What School Leaders Want Business Leaders To Know

Do high school leaders and local business leaders talk directly?

If you are a business leader, when was the last time you visited your local high school to meet its leadership and discuss your specific workforce needs? Would that discussion even be welcome?

According to the interview (you can listen to the full interview below), high school principal Grayson Lawrence says ‘yes’. A discussion between a local employer and a local high school leader accomplishes two priorities at once. It helps the principal and other school leadership better understand specific and broad skillsets to give their students optimal opportunities after school. And, it helps the employer hire more local people, which helps the students and the whole local community.

Listen to the following (free) podcast interview for more of Principal Lawrence’s advice and insights from the front lines of US K-12 education.

He addresses other topics including: How are current high school students being prepared for the jobs and careers. What are technical, career-ready options are students being offered? What foundational skills as well as developed skillsets are being targeted?

Grayson Lawrence is principal of Winterboro High School in rural Talladega County, Alabama. Grayson explains what College and Career Readiness means on a practical, measurable level and what it looks like for the students, educators, and future employers.

Winterboro High has been a recipient of of the “National School Change Award”, presented to six or fewer schools nationwide annually as a joint program of the National Principals Leadership Institute and The School Superintendents Association. It recognizes schools that have significantly improved, such as Winterboro, which has raised graduation rates from around 60% to close to 100%, among numerous other gains. And, 100% of Winterboro graduates leave school with a personalized career plan mapping out what steps to take to achieve their personal goals.

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