ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS & SCHOOLS
There are many ways for businesses and organizations in our community to get involved and make an impact on students career exploration journeys through the Academies of Louisville. We welcome and appreciate any level of involvement your business has the capacity to provide!
Opportunities to Engage with Students & Educators
Explore the many ways your company can engage with students based on your team’s capacity, interests, and goals!
Each activity varies in time commitment depending on preparation, participation, and follow-up. Factors such as your industry, event scale, and the number of students involved can also impact the time required.
Below is a guide outlining estimated time commitments, inspiration, and steps for facilitating various types of student activities, and our team is happy to help with all steps along the way!
CAREER AWARENESS
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Featuring guest speakers in the classroom provides an opportunity for high school students to learn about a business, its industry sector, its role in the economy, and careers in the industry. Plus, it’s an opportunity to encourage people on your team to represent your company and engage with the next generation!
Preparation: 30 minutes – 2 hours (depending on presentation materials)
Speaking Time: 30 minutes – 1.5 hours
Q&A/Follow-up: 30 minutes
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All Academy Business Partners are invited to participate in the Academy Advisory Boards! We are each other's best resources and we would greatly welcome your input and ideas.
The Academy Advisory Board meets 2-3 times per school year and consists of teachers, business partners, and other school staff who review industry standards of practice and needs and discuss how to improve the instruction provided to students. The goal is to keep teachers informed on industry trends and to see how the school can support partner workforce needs.
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Connect with students exploring career pathways by showcasing your industry, sharing career insights, and answering questions about job opportunities and skills needed.
Preparation: 1–3 hours (setting up materials, coordinating with event organizers)
Event Participation: 2–4 hours
Follow-up (if needed): 30 minutes – 1 hour
See our events calendar here for upcoming career fairs and school events!
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Partnering with high school teachers allows businesses to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring students receive a relevant, future-ready curriculum. By sharing your expertise, you help teachers stay informed about industry trends, technologies, and skills in demand.
Initial Meeting(s): 2–4 hours
Reviewing Materials/Providing Feedback: 2–5 hours
Follow-up Discussions: 1–3 hours
CAREER EXPLORATION
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Help students build confidence and interview skills by conducting practice interviews, offering feedback, and sharing real-world expectations.
Preparation: 1–2 hours (developing questions, structuring feedback process)
Interview Sessions: 1–3 hours
Feedback/Follow-up: 30 minutes – 1 hour
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Meet with students in small groups to discuss your career journey, industry trends, and workplace expectations, helping them make informed career choices.
Preparation: 30 minutes – 1 hour (reviewing potential questions, structuring session)
Conducting Interviews: 1–2 hours
Follow-up (if applicable): 30 minutes
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Provide students with hands-on exposure to your workplace, demonstrating real-world applications of their classroom learning and showcasing career opportunities.
Planning & Coordination: 2–4 hours (scheduling, logistics, safety considerations)
Hosting the Tour: 2–6 hours
Follow-up (if applicable): 30 minutes – 1 hour
Click here for planning tips, sample itineraries, and more info.
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Offer valuable industry perspective by evaluating student projects, providing constructive feedback, and inspiring the next generation of professionals.
Preparation: 1–3 hours (reviewing criteria, familiarizing with projects)
Event Participation: 2–4 hours
Feedback & Wrap-Up: 30 minutes – 1 hour
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Work directly with educators to share industry trends, skills, and best practices, ensuring they bring the most relevant knowledge into their classrooms.
Planning & Coordination: 2–5 hours
Hosting Sessions: 2–5 hours per session (often 1–3 sessions)
Follow-up (if needed): 1–2 hours
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Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) provide high school students in career and technical education (CTE) with hands-on learning, leadership development, and industry-relevant skills. Businesses play a vital role in their success by serving as a project judge, sharing industry expertise by speaking with students or facilitating project-based learning.
Preparation: 1–3 hours (reviewing judging criteria, preparing speaking points)
Event Participation: 2–6 hours (judging, facilitating, or speaking)
Follow-up (if applicable): 1 hour
CAREER PREPARATION
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Give students a behind-the-scenes look at a typical workday, helping them understand career expectations and workplace culture.
Planning & Coordination: 1–2 hours
Hosting the Student(s): 2–5 hours
Follow-up Discussion: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Click here for planning tips, sample itineraries, and more info.
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Collaborate with teachers to create real-world projects that allow students to apply industry knowledge, develop critical skills, and solve practical challenges.
Initial Planning with Teachers: 5–10 hours
Ongoing Student Support & Check-Ins: 5–15 hours
Final Evaluations/Feedback: 2–5 hours
Click here for planning tips, sample projects, and more info.
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Assist students in preparing for industry-recognized certifications by providing resources, training, or mentorship to help them gain essential credentials.
Planning & Curriculum Alignment: 2–5 hours
Training, Mentorship, or Resources: 3–15 hours (spread over multiple sessions)
Follow-up & Student Support: 1–2 hours
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Build meaningful connections with students by offering ongoing guidance, career advice, and professional insights to help them navigate their future pathways.
Initial Meetings & Goal Setting: 2–5 hours
Regular Mentorship Sessions: 1–2 hours per month (for 6+ months)
Check-ins & Follow-Up Support: 5–10 hours
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Support student-run businesses by providing mentorship, industry insights, and real-world business challenges to help them develop entrepreneurial and workplace skills.
Initial Planning & Business Consultation: 5–10 hours
Ongoing Mentorship & Check-Ins: 5–15 hours
Final Feedback & Business Evaluation: 2–5 hours
CAREER PREPARATION
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Offer students practical experience in your industry, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge, build professional skills, and gain exposure to workplace expectations.
Initial Setup: 5–10 hours (creating a program, onboarding)
Ongoing Supervision: 2–5 hours per week
Wrap-up & Evaluation: 2–5 hours
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Provide students with extended, structured work experience that integrates with their coursework, helping them develop technical and professional skills over a longer period.
Initial Setup: 10–15 hours (aligning work with school curriculum, setting expectations)
Ongoing Supervision: 5–10 hours per week
Final Evaluation: 3–5 hours
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Partner with schools to offer students hands-on training in a skilled trade or industry sector while they complete their education.
Initial Setup: 15–30 hours (structuring a long-term training plan, working with education partners)
Ongoing Supervision: 5–10 hours per week
Periodic Evaluations: 3–5 hours per quarter
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Host students in healthcare or technical fields, providing supervised, hands-on learning in professional environments to prepare them for certification and careers.
Initial Setup: 10–20 hours (meeting legal/regulatory requirements, structuring rotations)
Ongoing Supervision: 5–10 hours per student, per week
Final Evaluation: 5–10 hours
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Partner with schools to offer students hands-on training in a skilled trade or industry sector while they complete their education.
Initial Setup: 15–30 hours (structuring a long-term training plan, working with education partners)
Ongoing Supervision: 5–10 hours per week
Periodic Evaluations: 3–5 hours per quarter
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The SummerWorks Program offers your business a unique opportunity to invest in the next generation of Louisville's workforce.
Hire Talented Students: Access a pool of motivated and skilled youth eager to contribute to your team.
Develop Future Leaders: Mentor and train young professionals, shaping them into valuable assets for your organization.
Strengthen Your Community: Support local youth and contribute to the economic growth of Louisville.
Enhance Your Employer Brand: Attract top talent by demonstrating your commitment to social responsibility.
Join us in empowering Louisville's youth and building a brighter future for our city. Learn more and sign-up here!
IDEAS & INSPIRATION
We hope you find inspiration and guidance from the Partner Engagement Menu and the list above, but please know that the options for engaging students are limitless! Explore the many ways your company can engage with students based on your team’s capacity, interests, and goals!
To see recent news of Business Partners working with Academy students, click here.
10 Tips for Engaging with Students
Engaging with high school students requires an understanding of their developmental stage, learning preferences, and the social dynamics that influence their behavior and engagement in the classroom. High school students are typically between the ages of 14 and 18, a period marked by rapid physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
Whether you're new or familiar with working with high school students, our Academy Coaches have offered some tips for success:
1. Hold them to high expectations, but be mindful of their external challenges. A particular student may not have eaten last night, may have had a parent not home last night, might have witnessed violence, etc.
2. Keep it moving. These students are incredibly smart and may get bored quickly. Rather than going from speaker to speaker where students are only listening, consider switching up your class visit between speaking time and interactive time for the students. Set up stations and move them. Let them do a little something in each area.
3. For guest speakers, mix it up. Short 2-3 minute speaking segments, quick hands-on activity then more speaking. A changing flow will keep kids engaged.
4. Make sure students see the diversity of employees in your company - it is impactful. The racial diversity of our students reflects the growing diversity in our community. Ever heard the phrase "You can be what you can see"? Seeing professionals that look like them is incredibly impactful to our students. When hosting tours or visiting classrooms, strive to include a diverse set of employees. For more information on how to engage diverse students, please visit the Resources section of this website.
5. Communicate early! Especially if there are any issues with a student who is working for you. For many students, this is their first job and they don't know how to handle various situations.
6. School is the priority over anything. If a student starts failing a class, they could get pulled from their job (on that note, they also might want time off for pep rallies and awards ceremonies).
7. Leverage the expertise of the teacher. As an educator, teachers know the students and manage a classroom every day. Do your thing, then let the teacher take control.
8. Freebies & donated equipment. Have any branded materials to hand out? Kids like free stuff. Have any gently used equipment that you could donate to the school? This would make a huge impact, and we greatly appreciate it!
9. Don't be afraid. These students may be intimidated. If you're comfortable, they will be, too. They are excited to hear what you have to show and say!
10. Be real & get personal. Tell kids if you are nervous or were nervous when you first experienced or did what you are taking about. Kids like it when people are real and can share real stories of their own struggles. Show them you care, inspire them to dream, and encourage them to work hard and achieve.