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Sweet Grass County
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Sweet Grass County
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Partners in Learning
A Sweet Grass County Resource
This story brought to you by:
Tracy Stevens and Kathy Countryman are breaking new ground and providing a valuable resource for Sweet Grass County. They have implemented a program called Partners in Learning, a program that makes connections within the community and schools.
Partners in learning
strengthens both our school and community, as founder Tracy Stevens puts it
"The stronger our school is, the stronger and healthier our community will
be. It is something that will help us all." Upon meeting Tracy
and Kathy, it quickly becomes apparent that they care not only for their high
school students, but also for this community.
PIL (Partners-In-Leaning) integrates "Apprenticeships", Adult and Community education classes, and "School to Work" programs. These various programs function to:
help students to stay in school
make the transition to work after high school
meet students needs of earning a few extra dollars
help students get the credit they need to graduate
offer interesting classes for the community to participate in.
Adult and Community Classes
The Adult and Community classes have been a big success, with Kathy Countryman making connections with the community and their skills they have to offer. She puts it this way - "I am amazed at the talent that there is in this community and feel that we are so lucky to have wonderful people who are interested in sharing what they know." "Classes do fill quickly, so please register ASAP. Thanks to all of the instructors of these courses. Your talents and expertise are greatly appreciated. Also thanks to the several community mentors and tutors of our students. Remember, it takes an entire village to raise a child and we are extremely grateful to you for being a partner in their education!"
Kathy makes you feel good about yourself and your skills and lets you know that she appreciates you and that you are willing to teach a class. In that way, Kathy Countryman has made the community classes a huge success with classes that range from Quilting to Computers. Besides finding talented and resourceful sharing people, she also surveys the community to find out what they are interested in learning. The classes vary in cost- from $15 to $50, run from 1 session to 8 sessions, and are usually held at the SG High School. Classes have also been held in the Grade School, Courthouse, and other places that are appropriate to the content being taught. Watch for different classes offered each month advertised in various places like the school newsletter, the Pioneer, Channel 7, and their new website at www.SweetGrassCounty.com/pil.
About Partners in Learning
Partners in Learning main goals are:
1. Integrating academic and occupational learning
2. Developing links between secondary and postsecondary education
3. Providing opportunities for students to pursue career paths while in high
school
4. Providing experience and understanding of various industries
5. Providing educational and cultural leadership opportunities to youth and
adults in the community
6. Aiding individuals to attain maximum development regardless of abilities
opportunities, or goals
7. And finally, but perhaps the most important goal was to provide
access to these services to ALL students.
"Apprenticeships" and School to Work
Student may go into the community to experience work in a particular career field. Examples of places where students have worked are: the Pioneer Medical Center, Citizens Bank, and RC auto body shop to name a few.
"It takes an entire village to raise a child".
Cody, director of the Pioneer Medical Center, has contributed to PIL by working with students. Students interested in the medical profession benefit from the connections they make with the professionals working at the Pioneer Medical Center, for example, by getting hands on experience with their highly qualified staff. Students can get hands on experience in the field of their choice, and in that way it gives them feedback on career paths that they might want to choose.
The outcome of these placements might be that students find that they may or may not want to pursue the career they first thought of doing. This feedback might save students time and money - by helping them have a more focused career path when they get out of high school instead of finding out what they would like to do while paying for college classes.
Modified and extended, the Partners in Learning program is now offering independent studies to students. In fact, to this date, nearly 40 students have registered for a special study.
PIL was founded by Tracy Stevens- principal of Sweet Grass County High School. It began in 1998 with Tracy writing a grant for the school and researching various programs across the state, piloting student placements, and developing adult and community education. Last year SGHS was awarded $23,700 with the grant that Tracy wrote. Soon it became obvious that the scope of this service required more staffing, and Kathy Countryman was hired as the coordinator of PIL and is currently promoting further development of the adult and community education component of Partners in Learning.
Most schools across Montana have employed 2.5 to 3 positions to support a program similar to Partners-In-Learning. The PIL steering committee of Partners in Learning is proud to announce that they have integrated resources from our district, community, and state to provide these services with one position. This position is shared by Kathy Countryman and Tracey Stephens. Tracy Stevens now is the principal at Sweet Grass County High School.