Bringing work-place learning to Sonoma Valley High

A new function at the high school gives students greater insight into jobs and careers.|

The new California Career Pathways Trust provides funding to school districts to hire work-based learning coordinators. I was hired early last year to be Sonoma Valley High's first work-place learning coordinator.

So...what does a Work-Based Learning Coordinator do? I work closely with both the engineering, design an technology (EDT) and the sustainable agriculture academies at SVHS.

In the year since being hired, I have planned field trips for the EDT students to Stanford and UC Davis for tours of their engineering departments, and to Sonoma State and Santa Rosa JC to meet with engineering faculty and student leaders. The students took a very informative trip to Autodesk in San Francisco, and watched engineers and designers using the same equipment and software our students use (only much larger and more expensive).

For those who may not know, the EDT Academy has, as its home base, a 'Maker Lab' outfitted with a 3D printer, laser cutter and vinyl cutter, as well as a computer lab installed with industry standard software used to program the machines. This state of the art equipment was made possible in part, by the Sonoma Valley Rotary Club and from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (which also supports my position and the academies).

The students in our sustainable agriculture academy, (which became a fully-accredited academy last fall) will take a field trip this week to the World Ag Expo in Tulare and, last month, they learned about sustainable farming methods with visits to Benziger Winery and Jack London State Historic Park. Later this spring they will visit SRJC and its Shone Farm.

In addition to field trips, I arrange guest speakers, project judges and mentors. Later this month, I am arranging job shadows for students in both academies, and summer internships for many of the junior class.

While much of my time is spent with students in the academies, I also assist non-academy students, as well, such as enlisting mentors and judges for the freshman 'Porkfolio' project and arranging a school-wide career fair. Together with College & Career Center (CCC) coordinator Lisa Conner and CCC specialist Mary Klenow, I try to help any students coming into the CCC with career advice, internship possibilities or other ways of experiencing what life is like in the working world.

By allowing students to explore various career options first hand, not only does their coursework become more relevant, but students have the opportunity to move on from high school with a better understanding of career paths they might like to pursue.

My greatest pleasure is having a chance to work with students and connect them to opportunities they may not have had in the past.

Wendy Swanson was a practicing attorney for 20 years, with experience in developing connection with businesses, networking, fostering relationships and, in short, making things work. She has had three children graduate from Sonoma Valley High School.

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