A Different Conversation

Executive Leaders

November 2015

Table Summaries

Soft Skills, technical skills,
Employees that can learn, communicate, and problem solve. Attitude, aptitude and attendance.
Schools agree we need to shift, but it takes time.
We miss the connectors.
Elevate Iowa; start early to change the mentality of manufacturing.
We need to listen to each other. The business might have the idea. Kids learn the business rules - attendance, show up, no grace - 3 times miss you are out of the program. Identify the incentive for businesses to work with the schools. Job Seeking, Job Keeping Skills.
Emphasis on the basic skills - reading, writing and arithmetic.
A big plug for STEM activities and skill trades.
Play nice, show initiative, take responsibility, own up to your mistakes, and show up.
Population is aging, so we need to recruit employees. Attract people to rural Iowa. We need to bring people in. Bring back young people so they can raise their families.
Work ethic
Parents need to understand 4-year college degree isn't always the best choice
Soft skills - ability to communicate face-to-face, dependability, work ethic, emotional maturity, being considerate, respectful and honest
For companies to provide more opportunities for shadows, tours, etc. to assist with exposure
Students need to be able to consider all of the options - and schools need to do a better job overviewing - exposure
Provide earlier exposure to students
Everyone wants to hire "good" people and the soft skills are more important than the specific skills
There are challenges in having intergenerational employees
There were no business leaders who spoke of the lack of academic skills--it's been much more about the soft skills.
A "sense-making" skill is very important--how can people take a vast amount of information and make sense of it and communicate it in such a way that allows others to understand.
Intellectual curiosity
Importance of creating experiences (outside of the school building) for students while they're still in high school
We need the business community to advocate on our behalf in a true partnership, but we need to think about how we can provide them with "talking points."
The importance of creative thinking and the idea of creating knowledge as much or more than consuming knowledge.
Leaders need to work to help your people develop a commitment to manage their life and balance their life
How can we make kids aware of jobs and careers that are available
It takes more than a liberal arts degree, we need employees with specialized skill in specific areas.
We are hiring employees who have experience and are successful not just employees with a "liberal arts" degree
"Soft skills" are important, attitude and mindset matter, maturity is important
There are generational differences in what employees value and how they work
If you have ambition, drive and can execute on this you will advance. It is more than a degree, results matter
We need employees with technology skills. The work is far more intricate and complex
Ability to problem solve and persevere is important
Ability to work with others and respect different opinions
Are we doing justice to other career options? Do our guidance counselors understand these needs?
Students need more opportunity to job shadow and provide experiences in real work settings
Need for employees with strong math skills
Girls make decisions around 4th grade about their interest in math and science - we need to tap in and expose them to options sooner
Employees can make decent incomes without a college degree. 100K + as a lineman
Most of the supervisors and managers came up through the trade
Technology has allowed us to do more with few people, but it has not reduced stress
24/7 response and work ethic is required
More exposure to a variety of careers starting in elementary
Passion areas
Productive citizens should be the primary goal
Need to work on the social acceptance that you have to go to a 4-year college. Other options
We expect out of 80-90% of graduates what we used to expect out of 20% of our graduates
Get local business leaders in schools. Ask for their help
STEAM instead of just STEM
PBL- cross discipline is critical
Soft Skills
Need to help kids understand that it is a global world
Showing up matters
Communication and Collaboration are two of the most important skills to learn
A lot of this used to be taught at home and now it is asked of schools...
Need to develop well-rounded citizens
It takes a village to raise a child
Eliminate the notion that you are either going to college or you are not.
Being able to work with other generational groups or ethnic groups
There is a shortage of workers who have the skills needed in most businesses and industries
Education is the key to getting people out of poverty
Developing a personal connection with local industries and businesses
Need a minimum of at least a 2 year degree to provide enough opportunities for success
Inductive Reasoning as a baseline or education tenet
Personalized Learning. Students are not all the same.
Teacher externships
Students need to be involved in activities to help them develop collaboration, communication, team skills, etc. well-rounded people
Computer programming-being able to code
Conceptual problem solving skills
How do we do this for everybody? (Quality learning...make it systemic as we have individual or small samples)
Thrilled to see how the education community is open to this; business leaders have said they want to have it; more together than apart which leads to greater focus
Why can't we have internships, work experience and not have to leave the school? People in our communities are working from home or other places
Needing to transform the learning experience to second half of 20th century to more of a dynamic, free flowing learning experience, still a strong need for a foundation
Filling in the career awareness gap
Take the stigmas away from certain occupations
Looking for skill/trade oriented employees
Providing meaningful experiential internships for students and business externships for teachers
Don't ignore the soft skill development
Hope to maintain and sustain this business and education conversation
Grow the seamless pk-16 to career pipeline a reality
Virtual learning/educational experiences should be utilized more
Senior project in a full semester class w/ a mentor; do a presentation in front of a group of judges
Break out of the boundaries we have imposed on ourselves
What if we created a true competency based system
Attendance; how do we get em there
How do we get teachers to understand how important it is to focus on the kids
What are the paths, doesn't have to be just 4 years
I have to reach out to the business leaders in my area to make some connections; my own charge
Emphasize basic skills and application of what is taught.
Businesses will hire for attitude and train for success.
Soft skills are critical for success in the workplace.
What is the appropriate balance of curricular area exposure?
How do we impact families to understand the needs of employers?
The business / education partnership is essential!
More student and staff knowledge about career opportunities
Sense making of data
Sell concept of 2 year degree can be as beneficial as a two year degree
Have idea that students need a skill level and a capacity to improve
Ability to interact with public and within the public
Emotional intelligence and empathy skills
Work collaboratively with others
Able to think on their feet and analyze a situation
Educators need growth mindset
Understanding of diverse populations
More student and staff knowledge about career opportunities
Sense making of data
Are interview skills being explicitly taught in HS?
Internship - pros and cons - appropriate for students with a specific passion.
Need a more defined vision for expectations of schools. "Hard skills" are too diverse for schools. Universal need for soft skills
Graduation requirements are restricting the ability to meet the diverse needs of students as they move toward a career.
Different opportunities based on your location in Iowa....rural vs urban/suburban
Development of Soft Skills
Situational awareness and adaptability
Flexible, adaptive, collaborative work force
Inner generational awareness
Facilitate conversations & partnerships with local and/or global businesses
Removing the failure label from people who enter the skilled labor force
It seems the focus from government is counter to what we are hearing from businesses.
Is the real answer partnerships and open conversations instead of the government issues?
It is about the skills.
Internships often lead to jobs.
75% of central Iowa students have post-secondary.
The greatest barrier for post-secondary is parents and then economic opportunities.
Figure out how to illustrate and communicate the needs and the importance of occupations.
Lisa Bartusek says Roark, solve this, "How could a conversation like this between business and education be held around 'what is the vision for the future of rural Iowa?'"
How do we foster entrepreneurship for any area? Even in rural areas?
Internship opportunities with educators that lead to partnerships and opportunities for students around both.
Work with businesses and AEA's to develop continuing education opportunities around the internships.
Soft Skills (Communications Gap - Verbal and Written
Cultural Competence - How to work in a diverse environment
Educational Awareness of what opportunities exist in IT
Intermediary to sustain new practices between business and school
Business can help provide information on career opportunities and pathways
Districts need to get teachers into externships
Pathways need better roadmarks for kids and parents
How do we create better global experiences and exposure to better help students to identify career pathways
Diploma vs. Career college ready and the gap that exist
Get MS and HS students in the field to see real world experiences.
Strategic thinking, diverse thinking
Employers need to provide an active voice in change K-12, like competency based ed
Regent Universities need to be part of the conversation
Empathetic communication skills - Empathy in the workplace or in social settings
Advocating together with schools and businesses, less legislation not more, flexibility
How to we get industry to be part of the process to provide better continuity to help the process
Requirements vs. Opportunities for students
Disconnect between test scores and what businesses need - Legislative - Business disconnect, what measurements should we use
Engagement - Triangle of students, parents and industry - career paths
Mid level worker gap in job skills
Soft skills and higher order thinking skills continue to become more important. Companies want them but don't always hire for them. Schools still don't teach or assess them. We need to expect, teach and assess soft skills.
How do we collect data on how kids are thinking about tasks? How do we teach that development of soft skills? soft skills as well. Communicating collaboration problem solving.
What can we do to tie project-based learning to employment awareness? BIG relevance and rigor.
Employers have to find a way to recognize those skills and hire for them. Still hire too much on grade point, school you went to etc. We should not be judging schools by grad rate but by post secondary success.
Make future business leaders more intentional. We need to formalize internship opportunities. Relevance and contribution.
peter capelli the most important decision you will ever make. Value and teach parents about non 4-year degree options. Also what majors and programs lead to better outcomes?
Make connections and internships etc. easier for businesses and schools. How do you make relevant opportunities easier to find and hold?
Work Skills that we think are common sense are absent in young working.
How do we change perspectives from 4 year college to ready to work
Generational Collegiality
Educate young on some college majors require a masters to obtain enough money to offset debt.
Many two year programs have great entry level salaries but stigmas around profession
Need exposure to careers earlier than high school; MS or even elementary
Soft Skills need addressed
Lack of soft skills--companies can teach technical skills, but soft skills are deficient
Must change the culture at schools so students are learners
Importance of valuing work and doing it in a professional way
Systemwide thinking and being able to work in groups and see different perspectives
K-12 environment is so different than the work environment--how do we help our students make that leap
Embrace technology and the use of social media
Everyone seems to have a different idea about how the relationship between business and schools should be
Can't replicate some experiences in the world of work in a classroom--need to get kids out of our buildings and into the community more
The mindset to continually reinvent themselves forever--schools talk about completion not really reinvention
Listening to student voice is important--in the workplace they will be expected to contribute
Almost every position has a technological component to it--it is essential to know technology
All of the business people were passionate about their jobs and companies
In the world of work there are a lot of people who bring ability but there are three a's attendance, attitude, and ability
Understanding your audience and being able to communicate to them and influence that audience
Soft Skills Needed and are often lacking
Pipeline - Development
Would Jr. Sr. year be better used for internships etc.
Attendance and lack of desire/commitment were reasons for dismissal
How can business reach out to schools and create more opportunities for students
Students look for areas of passion to drive their learning
We have to make tough change to make schools more relevant
How do we get support to change from business and legislators
Adults have to give up some control
Business is not linear in skills or progressions, so schools need to prepare kids for that kind of world
Students need to be collaborative and disruptive thinkers
Preparing kids for diverse needs of business, again, it is not all the same or linear
EQ - emotional intelligence training for kids and adults
Project based environment seems conducive
Student can communicate in different styles
Situational - preparation of different and diverse skills
Kids have to be engaged
Capstone experience would be helpful
CBE SBG is the bridge to getting where we need to go
Education needs to follow-up on our knowledge of what will work and what business needs
How can business work together
What best practices can business share
Change strategies are common in business, how can schools learn from business to handle change?
Does Iowa have the "moxie" to handle the implementation dip that is inherent and required to make necessary change?
Importance of soft skills-- kids conscious of them and knowledgeable
Business and education face many of the same challenges: transient populations, regulations that get in the way, engagement, soft skills, attendance, attention to details, etc.
Lack the basic cognitive ability to advance - problem solving, basis skills.
Behavior and soft skills (or lack thereof) are what get workers terminated - end employment
Workers and students are enabled and expect hand holding
Plenty of jobs available for workers
All employers are looking for the same things
Generation gap - entitled generation - instant gratification
Needs workers who can work collaboratively with intergenerational colleagues - problems between the generations
Entry-level workers with the expectation of advancement without putting in the time to learn.
Business needs to do a better job to connect with the students who are not going on to higher education.
Need to value a different career path besides a 4-year degree.
Young people want different housing options
How do we make industry jobs attractive -- how can we recruit for our jobs
How can schools help embed job skills into curriculum?
Collaboration in the classroom -- working on real world problems with real world solutions.
Perception of manufacturing of dark, dirty, and dangerous. Need a cultural shift - in the real world in the work world. Show up everyday, practical application
Business and Education face similar challenges, transient population, instant gratification, problem solving, perseverance, writing, and relationships. Take responsibilities
Plenty of jobs available cannot fill them.
Kids are in activities, do not want them.
Intergenerational colleagues and work collaboratively
Retaining workers is a problem
Young people do not want to be tieddown
Business need to recruit at high schools
Use teachers to work in businesses in the summer time for relicensure credit
"Importance of getting out of our individual silos and working collaboratively, including business, education, and government.
Social interaction and personal communication skills are deficient and an area of opportunity.
Higher order thinking skills are needed, including the ability to analyze data in order to solve a problem.
This opportunity to connect schools and businesses needs to be more than just a one-time event; needs to continue.
Some parents and students aren't seeing the value of what we offer through education, and those that do tend to leave.
Basic math skills, including basic operations, making change, spatial reasoning. All basics of communication, math, etc. are still valid and important for students to learn.
Partnership opportunities, such as coop, CAPS, BIG are important, but there are barriers due to liability, student age, etc. Business encouraged schools to just ask for business involvement and input.
Business would like to see the outcome of this meeting, summary, next steps, what we learned, etc.