Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Business Partnership Executive Council to be a proactive resource to promote reciprocal understanding among businesses, community organizations, and the school community; to create a climate for fostering mutually beneficial relationships which promotes the move from education to careers; and to bring "added value" to the community it represents.

Objectives

• Actively promote programs and curricular experiences that involve schools, businesses, and community working together for the mutual benefit of all.
• Provide opportunities for the business community to become actively involved in educational endeavors for school-to-career programs.
• To continue serving as a liaison between the business, community and the school district.
• To develop a communication structure to exchange an understanding of each other's needs, requirements, limitations, and responsibilities.
• To encourage all staff to become actively involved in business and community partnerships and activities.

Partnership Benefits

Activity - Business education partnership activities are limited only by the collective imaginations of the students, business people and the teachers. You can dive right in and develop an ongoing relationship with a school, or just commit to a one-time project partnership to "test the waters." There are no rules. Just ask how.

Community - Business people want to give back to their communities but fear they lack the resources or the time. Business education partnerships are a wonderful way to give back, and they can be everything you make them. Donations of money are not required or even asked. Donations of equipment are always appreciated, but what we really hope to gain from our business partners is experience. Your knowledge is more valuable than you know, and the experience you can "donate" to our students will be repaid by the development of competent, confident graduates.

Responsibility - You don't have to have a child in school to be concerned that the three R's are not enough. Our students today need to know not only what they can learn, but how to learn. A business person, you know that learning does not stop when you don your cap and gown. To be successful and productive, workers must learn throughout their careers, throughout their lives. Are the courses relevant? How will they relate to future careers?What skills will students need? Are they learning them?  Answers to these questions will be best obtained with your cooperation.

Serendipity - Just when you're not expecting it, your partnership will bring a direct benefit to your business. You might find your company's name in the newspaper. New clients and employees are often developed through your involvement with students and their schools.

Benefits to Businesses

• Directly affect your schools and, ultimately, the community.
• Directly affect quality of education.
• Influence students' career decisions.
• Promote skill development that reduces need for on-the-job training.
• Communicate your needs to educators.
• Provide employees with opportunities to sharpen their communication skills by giving classroom presentations.
• Gain a better understanding of the nature and needs of the public education system that shapes new hires.

Benefits to Schools

Enrich curriculum

• Reinforce students' understanding that what is learned in school applies to the world of work.
• Provide opportunities for students to observe and/or participate in world of work.
• Private sector resources may benefit programs.
• Enhance lessons on free enterprise system.

Motivate students

• Successful role models reinforce good citizenship.
• Expand awareness of life choices.
• Provide reasons for achieving academically and for attending school.
• Improve preparation for the world of work.
• Increase private sector's understanding of public education.
• Increase staff's understanding of the private sector.

Business Partnership Executive Council Members

Jim McCarthy, Chair	Sales Executive, AT&T
Jason Altenbern, Vice-Chair	Community Development Director, North Central College
Shane Beard	Owner, FASTSIGNS
Tom Beerntsen	President/CEO, Heritage YMCA Group
Christine Bell	Instructional Coordinator, Naperville Central High School
Leslie Day	The Rotary Club of Naperville, Sunrise
Mark DeMoulin	Principal, Mill Street Elementary School
Maureen Dvorak	District 203 - Community Relations
Jennie Gates	Vice President, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Pam George	Principal, Lincoln Junior High School
Dave Griffith	President, Naperville Unit Education Association
Roger Hart	Vice President, Sales & Marketing, CBIZ
Debbie Hasse	Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence
Barbara Heintz	Barbara's Interiors
Alan Leis	Superintendent of Schools, District 203
Mary Beth Marshall	Executive Director, DuPage Workforce Board
Andy McWhirter	Teacher, Naperville North High School
Nina Menis	Director of Community Relations, District 203
John O'Connell	Globalinx Communications, Inc.
Suzyn Price	President, District 203 Board of Education
Melanie Raczkiewicz	Associate Superintendent Operations, K-12, District 203
Tim Rohlwing	American Business Graphics
Gerry Rounds	Instructional Coordinator - Applied Sciences & Technology, Naperville North High School
Kitty Ryan	Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Staff Development, District 203
Melea Smith	Director of Communications, District 203
Janet Sommerville	Business Technology Teacher, Naperville Central High School
Brian Zeeck	Hinshaw & Culbertson
Liz Zienty	The Rotary Club of Naperville

Links

List of District 203 Business Partners (PDF)

Business Partnership Brochure (PDF)

Partnership Planning Form (Word)

Exemplary Business Partnerships Awards Program 2007-08 (PDF)