Education

Recognizing that high quality schools are critical to developing educated citizens and a strong future workforce, the Alliance is focused on fostering effective business-education partnerships at all levels. We support Waukesha County students in being both college and career ready and help families and educators understand job opportunities in the marketplace today and in the future.

Areas of support

Support regional and state programs that help students, parents and educators better understand career opportunities and pathways.
Promote expansion of youth apprenticeship, dual enrollment and other programs that help students obtain career skills and experience and/or receive higher
education credits that reduce the time and cost of obtaining a post-secondary degree.
Expand school accountability beyond traditional measures to include workforce development outcomes.
Advocate for increasing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education at the K-12 level.
Support expansion of innovative post-secondary academic offerings in Waukesha County and the region.
Support policies that encourage collaboration among Waukesha County K-12 institutions to maximize course offerings and replicate best practices.
Support transferable credits among higher education institutions.
Advocate for effective and flexible programs to address the teacher shortage.

Talking points

The Alliance continues to support schools in the effective implementation of Academic and Career Plans (ACPs) by providing career awareness and exposure to students and fostering strong business/education partnerships.
The recent merger between the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Waukesha provides the opportunity for expanded post-secondary offerings in Waukesha County that align with the needs of local employers.
Innovative programs, such as micro-credentialing and certificates are of increasing interest to employers as they work to fill the talent pipeline quickly.
Initiatives such as the state’s FabLab and Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Equipment grant programs provide valuable opportunities for Waukesha County students to learn on real-world equipment and prepare them for success in the workplace.

School of Applied Technologies programs enjoy record enrollments

January 29, 2019

When the economy is strong, jobs are plentiful and college enrollments are steady. When the unemployment rate is high, people tend to go back to school and enrollments rise. In Waukesha County Technical College’s School of Applied Technologies, there has been a bit of a paradigm shift. The unemployment rate in the United States in October 2018 remained at a low 3.7 percent, but enrollment in our applied technologies programs soared.

Kids Building Wisconsin – Waukesha Expo

January 24, 2019

On Thursday, January 24, more than 800 fifth through eighth graders came to Milwaukee Tool for the first annual Kids Building Wisconsin – Waukesha Expo.

Measuring students’ preparedness after high school

January 22, 2019

Currently, the state of Wisconsin has a tool that measures how prepared high school students are to attend college. The tool measures standardized test scores and more. However, those indicators aren’t necessarily representative of all the skills a high school student may need to be successful after high school graduation.

Waukesha School District awarded $250,000 DWD grant

January 2, 2019

The Alliance’s 2019 Policy Agenda focuses on many education priorities, including “advocating for effective and flexible programs to address the teacher shortage.” Congratulations to the School District of Waukesha on its Fast Forward grant!

Redefining “hands-on learning”

October 11, 2018

By: Tim O’Brien, CEO of Tim O’Brien Homes. Oconomowoc High School’s Building Trades III course and New Berlin area high schools’ Construction III course bring new meaning to the term hands-on learning.

Developing future-ready students in the Pewaukee School District

October 11, 2018

By: Mike Cady, PhD, superintendent of the Pewaukee School District. Over the past year the Pewaukee School District (PSD) has been able to successfully implement Academic Career Planning (ACP) practices with our students at the middle and high school levels.

Education Policy Committee

Susan Marshall

Chair
Backbone Institute, LLC

Francis Bauer

ITU AbsorbTech, Inc.

Nate Butt

Quad/Graphics

Jerry Fons

Executive Power LLC

Michael Frohna

Junior Achievement

Kat Goetz

TLX Technologies, LLC

Holly Hawkins

Tri-North Builders Inc

Nate Hoffman

Carrus Group

Ildiko Huppertz

ProHealth Care

Rick Kalscheuer

R&R Insurance Services, Inc.

David Kane

The Gund Company

Reginald Newson

Ascension WI

Kevin Scott

DeWitt Ross & Stevens SC

Anna Stern