Dr. Brosi, Daisey Bethel, Shylee Ramirez
Written by Rhonda Corippo —
OAKHURST — “Can you pick us up late? We want to see a surgery.” These words aren’t typical of what you would hear during the school day but, on Wednesday, May 11, the students in Yosemite Unified School District Alternative Ed programs were saying this and more. Thanks to Oakhurst Rotary and Dr. Robert Brosi’s request to hold a Community Job Shadow Day, students had the opportunity to spend the day in a career path of their choice. Nine different local businesses and services participated, including Oakhurst Veterinary, Sierra Memorial, Station 12 Fire Department, Madera County Sheriffs’ Office, Sierra Ambulance, Dr. Brosi Dentistry, Elite Auto and Sierra Telephone.
Students were given tips on job shadowing, and prepared with questions to ask each of their hosts.
Scott Coulombe at Rotary
Businesses and services were asked to provide students with a personalized, hands-on experience that would go beyond the textbook or a YouTube video, and also allow the students to make connections in the local community.
Participants on both sides rose to their challenge. Students were “polished up,” prepared, and engaged. Community businesses had students participating in everything from auto diagnostics to crime scene investigations!
The young scholars also came away with pay scales for each industry, college and training requirements and, most importantly, personal contact information in a possible career of their choice.
As a bonus, the group was treated by Rotary to a luncheon at Yosemite Gateway Restaurant and asked to share their experiences with the Rotarians.
Andrea Cervantes, Jessica Castanon, Carlos Misquez job shadow at Sierra Ambulance
The newly-minted shadowers spoke eagerly of participating in an animal surgery, the path to becoming a fire fighter, and fixing a computer that “no one else could fix.”
Back in the classroom students will receive credit for a reflection that includes a summary of their experience, college and training details about the job they shadowed, as well as personal contact information from the business or service they visited. Dr. Brosi was thrilled with the participation by both businesses and students. Rotary and Yosemite Unified Alt Ed hope to continue and expand this program next year.
Rhonda Corippo is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for YUSD Alt Ed
Yosemite Unified Alternative Schools
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Scott Coulombe
Matt Brown, Deseray Bowman, Scott Coulombe, Mike Miller at Elite Auto
Daisey Bethel, Shylee Ramirez
Kathryn McKenzie
