Chesterfield County Public Schools Ambassador Program

Educators in Chesterfield County have been visiting area businesses and industry in an innovative effort by the public school system to develop closer ties to its business community. A special cadre of 71 ambassadors is making site visits, interviewing local managers and meeting with employees with children in the public schools. Ambassadors were hand-picked in the spring by school principals for their leadership and communication skills; in the ranks are classroom teachers, guidance counselors, and assistant principals.

During the summer months, each ambassador works with his or her assigned company and ultimately completes a written profile about that company for use by the school division. Included is information about entry-level jobs; workforce skills; awareness and impressions of school division performance; partnership potential; and opportunity for communicating with student’s parents at the work site. In return for their efforts, participating educators receive credit towards recertification.

Seventy-one businesses and industries are participating in the Chesterfield County Public Schools Ambassador Program, the first such effort of its kind. Participating companies were recruited by Chesterfield County Public Schools in cooperation with the assistance of the county’s economic development office and the Chesterfield Public Education Foundation. The emphasis of the program’s first year is upon industry, manufacturing and major employers in Chesterfield County. The program is intended to be an important mechanism for employer feedback and an invaluable opportunity for educators to become familiar with the business environment. Company profiles will be analyzed and followed-up by an interdisciplinary team within the school division as well as by an independent team from Virginia Commonwealth University.

All company profiles will be completed by September 4. Fifteen profiles are already available for review. The program is paying off; it has netted students summer jobs, resulted in new partnership relationships, and provided participants with an unparalleled professional development experience. For more information, please contact Lynn Wilson at 751-4736