Volunteers wanted for student job shadow program

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is looking for volunteers to participate in its job shadow program that pairs students with business leaders to gain on the job experience. The experience also provides students with experiences to explore careers and employment prospects.

Kick-off for the job shadowing program is on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, and continues through March 11. The time frame for students to job shadow is generally 8:30 a.m. to noon; however, other arrangements can be made for unique experiences.

Each year, students across Charles County Public Schools participate in job shadowing activities. One of the goals of the school system is to maintain high level of student participation. Career readiness is one of the three focus areas of the Charles County Public Schools five-year-plan for students. Job shadowing experiences help heighten student awareness of the link between schoolwork and the world of work.

The Boston Private Industry Council first started Job Shadow Day in 1996 as part of its School-to-Work Effort. In 1998, a coalition including Gen. Colin Powell’s America’s Promise was formed to encourage national participation. Charles County Public Schools joined the effort in 1999 and has participated annually since then.

Contact Charna Lacey, instructional specialist for minority achievement, at 301-934-7245 or e-mail clacey@ccboe.com for more information or to volunteer. The job shadowing experience can be tailored to meet the needs of the student and business. The deadline to volunteer is Jan. 14.