Brevard Tomorrow Education and Workforce Ready to Work?

1. Brevard TomorrowEducation and Workforce Ready to Work?

2. Are you ready to go to work? - How much does it take to live on? - What do those employers really want?

3. So Where Do We Start? Let’s Understand Where We Are Today • Conducted student and teacher survey • 1,312 students; 184 teachers • Questions on living wage and career preparation • What do the schools offer to help? • What is a “living wage”? • And employers care about what?

4. Interesting survey observations: Students say they plan on college (83%), have a career goal (77%), and believe post secondary education is important to their goal (86%) Teachers don’t think you have a career goal (82%) Student’s think this is what it takes completely support themselves when working and living on their own (12th Grade) Less than $10/hr 3% $10 - 14/hr 20% $14 - 18/hr 25% $18 - 22/hr 26% > $22/hr 26%

5. Survey observations, con’t Students are pretty satisfied schools are preparing them; but not as much as the teachers: Students Teachers Very satisfied 11% 9% Somewhat satisfied 35% 36% Satisfied 30% 40% Not all the knowledge you need is in the school, teachers think they’re: Very knowledgeable 25% Knowledgeable 43% Somewhat knowledgeable 30%

6. Brevard School System Efforts Brevard schools start with introduction of people from different field visiting primary classrooms, discussions about the workplace in classrooms, embedding specific skills in curriculum, and development of “soft skills” as part of on-going classes Career day - adult workers visit schools tied to an instructional area Reality Store - students experience operating on a “living wage” Course offerings include: Life Management Skills Research and Critical Thinking Applied Technology Program AT CHOICE

7. Brevard School System Efforts Numerous on-going activities support workforce preparation Character education Consistent expectation of so called “soft skills” Career exposure through the classroom Guidance and counseling opportunities Opportunities for parent involvement Career Fairs Reality Store Apprenticeship opportunities Career Academies Summer enrichment activities Varied curriculum offerings Career exploration partnership with BCC Problem solving opportunities Leadership opportunities Tutoring Mentoring Newsletters WEB Sites Visitation by College Representative Career and College Night Events

8. Living Wage A “Living Wage” is the salary necessary to meet expenses making a family self-sufficient, requiring no Government assistance. Included necessary expenses include: Food Housing Telephone Transportation Household supplies Health/dental care Child care Necessary expenses do not include: Dining out Credit card debt Savings Renters/life insurance Social/recreation Internet Car payment Cell phone Cable TV Family Household Living WageAnnualHourly 1 Working adult, 2 children employer health care $ 35,380 $17.69 2 Working adults, 2 children, employer health care $ 44,111 $11.03 ea Single, employer health care, car & cable $ 20,508 $10.25

9. How much will $14, $18, or $22/hour buy? Two parents, two children Not yet included

10. Sample of Occupations gaining the most new Jobs in Brevard OccupationEntry WageAvg. Wage • Automotive Service Technicians & Mechanics $9.08 $15.80 • Bookkeeping, Accounting , and Auditing Clerks $8.13 $12.11 • Carpenters $10.85 $15.22 • Cashiers $6.57 $8.75 • Janitors and Cleaners $6.43 $9.06 • Medical Assistants $8.13 $10.27 • Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers $14.52 $17.52 • Receptionists and Information Clerks $6.83 $9.21 • Registered Nurses $18.85 $23.59 • Secondary School Teachers, Exc. Special & Voc. $19.80 $27.34 • Teacher Assistants $11.02 $12.12 • Tile and Marble Setters $11.89 $17.85 • Waiters and Waitresses $6.04 $6.85 Source: Florida Agency for Workforce Innovtion, Labor Market Statistics – March, 2005

11. Education and Training pays … Unemployment Rate(Percent) Median Earnings (Dollars) Master’s degree Bachelor’s degree Associate degree Some college, no degree High-school, graduate Some high-school, no diploma Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000.

12. Employers Really Want • Values • Honesty, integrity, morality • Adaptability & flexibility • Dedication, tenacity, hard working • Dependability & responsibility • Loyalty • Positive Attitude • Motivation, energy, passion • Professionalism • Self-confidence • Work with little supervision • Willingness to learn • Skills • Communication; listening, verbal, written • Analytical & research • Computer & technical literacy • Flexibility & adaptability • Managing multiple priorities • Interpersonal skills • Leadership & management • Multicultural awareness & sensitivity • Planning & organizing • Problem solving • Reasoning & creativity • Teamwork Employers want basic math, reading, and computer skills; and more importantly well developed “soft” skills

13. Conclusions When you are studying or making course choices or getting yourself prepared for a career - Don’t forget what it really takes to live ; What your schools offer to help; What employers want from you.

14. Information and Reference Sources Florida.echoices.com Mymedcareer.com Brevardjoblink.org Brevardyouthworks.org aci.org careerbuilder.com acrna.net pirate.brevard.k12.fl.us/Resource/Index.html brevardtomorrow.com Living Wage presentation Student-Teacher Survey results This presentation Other information