Congresswoman Julia Brownley phones in from Washington, D.C.
Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — A total of 18 businesses in the Esplanade financial area of Oxnard hosted 49 Oxnard High School sophomore academy students for a Job Shadow day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event provided work-based learning opportunities for students as they develop skills for the 21st century. After their time in the business offices, students participated in a networking luncheon at the Courtyard by Marriott, a National NAF corporate partner.
Congresswoman Julia Brownley phoned in from her office in Washington, DC and engaged the students in an informational interview. She expressed the importance of internships in her office and shared her experience as an intern in Washington, DC.
This event is part of the Oxnard Union High School District’s Alliance for Linked Learning program that encourages business engagement in education and to build students’ career readiness. This will help students enrolled in career-themed academics like engineering, finance, information technology, and health sciences prepare for summer internships.
National Groundhog Job Shadow Day supports learning taking place beyond the four walls of a classroom and provides students with the opportunity to see the connection between academics and the demands of the workforce.
According to Multimedia Business Academy Director, Ms. Debra Erdmann, “Job Shadowing is part of the Work-Based Learning Continuum as outlined by NAF and provides a unique opportunity for students to experience business first-hand.” During each of year of high school, students have a variety of experiences to learn about today’s workplaces; from guest speakers, worksite tours, and job shadowing. All academy students are projected to participate in a workplace internship during the summer of their junior year.
Participating businesses were: U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, California State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP, City National Bank, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Courtyard by Marriott, EDCO, Edward Jones, Farber Hass Hurley LLP, Manpower, Merrill Lynch, NAI Capital, New York Life, Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Western Bank, Schneiders & Associates, The Tower Club, and Union Bank.
NAF Career Academies
The 10th grade students participating in the Job Shadow Day are part of the Multimedia Business Academy at Oxnard High School. The Academy is part of the NAF Network, a national academy organization, and falls under an Information Technology theme. The career pathway fields students are exposed to work-based learning throughout their four years of high school that include: Information Technology, Business, Marketing, Sales, and Service, Hospitality and Tourism, and the Visual Arts.
The businesses providing a job shadow opportunity are in the fields of law, financial services, human resources, hospitality, tourism, government, and non-profit. The morning will begin with students meeting their hosts, having a workplace tour, and learning the daily activities of each business person. The students will then perform an informational interview to learn how the business person obtained their current position, the education and training necessary, and learn of the obstacles experienced to overcome to get to where they are today.
Founded in 2014, Oxnard High School Multimedia Business Academy (MBA) provides students with high-demand technological skills to meet the multimedia, finance, information technology, and marketing needs for local and international businesses. The Academy also provides a curriculum to prepare students for university admittance and fully preparing students for college admission.
To become involved as a guest speaker, hosting a tour, or providing an internship opportunity in the future with the MBA Academy, please contact Mary Anne Rooney at MARooney@CivicAlliance.org.
About Alliance for Linked Learning: The Alliance for Linked Learning is a collaboration between the Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) and the Ventura County Civic Alliance (VCCA) to provide our region’s employers with employees who meet their needs in the global economy. In 2014, OUHSD was awarded a $6 million grant from California Career Pathways Trust grant. VCCA serves as the intermediary to recruit and manage employer and community involvement. The Linked Learning academy model, supported by the National Academy Foundation, provides OUHSD resources, tools, curriculum and professional development to teach college and career readiness skills. Employers’ involvement, both in the classroom and the workplace, allows students to refine those skills. For more information, visit www.AllianceforLinkedLearning.org.
About VCCA: The Ventura County Civic Alliance (VCCA) is a regional collaborative of civic leaders representing a balanced mix of 3E — economic, environmental and social-equity perspectives. Its mission is to work together with our community to promote a healthy and sustainable future for Ventura County. VCCA is an initiative of the Ventura County Community Foundation. For more information about the Alliance and how to join, go online to www.CivicAlliance.org.
About OUHSD: The Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) serves Oxnard, Camarillo and Port Hueneme. Founded in 1905, the district currently operates 10 schools (seven comprehensive high schools, one continuation high school, one middle college school and one adult school). More than 300,000 residents live within district, which employs over 700 teachers and oversees the education of over 20,000 students with an annual operating budget of over $170 million.