In this day and age, when so many people have good reason to complain about the generation of students graduating high school who can’t count back change, can’t fathom how to control their spending and have no work ethic, the NEL/CPS charter school is working hard to graduate a whole new type of senior: one who is head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to being out in the workforce. When the New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy charter school opened its doors in 2002 it had just one curriculum track: the construction technology program. Over the next two years, as the school was evolving, it was determined several of the students who had entered the school were not suitable for the school because they did not have an interest in the construction technology program. It was then decided the students would either have to return to their sponsoring schools, go out of district to another alternative educational program or the school could add a second curriculum track for those students who were interested in remaining in the school. Thus, the World of Work program was created. The WOW program, as described by WOW Program Coordinator Marilyn Coppola, is a comprehensive stand-alone program, a curriculum track established for those students who are interested in careers other than construction. In the past year it has gained quite a bit of notoriety across the state as being a unique, high-quality curriculum program, one that is slated to be duplicated in other areas of the state. The program remains true to the foundation of the school’s mission and beliefs: the school community is small, the teacher to pupil ratio is 15 to 1 (a class size that’s conducive to learning) and the curriculum is hands-on. When students enroll at the NEL/CPS charter school, they state their intent of either working in the construction field after high school and/or college or working in some other field. The WOW program helps them decide what kind of job they would like to have, helps to prepare them for how to put their best foot forward when pursuing a job and, finally, helps them keep that job once they get it. If they need to leave the job, the WOW program even teaches them how to resign. “[In ninth grade,] the school year starts with assessing the students to see where their interests are,” Coppola said. “Are they interested in people, data, or things? They’re at an early age when they can see where their interests are, what their abilities are, what they want to do and have a plan on how to get there.” Next, the students research careers that are of interest to them. They do career searches using the Occupation Outlook Handbook and the National Department of Labor Web site. Coppola, a job placement specialist who has worked at the state level, is able to help students assess their interests and abilities, as well as teach the students the soft skills they need when applying for a job, such as resume writing, telephone skills and interview skills. “It’s like a soft skills boot camp,” said the school board’s chairman, Michael Traficante. “They get a whole semester of learning the soft skills that employers are looking for when hiring,” Coppola added. “Not only do we teach [typical curriculum topics such as math, English and science,] we teach work ethic, conflict resolution and financial literacy. That’s very important. We’re one of the only schools doing this as part of their degree.” According to Coppola, the financial literacy classes “enable the students to understand the importance of managing personal finances, teaches them how to balance their checkbook, how to write a check and how to create a financial plan.” The students are presented with hypothetical situations such as needing to buy a car or rent an apartment. They learn about percentages, credit card debt and keeping their personal information safe. “With the economic crisis America is experiencing, financial literacy is a vital component,” Coppola said. “By incorporating financial literacy into our curriculum we are enabling our students to make prudent financial decisions in their personal lives that will contribute to the economic recovery of America.” “I have worked for the Providence/Cranston Workforce Investment Board,” she continued. “So I know what employers are looking for. Our students rise above other students their age. They learn how to fill out a job application. They know what questions will be asked. They know to use a pen, to print, to read everything first. We teach everything, right down to as simple a thing as a handshake when walking in. If a student enters an interview well-groomed, speaking intelligently, showing respect for the industry, with a job resume with him, that makes quite an impression on an employer.” To help prepare, students take part in mock interviews, with employers coming out to the classroom to rate the students on their interview skills. The students interview Coppola as well. She shows examples of a good interview and a bad interview. The students aren’t just reading about how to interview, they’re seeing it and doing it. “An employer would rather hire someone with soft skills and no experience and train them, than hire someone with experience and no soft skills,” Coppola said. With the World of Work program, the students also have the opportunity to work part-time after school and obtain summer employment. There are field trips for the students to different industry areas as well. “I didn’t have these opportunities when I went to school so I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life until college,” Coppola said. “The students have them here.” Coppola works closely with Carol Corcelli, the school’s career placement specialist. “My role is to help them find a job,” said Corcelli. “I go through mass mailings, contact the chamber of commerce and other networks. We find available opportunities, full- and part-time, to best match the students’ interests.” Last fall, the school reported 96 percent of its non-construction career students were placed with area employers. Once the program received state recognition from the Governor’s Work Force Board and the Department of Labor and Training, the program’s placement numbers jumped; 93 students were placed in area jobs in the first six weeks of school, Corcelli said. Because WOW puts the emphasis on work experience, students are able to work during daytime hours, not just nights and weekends. That gives them an edge, even in typical high school work environments such as fast food restaurants and donut shops. Many achieve supervisor status even before they graduate. According to Corcelli, students are asked to complete a monthly assessment of how many hours they’ve worked and their rate of pay. Their employer assesses them as well. This follow-up process insures that the employer has a productive employee and shows the staff that the soft skills are still being used. Corcelli meanwhile keeps a spreadsheet, updated daily, that shows job leads, the contact person, the number of slots available, age requirements and any other pertinent information. “I call the employers, tell them that that the student is work-ready. If there’s a problem, such as transportation, the employer can call me,” Coppola said. Elaine French, senior at NEL/CPS, is just one example of a success story out of the WOW program. For the past six months, French has been working from noon to 5 p.m. every day as a receptionist at the APG Security/Sterling Investigations in Cranston; upon graduation, she plans to work full-time for the company. “I answer the phones, do files, whatever they need me to do, I’m there,” French said. “I love it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. They’re going to help me pay for school when I graduate. I am thinking of going to CCRI or RIC. I’d love to have my own business someday.” Thomas Underhill, executive vice president of APG Security/Sterling Investigations, has nothing but great things to say about Elaine and the WOW program. “I have been extremely pleased with the relationship that has developed between APG Security and the New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy,” said Underhill. “Our company was provided with a placement from their program to see if one of their students could thrive in a high-impact office environment. Elaine French has far exceeded our expectations based on her abilities and willingness to learn. It is very rare to find a young person such as Elaine, who understands the importance of dependability, trust and hard work. I know that Elaine’s attitude and fundamental work ethic will guarantee her position within the company and provide her the opportunity to succeed.” The teachers are a critical part of student success and, therefore, appropriate staffing is a big consideration with the WOW program. It is important to note that the charter school students, if not for this alternative education setting and the Work to World program, were at high risk for ending up high school dropouts. Instead, they are now highly successful in their coursework and their jobs and have the ongoing support of the school staff in both areas. “All of the teachers here work closely with the students,” Coppola said. “Personalization is everything. From administration right down to the teachers, we all feel that way. The students feel that they’re also here to be with people who really and truly believe in them and really care and want them to be successful. Some days it’s a challenge, for them and for us, but it’s done with an unconditional love, so that even on the most challenging days, we can rise above.” Wendy Olson, a senior at NEL/CPS, speaks highly of her English teacher, Beth Martinelli. “She’s had the most impact on me,” Olson said. “She’s brutally honest with me and that’s just what I need to hear.” Olson works every day as a cook/driver/shift supervisor at Kingston Pizza in North Kingstown, putting in 30-40 hours a week. The NEL/CPS students are still students, though, and still have extra-curricular activities to schedule around. Michael Baccaire, also a senior, says although he leaves school between 11 a.m. and noon each day to work as a busboy at Luigi’s Restaurant in Johnston, they manage his work and school schedules around his nightly basketball practices, too. Baccaire’s coursework includes English, a portfolio class (a graduation requirement for all graduates) and a Virtual Learning forensics class for science. (The NEL/CPS Virtual Learning program will be covered in a future article.) Baccaire credits John Santangelo, his business math, portfolio readiness and economics teacher, with his success at the school and at Luigi’s. “He always tells me to never give up,” he said. “He has a lot of faith in me. He understands me out of all the teachers in the building.” The WOW program has even begun to extend its reach outside the charter school. Recently, as a result of grant funding awarded, the WOW program began being offered at both Cranston High School East and West, under the direction of Coppola and Corcelli. “There are currently plans in the works to expand the [WOW] program outside of the district with both Marilyn and Carol,” said Traficante. Executive Director Mike Silvia said the program’s ultimate mission is to use the school as a test site, if there ends up being a mandate that this program be offered in every district in Rhode Island. “Our mission is to redefine school to career transition. This program is the new way to look at that transition,” he said. The school also tries to offer access to non-paid opportunities as well, further expanding student access to career fields. “Some students also participate in community service by volunteering,” Corcelli said. “We make opportunities available to them and place them, [that type of work] is greatly encouraged. Job shadowing is available as well.” The idea, Coppola explained is to not only get the kids jobs, but to get them careers that will be fulfilling and remain fulfilling in the long term. “Anyone can find a job,” she said. “A career is doing something you love. When you love what you do, you never feel like you have to work again.” A link has been added to
the WOW program article under “What’s New”.
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