Public schools do not function in a vacuum. Education leaders from pre-K through high school have known this for some time. They have made advancements in reaching beyond their buildings to form strategic partnerships with community, corporate and educational organizations. As a result, graduates are better equipped to earn a college degree and enter the current job market.
Graduates of a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Educational Leadership program are equipped to drive innovation and partnerships in the education space. Perhaps no one has seen the benefit of such partnerships better than leading female thought leaders, however. Here are some of their observations on how networking and expanded educational opportunities can be a win-win for communities.
Demystifying STEM
Leading publications urge students to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, but what does that look like for the classroom and community? Community partnerships improve STEM education by offering students expanded resources, exposure and financial support. According to one 21stcented article, community partnerships help STEM students learn about potential internships and careers from industry professionals, work on projects that deal with real-world STEM problems and gain advice and feedback from industry experts.
Examples of community partnerships in STEM education include local business collaborations, partnerships with research institutions and involvement with non-profit organizations.
Recreating College for Today’s Student
In recent years, college-bound high school graduates have already earned more college-level credits than ever before. Therefore, many of them enter school at a junior level or higher. In an Entrepreneur interview with prominent women education leaders, Martha D. Saunders recognizes that dual credit has changed high school’s educational environment and would like to see colleges adapt their models to accommodate the trend.
In addition to reviewing the core competencies required for college, Saunders has prioritized working with companies to create internship programs. This allows students to get a clearer vision of their future interests while learning important skills long before graduation.
Aiming High for Technological Readiness
Limiting tech learning to the classroom is not enough to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow. In the Entrepreneur article, Shelli Brunswick, COO of the Space Foundation, states that she sees a role for private companies focusing on tech and engineering to directly fund student opportunities through apprenticeship programs and scholarships to camps and workshops. She also considers teacher development as the future of better classroom experiences, including the prioritization of experiential, hands-on learning.
However, even with these changes, schools cannot do it alone. Brunswick hopes to see continued collaboration with “private enterprise, communities, government agencies and subject matter experts to build a realistic and pragmatic training foundation to inspire and prepare students.”
Women are particularly skilled at using empathy, creativity and collaboration to improve systems. According to a Medium article, cultural upbringing often poises women to utilize creative thinking, listening to feedback, generating ideas and combining diverse views. While the educational leadership space is open and available to all individuals, women are particularly skills to succeed in this field.
There are many opportunities for connecting communities, companies and educational groups to improve student outcomes. You can position yourself to help innovate education by pursuing the online Ed.D. – Educational Leadership program from Youngstown State University. After earning this advanced degree, you can better advocate for students and help form those partnerships needed to keep kids learning and growing in their classrooms and communities.
Learn more about Youngstown State University’s online Ed.D. – Educational Leadership program.
