Schools don’t always view themselves as one of the businesses within the community where they reside. The community also may not see the school or school system as one of the local industry partners. But with a few minor shifts in thinking and a number of important handshakes, the school or district can reposition itself as one of the business leaders, reaping the benefits of the relationships that are built and offering even more opportunities to students. When schools make a connection with their local chamber of commerce, they also find more ways to give back to the community and gather input that helps drive the focus of the schools. 

The following three sections outline some of the ways that schools and districts can work with their chamber of commerce as well as some of the possible outcomes in doing so. Sometimes schools have a distinct reason for trying to work with their chamber, but even without something in particular in mind, as the relationships grow, community and school leaders come to realize what they can offer one another that will benefit everyone who chooses to come to the table together. 

Sharing the Vision and Goals of the School or District  

The business community in every state, county, and region typically has a perspective about the school system and what they produce. Unfortunately, that perception is not always the reality. It might be negatively skewed based on a narrative from many years ago or because of erroneous stories that spread rapidly and unchecked. But, when school leaders find a way to present the vision and goals of the school or district at chamber events, business owners get to hear the most up-to-date and accurate information about the school(s). One of the first steps to making this happen is to call the chamber of commerce director and ask if there’s availability at one of the meetings to present regarding the strategic plan of the school or district and take questions from the audience. The key is not to do this once but rather annually, biannually, or quarterly. The consistent message demonstrates commitment and builds trust. This may even lead to a seat on the chamber board, which is ideal.    

Gathering Input from the Business Community 

Developing a strong relationship with the chamber of commerce provides schools with insight into what the business community needs and wants from graduates. Whether it’s through the development of a portrait of a graduate or just listening to what business owners say about who they’re hiring and the skills they expect from employees, schools and districts can use this information to shape and revise everything from advisory periods and curriculum materials. Especially in the case of career and technical education (CTE) courses, specific businesses (such as health care) can provide particulars about what students should be learning in their CTE courses to prepare them for both college and career. Of course, individual industry partnerships can be beneficial for gathering input, but connecting to the chamber of commerce is a great strategy for broadening perspective.   

Finding Synergy and Working Together  

Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know. Schools and districts come to the table with ideas and so do those from the chamber, but the real benefit comes from the synergy of working together and the outcomes that no one could have predicted ahead of time. When businesses find a place in schools and schools learn what they can do to better prepare students for the workforce, it strengthens the entire community. New ideas for work-based learning, service projects, internships, and other cooperative interactions between businesses and schools arise from these connections. Many times it makes school more engaging and relevant for students and academic and social outcomes improve. When the connections are strong, the advantages are infinite.  

Conclusion 

Working with your chamber of commerce at any level–town, city, county, or state–can be advantageous for both schools and businesses. The relationships and ideation have potential to provide a better experience in and out of school for students and community members alike. The strategies and outcomes above are just a few of the powerful results of a strong connection between school leaders and members of the chamber. 

If you want to learn more about how MaiaLearning supports industry partnerships, work-based learning, portrait of a graduate tracking, and more, schedule your demo today.