORCE (and their teachers) of what you will expect from them in a few short years, 
• make a tax-deductible donation for the Chamber's education / workforce development programs or 
• be added to our business & community e-mail list and receive notices and information when schools, educators & or students are interested in participating in the programs listed below, 

please contact the Chamber (stephs@shoalschamber.com) with your name, business, contact information and any particular program interests which you have.

If you are a Shoals area educator and would like to be added to our educator e-mail list and receive notices and information about the programs listed below, grants, free educational resources and more, please contact the Chamber (stephs@shoalschamber.com) with your name, school, subjects and grades taught.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Shoals Summer Technology Institute for Educators – a two-week professional development event for middle & high school math & science teacher and counselors, to increase their knowledge and understanding of technical education and the vast and lucrative career opportunities available to those with technical skills.  Educators will spend time in technical programs on the campus of Northwest-Shoals Community College , learning the skills and knowledge required to succeed in those fields, as well as touring area industry and hearing from various business representatives about the value of, need for and salary ranges available to technically trained workers.  They will learn that technical careers are good jobs, with good pay, requiring bright students with high skills and not at all for only the lowest performing students.  After this program, they will be better prepared to advise their students to seek technical education in both high school and college and careers in technical fields.  They will be able to use real world examples in the classroom to explain abstract concepts of math and science to help their students better understand the connections between the academic disciplines they teach and the skills needed in their future careers.  Each teacher is required to submit lesson plans and photos relating their new information about technical careers to their subject matter, which other educators might use.
View a 7 min. video of the first year’s teachers’ testimonials at mms://207.157.110.40/ondemand/chamber/summertech256.wmv

he Teacher Supply Depot
Businesses and community volunteers make tax-deductible donations to the Depot of new and used equipment, materials, supplies for classrooms & schools & cash (for new classroom supplies, which are rarely donated), allowing educators to shop for FREE. The Depot opens periodically on weekday afternoons (depending on the level of donations, the goal is to open at least three times per school year). Please contact the Chamber for a Teacher Supply Depot brochure with more details. New and used items and cash donations are needed.  Volunteers are needed to help organize donations and to serve & coordinate during the event.

Business & Career Speakers
Business and community volunteers speak to students, educators, in-services, PTO/PTA meetings, etc. about jobs and careers and the educational and skills requirements to attain them. Volunteer speakers needed, all business, career, academic, and social subjects are requested from time to time.

CHOICES
A dynamic, interactive seminar for 8^th graders, presented by business and community volunteers, to help them understand that every decision (education, money & time management, life, character, goals) has consequences and that using self discipline, they have the power & responsibility to make good CHOICES to affect their futures. See the CHOICES web site for more details, www.choices.org. Volunteer presenters needed. Corporate sponsors needed for subsequent years.

Host business volunteers needed, upon request from schools.
Career Tech School Tours
Business and community leaders tour area career technical schools to get first-hand knowledge of available educational resources and discuss skill requirements, partnership possibilities and other concerns with instructors and students.

Tutoring
Business and community volunteers help students who are struggling with academics, during or after school hours. Volunteer tutors needed upon request from schools or parents.

Mentoring
Business and community volunteers help at-risk youth by becoming a positive role model in their lives. Volunteer mentors needed upon request from schools or parents.

Volunteer Readers
Business and community volunteers assist teachers in helping young students learn to love to read, during or after school hours.  Elementary educators and after-school programs use volunteers on a regular basis.  There is also a national focus on reading each year called Read Across America on Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2. Volunteer readers needed

Job Fairs
Free to the entire community, job seekers can attend this one-stop-shop to seek information and employment from participating employers.  Fairs are produced as employer hiring needs warrant.  Also search for jobs at Alabama's Job Bank,  www.jobsearch.org/al/ and other career information at Shoals Career Center web site, http://es.dir.alabama.gov/shoalscc.html

The Shoals Chamber of Commerce's Education / Workforce Development programs and activities need the support and expertise of the business and manufacturing community.  Today's students are YOUR  FUTURE WORKFORCE! They and their teachers need to hear from you about what you will expect of them in a few short years.  If not you, who?  If not now, when?  Please get involved!