Working harder or hardly working?
Teachers, administration examine work-based study program at AHS
By Nathan Trotter
Published March 23, 2023
Many students are wondering whether we have any type of work study class at AHS right now. Mr. Rocco DiPaolo, the new shop teacher, is working on his license to be a work study coordinator through agriculture, according to AHS principal Ms. Lisa DeMars. She also added that we have Mr. Dan Krueger, who is approved through the special education department as a work-based advisor.
AHS has a partnership with Job Training through Amanda Voller, a program that promotes jobs outside of school. We do not currently have a work-based study program where you can get credits for leaving school for work. Ms. DeMars works with guidance counselor Mrs. Meredith Sander on what works best for students on a leave time.
About 8-9 years ago, AHS had an opportunity for seniors to job shadow during the day, but that program was discontinued due to liability reasons. Students earned a credit, but were not paid for the work they did in this program. In trying to bring back a work-based program, Ms. DeMars explained that there are “lots of moving parts to make it work.” The school does offer a program through the Alternative School where you can learn in your field of work and you are awarded credits for it when you reach 160-180 hours. Although it's in the Alt School, it works differently than in the high school.
There is an alternative now to work-based learning called senior prep that is offered to seniors either first or seventh hour that could work. It is a class through the school that is offered to the seniors to give them an hour off in the day, however they cannot receive credit for it. The only way to take it is if you are on track to graduate.
Ms. DeMars said she doesn't want to say no to offering the same thing to juniors right now, but if she allows it and a junior fails a class then they are behind on graduating, so it's hard for her to approve.
The first step to getting this work-based study program back in school is to get instructors licensed to run the class. The second step would be to get businesses to work with the high school for kids to try the jobs out. Lastly, it would be to offer it in the school.
Published March 23, 2023
Many students are wondering whether we have any type of work study class at AHS right now. Mr. Rocco DiPaolo, the new shop teacher, is working on his license to be a work study coordinator through agriculture, according to AHS principal Ms. Lisa DeMars. She also added that we have Mr. Dan Krueger, who is approved through the special education department as a work-based advisor.
AHS has a partnership with Job Training through Amanda Voller, a program that promotes jobs outside of school. We do not currently have a work-based study program where you can get credits for leaving school for work. Ms. DeMars works with guidance counselor Mrs. Meredith Sander on what works best for students on a leave time.
About 8-9 years ago, AHS had an opportunity for seniors to job shadow during the day, but that program was discontinued due to liability reasons. Students earned a credit, but were not paid for the work they did in this program. In trying to bring back a work-based program, Ms. DeMars explained that there are “lots of moving parts to make it work.” The school does offer a program through the Alternative School where you can learn in your field of work and you are awarded credits for it when you reach 160-180 hours. Although it's in the Alt School, it works differently than in the high school.
There is an alternative now to work-based learning called senior prep that is offered to seniors either first or seventh hour that could work. It is a class through the school that is offered to the seniors to give them an hour off in the day, however they cannot receive credit for it. The only way to take it is if you are on track to graduate.
Ms. DeMars said she doesn't want to say no to offering the same thing to juniors right now, but if she allows it and a junior fails a class then they are behind on graduating, so it's hard for her to approve.
The first step to getting this work-based study program back in school is to get instructors licensed to run the class. The second step would be to get businesses to work with the high school for kids to try the jobs out. Lastly, it would be to offer it in the school.