BUSINESS ADVISOR PROGRAM

Academy West Business Career Academy

Objective--The objective of the advisor program of the West High School Business Career Academy is to provide students of the Academy the opportunity to learn from the experience of a businessperson. Business people who serve as advisors bring knowledge, skills and experience to the advisor relationship. Students bring the curiosity, eagerness, enthusiasm skepticism, and insecurity of youth to the advisor relationship. The hopeful result of the advisor/student interchange would be the transfer of the knowledge, skills and experience of the advisor to the student and the curiosity, eagerness and enthusiasm of the student to the advisor.

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Advisor Role--Role model, wise teacher, guide, philosopher and friend

Be a role model to the student

Help the student understand what is required to be successful in the world of work

Help the student understand how work ethics and job behavior relate to success

Be interested in the student’s business academy work and offer encouragement and suggestions for developing a portfolio

Help the student focus on goals

Provide assistance in career exploration, goal setting, and development of a plan to achieve those goals

Help the student understand the importance of teamwork and development of a good working relationship with other employees, customers, and community

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Student Role--Understand why he/she needs a sound education to succeed in the workplace

Experience the transfer of classroom learning to the workplace

Explore his/her own career interests

Understand the advisor's business and what he/she does

Understand necessary job preparation skills and career goals

Learn how to develop a portfolio

Learn about work ethic and the importance of working and getting along with others

ADVISOR PROCEDURES

1. You should plan to meet at least once per month with your student. Meetings can be in person or by phone.

2. Please allow 30 minutes for each meeting.

3. Meetings can be scheduled for outside of the Academy as long as arrangements have been made with the student and school; such as job site visit, job shadow, lunch meeting, etc.

4. Please arrange in advance an appointment for your meeting. Confirm your appointment the day of the meeting to make sure your student is not ill from school that day, or the time schedule has not been changed. (If school is canceled due to in-climate weather advisor meetings are cancelled)

5. Appointments may be made and confirmed by calling West High School at 386-5500 and ask for Academy West between 7:45-3:10. Students will be in the Academy classes from 7:45-11:20, and this would be the best time to meet with your student.

6. Come to the Business Academy to check in. The Academy staff will locate your student for you.

7. Keep a folder of your advisor sessions. Make a few notes. Try to relate one session to another. Sometimes ideas carry over from one session to the next. Ask about school studies and try to relate areas the student may be focusing on to your job and how it may apply.

8. Try to make the session seem spontaneous and casual rather than rigid and formal.

9. It will take some time to build a relationship with your student. Be patient, and do the best you can. An advisor/student relationship may last 1 to 4 years depending on student’s area of interest and advisor’s job situation.

10. You will need to assume the responsibility for regular meetings with the student. If you decide to shift the responsibility of establishing the next meeting to the student, make sure he/she follows through. It maybe necessary for the advisor to contact the student if you have-not heard from the student.

11. If you experience any difficulties, have any questions, or need any additional assistance PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE to contact us.

12. Please use the Business Academy mailing address for any correspondence to your student:

(Student Name) Business Academy West 3505 W. Locust Davenport, IA 52804

Business Academy Instructors Steve Verdon, Sue Voyles, Deb Hall, Jack Achs, Becky Christy

Lead Teacher, Business English Social Studies Math

INFORMATIONAL SHEET

(Student Name) Business Academy West 3505 W. Locust Davenport, IA 52804

Business Academy Instructors:

Steve Verdon, Sue Voyles, Deb Hall, Jack Achs, Becky Christy

Lead Teacher, Business English Social Studies

If you are interested in becoming an Academy advisor you can contact

Steve Verdon	West High School 3505 W. Locust Davenport, IA 52804	(319) 386-5500 ext.108 Fax: 386-5508	7:30-3:30
	E-mail: verdons@mail.davenport.k12.ia.us

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