Teachers Attend Mini ‘Summer School’ for Hands-on Workplace Learning
Monday August 03, 2009
Educators in the Workplace
Kingston, TN - The "Educators in the Workplace Lunch & Learn" program sponsored by The Roane Alliance and Innovation Valley provided area educators the opportunity to receive a little schooling themselves this summer.
Educators from Roane, Knox and Loudon counties visited Roane Medical Center (RMC) (June 18) and Toho Tenax America, Inc. (July 27) to learn about what career opportunities are available at these two major local employers, but also to learn about what skills and attitude employers look for in their employees and job applicants.
Visit to the Hospital
During the Roane Medical Center in Harriman visit, Sherry Holt, RMC's Human Resource Director explained how a hospital is like a small "city" with many career fields represented. Some educators were surprised to learn that almost half of the hospital's employees are nurses, and that there are also a large number of allied health medical personnel, but very few doctors. Also during the visit, representatives from the medical programs at Roane State Community College and the Tennessee Technology Center in Harriman talked about how important it is for students to take math and science classes in high school to prepare for college medical programs.
To understand the critical role of technology, the educators then took a tour of the hospital Radiological Department, where the group was impressed at how x-rays and other imaging tests are viewed within minutes.
"The tour put technology into perspective at a grand level," said one educator.
While the emphasis was on medical careers, the educators also learned about the critical role of the hospital's cafeteria and how it is a favorite restaurant for the community. Throughout the visit, hospital representatives emphasized the importance of employees having a good attitude and people skills.
An area high school teacher said of the visit, "This has been helpful in educating me about opportunities for my students. I liked hearing about what employers are looking for in entry-level applicants. I am constantly telling my students how important attitude and teamwork is in the business world."
Roane Medical Center personnel participating in the visit included: Sherry Holt, Human Resource Director; Mike Gilmer, Dietary Manager; and medical staff members Jeff Aytes, and Adele Crabtree. Mike Laman, Dean of Allied Health Sciences, and Priscilla Spitzer, Dean of Nursing, both from Roane State Community College and Kathy Kleinsmith, a nursing instructor with the Tennessee Technology Center in Harriman also participated in the RMC visit.
A Look at a Local High-Tech Manufacturing Operation
Rob Klawonn, President of Toho Tenax America, Inc. welcomed educators to the high-technology company that manufactures carbon fiber in Rockwood. The strength and versatility of products made from carbon fiber quickly became apparent to the educators as they easily lifted pipes, beams, and even a car drive shaft - items that would have weighed hundreds of pounds if made from conventional steel. The educators learned of the importance of carbon fiber in the construction of bridges, buildings, aircraft, and even consumer products like tennis rackets.
During the tour of Toho's manufacturing facility, it was underscored how critical innovation and technology are to the success of businesses, along with the need for dedicated and conscience employees. Toho's human resources manager, Tim Williams, discussed the importance of Toho's employees to the success of the company. In addition to the 3R's (Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic), the "skills for success" include the following: soft people skills, workplace behavioral skills, spatial skills, communications skills, organizational and time management skills, and personal life management skills.
Several of Toho's personnel also gave personal "testimonials" about the impact of teachers in their lives, the importance of continuing their education, and the high value of the "soft skills" of attitude and teamwork. "The testimonials were great and really hit home," one educator from Tusculum College said in an evaluation later, "The commitment to self-betterment is obvious with Toho and they certainly would be a company I would want to work with."
The educators also appreciated information about pay and benefits. They were shown an example of an employee who receives $884 in gross pay with a take home pay of $562.56 after deductions -- that's 64% of the gross pay - but also showed the additional employer costs for healthcare, dental, 401K, FICA, and federal tax, which actually increases the employee's total compensation package from $884 all the way up to $1,249.
"This is the type of information we need to show our students," said one educator, "it's the real world."
Beth Snipes, from Rockwood High School, wrote later: "Toho did an excellent job in explaining what they were looking for in an employee; they discussed both academic and work skills." Two other Roane County educators, Robert Varaggona, Midtown Education Center, and Suzan Burnett, Rockwood High School, said they are interested in visiting other businesses. "I would like to visit more companies in this county," wrote Suzan, "I have visited one other company through ‘Lunch and Learn'... good visits that I would never have visited without this program."
The purpose of these visits is to provide educators ways to show students the relevance of what they learn in the classroom, to hear ideas about incorporating workplace expectations into the classroom and to observe firsthand how businesses operate.
"We learned some true, helpful and sincere ideas to incorporate into our lesson plans," wrote one Knox County teacher, "I, for one, will emphasize communication skills in my chemistry lessons."
Toho Tenax America personnel meeting with the educators included Rob Klawonn, President; Ben Chandler, Vice President of Manufacturing; Tim Williams, HR Manager; Jamie Nelson, Training and Logistics Manager; plus Daniel Byrd, Ishma Pinckney, Peter Shpik, and Curt Worth.
The Roane Alliance, and the other Chambers who are partners in the Innovation Valley would like to offer the "Educators in the Workplace Lunch & Learn" program next summer.
The Roane Alliance is Roane County's economic development organization and consists of both public and private organizations, including the Roane County Chamber of Commerce, the Roane County Industrial Development Board and the Roane County Visitors Bureau. For more information about The Alliance's Education Initiative -- Education Matters! -- contact Education and Workforce Development Specialist Allen Lutz at (865) 865-376-5572 or alutz@RoaneAlliance.org.
