Joliet Township High School
Academy Network Teams

Overview and Guidelines
Purpose: The primary purpose of the Academy Network Team is to promote student achievement. The Team will review the educational programs to ensure they are current with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values identified as being necessary for students to work effectively in their chosen occupation.
Academy Network Teams are made up of business volunteers who agree to serve as advisors to one or more pathway within a Career Academy. Members include representatives from business, labor, community, and education. Business partners bring working knowledge of requirements of specific occupations, and provide valuable advice, guidance, and assistance. These business volunteers agree to serve in an advisory capacity, not as policymakers. Team members are appointed by the District and Career Academy administration.

Academy Network Teams will be developed for each of the five Joliet Township High School Academies. The career academies and pathways are listed below:
Academy of Arts and Communication
Pathways: Performing Arts, Media Arts, and Visual Arts

Academy of Business Management and Information Systems
Pathways: Finance, Information Technology, and Management & Administration

Academy of Engineering and Industrial Technology
Pathways: Computer/Electronics, Engineering/Architecture, and Industrial, Construction, & Transportation

Academy of Health and Sciences
Pathways: Health and Medicine, and Science

Academy of Human Services
Pathways: Education, Government, Law, and Public Safety, Hospitality and Food Services, and Human Services

Roles of the Academy Network Team:
Academy Network Teams advise, assist, and provide support and advocacy for quality programs. The time and energy devoted by the academy team helps increase team members’ knowledge about the career pathway programs and the instructor’s knowledge about the job market, employers’ needs, and community opportunities. Academy Network Teams perform five major roles to:

1) Provide information which will update, modify, expand and improve the quality of program(s) within each pathway.
2) Support and strengthen the partnership between business, labor, the community, and education.
3) Make recommendations that will strengthen and expand the curriculum, and provide assistance in implementing their recommendations.
4) Identify and validate academic and occupational competencies, determine priorities, review and evaluate programs.
5) Articulate long-term goals and objectives of the pathway programs to students, parents, employers and the community.

Focus Areas of the Team:
In fulfilling these roles, members provide valuable services in areas such as curriculum, facilities and equipment, student recruitment and placement, staff development, public relations, community needs, legislative and financial support, and student organization support. The team will identify the focus areas for each school year based on the needs of the individual career academy.

Curriculum
• Review the Academy’s mission and goals in relation to the goals and mission of the district.
• Identify and validate academic and vocational competencies on which course content is based.
• Recommend student performance standards and measures.
• Recommend a sequence of courses that follow a specific career pathway.
• Recommend new course offerings based on labor market trends and directions.
• Participate in evaluations made by outside agencies.
• Inform teachers of new methods, procedures, products and technologies.
• Give classroom presentations.
• Recommend safety procedures for the program based on industry standards.
• Develop career programs’ role in apprenticeships.
• Arrange field trips at industry sites.

Facilities, Equipment, and Supplies
• Evaluate equipment and facilities against industry standards.
• Obtain needed equipment and supplies on loan or discounted prices.
• Help obtain resources for instructional purposes.

Student Recruitment
• Speak at school events.
• Participate in career related activities.
• Encourage youth to annually review their individual career plans.

Student Placement
• Assist with job shadowing experiences, mentoring, student internships, cooperative work experiences, and/or apprenticeships.
• Review student skills certification and career plans.
• Conduct mock interviews.
• Identify part-time work opportunities during the school year or summer months.
• Arrange for testing via licensing agencies.
• Secure jobs for program graduates.
• Continue to develop articulation agreements between JTHS and postsecondary education/training institutions.

Staff Development
• Offer specialized training programs for teachers.
• Arrange industry internships to provide opportunities for teachers to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
• Identify community resource persons to assist teachers in the classroom.
• Arrange meetings to establish cooperative relationships between education, business, and labor.
• Invite teachers to participate in professional or industry organizations relating to career pathways.
• Help teachers find summer employment in their career academy field.

Public Relations
• Develop and carry out a local marketing plan for career academies and pathways.
• Increase awareness of JTHS Career Academies and Pathways through the media.
• Introduce students and programs to civic and service groups.
• Establish awards programs to recognize students, employers, or others for their achievements and participation.
• Obtain media coverage for special events.
• Participate in and promote special school events.
• Provide recommendations to the Superintendent for presentation to the school board.
• Assist in determining nominations for scholarship programs.

Community Needs
• Assess student interest and community support for academies and pathways.
• Identify social, economic, and cultural needs of the community.
• Evaluate the pathway programs with respect to current employer needs and individual graduates’ career accomplishments.
• Conduct surveys to identify present and anticipated employer needs and job availability.

Legislative and Financial Support
• Support state and federal legislation that supports the career academy structure.
• Review and identify budget needs to secure funds for equipment and supplies.

Student Organization Support
• Promote efforts of career academy student organizations.
• Assist in developing criteria for competitive skill events.
• Judge competitive skill contests.
• Secure prizes or equipment donations for contests.
• Arrange for display space to promote student organizations and special events.
• Attend recognition banquets and special events.