It doesn’t matter what you call it -- Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Outreach, or Business/Education Partnerships -- corporations and community organizations nationwide are working together to positively influence the high school experience for today’s students. 

Since its founding in the mid 90s, New Tech Network (NTN) has capitalized on this renewed cooperative spirit between education and the business/community arena. NTN understands the importance of partnering with business and community leaders to assure that all students get a quality education that readies them for college and career. Partnerships take a variety of forms: financial, collaborative, advisory and operational, and NTN schools work with their partners in various ways.  Many of the business and community partners participate by offering internships to students or providing an opportunity for a senior project.  Many NTN seniors either undertake a senior project or participate in an internship program with a local corporation or community partner.

  Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy

Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy – located in Jefferson, Louisiana, outside of New Orleans -- is an NTN school offering a comprehensive college preparatory program that emphasizes the sciences, mathematics and technology. 

Though Patrick Taylor Academy is a small school of 300 students in grades 6 through 12, its student achievements are large and noteworthy.  The school was named a national Blue Ribbon school in November 2010, one of four schools in Louisiana to receive that award, and is the only high school in the state to be honored with the Blue Ribbon. 

Patrick Taylor academy has been a part of the New Tech Network since the 2005-2006 school year.

At Patrick Taylor, business and community partners work in tandem with students to form partnerships that are the core of curriculum and structure.  In addition to serving as mentors for senior projects and providing internships, these partners assist by hosting students in their offices, labs and other facilities.   

“Being a math and science school, many of our partnerships are within the science and medical community,” said Jaime Zapico, Principal at Patrick Taylor.  She explained how students benefit from these business and community partnerships.  “Many of the students receive letters of recommendation from the partners while others have their work published in journals.” 

Concluding one’s high school career armed with the practical knowledge gained by completing an internship or senior project sets NTN students above their peers.  Besides enabling the practical application of coursework, especially as it relates to science, math and technology, this experience provides a leg up for the NTN student as they begin college.

Often, these relationships continue past the mentoring or internship experience.  “Some of our graduates continue communicating with their mentors or sponsors while in college,” said Zapico.  “Especially as the students begin their content-specific courses for pre-med, etc., they consistently seek feedback from their corporate and community contacts.”

The majority of electives at Patrick Taylor are higher level science and math courses that prepare students for the internships and projects they complete.  “The students love to visit hospitals and have professors from the local universities come and speak to them, “continued Zapico.  “The students work in medical labs and attend lectures in hospitals; they observe in classrooms, go on rounds with doctors, work with veterinarians and assist engineering firms with blueprints.”

There are various ways in which business and community partners are selected.  “The selection of our partners is generated around student interest,” said Zapico.  “We choose and pursue the businesses and organization that students want to work with.” 

Relationships are established either by Patrick Taylor reaching out to the community or by the various organizations approaching the school, with the latter happening more often lately.  “In the beginning, we had to get out there first and make a name for ourselves,” explained Zapico.  “Now, many of the corporations and community organizations come to us because they want to work with our students.”

Patrick Taylor partners with business and community organizations in ways that allow students to benefit most from the experience.  “The partnerships are a combination of monetary and collaborative assistance with partners providing both financial and advisory/hands-on help”, explained Zapico.

Some of Patrick Taylor’s business and community partners include the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, Dylan McDermott Engineering, Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health and Sciences Center, Ochsner Medical Center, University of New Orleans, Children’s Hospital, Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Studies, Monsanto, Clear Channel Radio and a variety of private architects, engineers, photographers, etc.

Zapico envisions a continued positive experience with Patrick Taylor’s business and community partners and is always planning for the future. About four years ago, a Board comprised of students, teachers, parents and community members drew up a plan for a new school building for Patrick Taylor. The new school is expected to have space for 600 students – double the current size – when they relocate in approximately 3 years. 

“We are now finalizing plans for a new state-of-the-art facility located about 10-15 minutes from our current school,” said Zapico.  “We have started reaching out to businesses and organizations in that location so we can build new relationships while we continue to maintain and nurture our current partnerships.”

nex+Gen Academy

Another NTN school that has benefited greatly from its business and community partnerships is nex+Gen Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which opened its doors in August 2010.

Dr. Michael Stanton, Principal of nex+Gen Academy, explained that the school was a direct result of local business partners and leaders coming together over a bond and capital master plan for a redesign and rebuilding of the nex+Gen Academy (which shares a campus with Del Norte High School).

According to Stanton, the community and business partnerships began more than two years ago.  Initial funding was provided by Sandia National Laboratory, Intel Corporation and the Albuquerque/Hispano Chamber of Commerce.  Sandia and Intel have continued to work with nex+Gen Academy in an advisory role.

As with Patrick F. Taylor Academy, students at nex+Gen Academy will complete either a senior project or an internship in their senior year. 

nex+Gen works with a variety of partners, including the New Mexico tech council, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, the University of New Mexico, and Central New Mexico Community College.

According to Stanton, the students benefit from the community and business partnerships by getting to see first-hand the connection between these organizations and the cutting edge skills they are learning at school. 

Other partners include local computer vendors.  Intel not only provided specific hardware support but also helped with the design of the technology plan.  The school provides Dell laptops to each student. 

Stanton is very proud of the reputation the school has developed in such a short time.  “Our next big event is Education Day, which will be held at nex+Gen Academy,” he said.  “The president of Central New Mexico Community College and the University of New Mexico will attend.  In addition, Hanna Skandera, Secretary of Education for the State of New Mexico, will also be in attendance.”

Another supporter of the school is U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. 

Speaking at the opening, Senator Bingaman, who, as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, was involved in bipartisan discussions to rewrite and fix the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind, said, “NexGen Academy is based upon proven educational methods—yet it is innovative in its design and approach. It emerges from a collaborative effort between government, education experts, industry, and our local communities. And it uses research-based instruction and technology to deliver a world-class education that responds to today’s student needs.  21st century students need 21st century schools, and that is what you have built here. NexGen Academy is exactly the type of school that I have supported and will continue to support in Washington, and it is the type of program we should replicate elsewhere in New Mexico and nationwide.”

In today’s economic environment, it really does take a community to provide students with the quality education they need to thrive.  It is the generosity of business and community partnerships that has helped NTN schools such as Patrick Taylor and nex+Gen academies prepare students for their college and future careers.