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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 29 J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 F O C U S S M A L L B U S I N E S S S chools serve an increasingly large role in society. It's no longer just reading, writing and arithmetic. Today's schools prepare students for a successful life as adults: modeling and practicing social norms; feeding and often clothing students; providing emo- tional support through counselors and social workers; teaching content to suc- ceed on standardized tests; and readying students for post-secondary success in college, university, vocational programs, the military or the workforce. At ornton Academy, we take our mission of preparing students for a changing world seriously. To fully serve our diverse student population, we off er many diff erent avenues for students to fi nd success after they leave our campus. Many of our students travel a path of honors and AP classes that leads to a two- or four- year college or university. Others participate in our vocational off erings and head directly into the workforce after high school gradua- tion. A small but important percent- age go on to serve our country in the armed forces. And the rest forge their own creative path that looks diff erent for each individual. We support all of our students as they forge ahead to pursue gainful and satisfying employment. As today's workplaces are chang- ing rapidly to keep up with the pace of technology, schools must also adapt to teach technology use and be forward-thinking in readying stu- dents for the workplace that they will occupy later on. Being proactive and starting conversations about work early results in students who embrace post-school challenges and thrive in a changing workplace. Developing a workforce from an early age can be easy and is crucial for any school, family, or other organiza- tion that works with children. Workforce development should: 1. Offer many avenues to success: e beauty of humanity is our diversity. Today's workforce benefi ts from increas- ingly varied work environments, and students should have paths towards suc- cess in many fi elds, disciplines, educa- tional levels and interests. Creativity can be key as students learn about them- selves and develop their passions and skills that will allow themselves to fi nd successful and fulfi lling endeavors. 2. Emphasize hard work: All employ- ers look for workers who are dedicated, effi cient and can get the job done. Tyler Gilbert '19 demonstrates this value. He has been working since age seven mowing lawns and shoveling snow from driveways. Today he works at L.A.W. Calibration LLC in Biddeford four days a week, is enrolled in National Tooling and Machining Association's online educational program (NTMA-U), and fi xes up and sells old snowmobiles. Schools must encourage students to work towards their potential. 3. Partner with outside organiza- tions: Students at ornton Academy can benefi t from the NTMA-U program to develop technical skills; a program of advanced STEM classes that grants automatic enrollment and sophomore status at the University of Maine School of Engineering; a partnership with the University of New England that grants sopho- more standing to qualifi ed students; and opportunities for college credit while in high school through York County Community College. ese partnerships help ornton Academy students discover their passion, start networking early and maximize their eff orts and opportunities. 4. Begin early: e career center at ornton Academy off ers support for students through interviewing tech- niques, job opportunities, internships, and career guidance that emphasizes the need to start developing connec- tions and career skills while students are still in school. It's never too early to think about a successful future. Schools are becoming increasingly complex organizations that must focus on more than academics. Preparing stu- dents for a changing world by educating them about life after school and devel- oping skills that will be useful in the workplace are essential parts of today's education that benefi t not only students, but businesses and nonprofi ts that will eventually employ them. K N i s t h e associate director of marketing a n d s u m m e r p r o g r a m s a t Thornton Academy. She can be reached at katy. @ . CREATING CREATING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES Plus a whole lot more. To our lawyers, meeting expectations is a starting point. We partner with you to deliver the results you seek, as well as an experience you can feel good about. We're here to help you succeed in all aspects of life. What matters to you, matters to us. 75 Pearl Street, Portland, ME 04101 | 207.773.5651 | MPMLaw.com A d v o c a t i n g f o r y o u P O R T L A N D , M E | M I L K S T R E E T C A P I TA L .B I Z | 207-358 -790 0 NO appraisals NO committees QUICK responses QUICK closings When you need it done… CALL US. Develop a workforce from an early age H OW TO B Y K A T Y N I C K E T A K I S

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