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© 2005 Dickson County Chamber of Commerce - 119 Highway 70 E., Dickson, TN 37055-2080 phone: (615) 446-2349 fax : (615) 441-3112 contactus@dicksoncountychamber.com |
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What is Education Edge Dickson County?
Education Edge Dickson County is an on-going program of the Dickson County Chamber of Commerce. It originated as the State of Tennessee’s implementation of the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. The purpose of this act was to promote school and business partnerships that would provide young people with the necessary skills and knowledge for tomorrow’s workplace.
Each county partnership decided locally how to best achieve this goal. The Dickson County Education Edge Partnership was originally funded through the State of Tennessee’s share of a federal grant. It is now a program of the Dickson County Chamber of Commerce.
The Dickson County partnership meets with representatives from many segments of the community to identify local goals. It is governed by a steering committee of citizens, business people, and educators.
What Are the Goals of the Education Edge Partnership?
Education Edge Dickson County developed through federal funding to facilitate partnerships between educators, civic groups, citizens, parents, local government, and the business community. The main goals are the following:
To achieve these goals locally, we have targeted several areas that we think will enhance our schools and our community: character development, providing career awareness opportunities, and developing community coalitions to support education.
Why Get Involved?
By working together, we can make the Education Edge initiative a success and build a better future for all the community.
Students will have opportunities to see that what they are learning is relevant to their futures. Teachers and Administrators will garner community support for their programs. Businesses will gain better prepared employees who understand that good character and academic & technical skills are prerequisites to success in the business world.
Who Is Involved?
The goal of the partnership is to involve all segments of the community. A directory containing partnership information and members is published and distributed to schools and partners each fall.
Education Edge surveys and involvement in school and EE activities are used to compile the directory. We have attempted to include all businesses that we are aware of who have partnered in Education Edge activities. Also participating as partners, but not included in this directory, are individual parents and interested citizens who work directly with schools.
Currently our membership includes many individual businesses and institutions, civic groups such as local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, the UT Extension Office, county and city law enforcement agencies, and city and county governments.
What Are We Doing in Dickson County Schools?
. . . . at the elementary schools
At the elementary level we are continuing with the Operation Outreach Program. Not only does the program concentrate on the development of good reading skills, but it also emphasizes the importance of honesty, hard work, responsibility, and qualities that our society needs to be successful.
Also at the elementary level, schools are hosting Careers on Wheels. In this activity, business people take vehicles used in their work to the schools. Students then go from vehicle to vehicle visiting with the business people and examining their vehicles. They have a ball being able to get in semis, toot horns, see inside a hearse, try out sirens, etc. These are loud, fun events that introduce students to the work world of Dickson County.
Teachers have been very innovative in providing activities that introduce their students to the fact that what they are learning will help them with careers when they grow up. Their classroom activities are geared to create an awareness of the many different types of work that go on daily in our world.
. . . . at the middle schools
In the middle grades we are integrating business with education at the curriculum level. Based on input from a committee of business people and educators, the middle school curriculum includes activities that bring the business world to the classroom. Business speakers in the classrooms, class tours of businesses, job shadowing, technology modules, and career days and activities are components of the career exploratory curriculum.
Career Awareness Day is held in the Spring each year. Eighth grade students from the middle schools spend a day visiting workplaces to get a feel for what different career areas are really like and what educational skills they require. Students also visit the Tennessee Technology Center at Dickson and learn about educational opportunities it offers.
Classroom teachers join forces with business partners in all areas of the curriculum in activities that validate the relevance of school to the students’ futures. In these activities students see first hand the interest of these adults in what students are learning.
What Are We Doing in the Community?
The Dickson County Partnership is promoting the principles of Character Counts! throughout the community in businesses, government agencies, civic groups, and churches. Programs are presented to explain the philosophy of Character Counts! to community groups and staff training is offered through the Character Counts! Coalition. CC! materials are available at the Chamber office. The pillar of the month is on display at businesses throughout the county.
The partnership provides training seminars to involve the business community in the CHOICES Program. The community is also invited to participate in Operation Outreach.
Education Edge Awards are presented annually at the Chamber of Commerce Banquet to recognize businesses, which have actively participated in the EE program.
How Can You Get Involved in the EE Partnership?
As the business community, parents, and educators work together, there is no limit to what may evolve for our students through the efforts of this partnership. We hope you will want to be actively involved in the planning and implementation of Education Edge activities.
