Collaboration Guide For Small Districts 

INTRODUCTION

Checklist: Collaboration Guide For Small Districts

Use the following action items to deepen and embed CCR efforts across the school community while utilizing the unique skills and talents of colleagues and community members. Empowering educators to take ownership of various aspects of the CCR process creates a shared commitment to student success.

Collaborating with All Teachers

Select a week during the school year to ask all teachers to highlight careers in their fields.
Teachers might include introductions to professionals within the discipline or share videos of relevant work in action.
check Work with core content teachers to schedule test preparation sessions. check
Encourage study hall supervisors or homeroom advisors to support students in exploring colleges and careers, utilizing the school or district’s CCR platform, if applicable. Create a schedule to structure regular, consistent engagement with a list of tasks or questions for students to follow.
check Plan a week where teachers and other members of the school community wear college shirts and talk about their own college experiences.

Collaborating with Administrators

Work with administrators to align school-wide goals to CCR metrics of success and to engage all members of the school community in work related to these efforts.
check Engage school administrators in finding work-based learning opportunities for students as they engage with community members. check
Create mechanisms for educators to collaborate and intervene early if students are struggling to keep up with coursework or are otherwise off track to graduate, rather than relying on a counselor to monitor all students’ progress.
check Work with administrators to schedule and staff mock interviews.

 Collaborating with Math Teachers

Work with math teachers to plan financial aid overview sessions with students and families. Ask for support from school or district family liaisons and translators.
check Ask math teachers to teach students about living wage calculations and how to utilize that information to make decisions about their future.

Collaborating with English Teachers

Partner with English teachers to create opportunities for essay support including highlighting important elements of a successful essay, brainstorming ideas, and editing for readability, grammar, and voice.

Collaborating with Tech-Based Teachers

Ask tech-based educators to lead resume creation efforts.
check Ask tech-based educators to spotlight industry certifications available to students and how they apply to careers.
check Encourage tech-based educators to offer instruction and time for students to explore and apply to relevant scholarships.

Collaborating with Club and Activity Sponsors

Invite club sponsors to work with student officers to share about their organization, identify interested students, and encourage greater participation. Getting students interested in clubs and activities such as robotics, drama, or debate can spark future career interests and goals. check
Encourage club and activity sponsors to let students organize and lead experiences or events in an effort for them to practice important CCR skills such as planning, problem solving, and effectively leading a group.

Collaborating with Librarians

Ask librarians to curate a collection of resources and books that are relevant for college and career exploration and discovery.
check Work with librarians to create lessons for teaching students how to research colleges, careers, and scholarships.

Collaborating with Community Organizations

Ask the local Chamber of Commerce to help organize and promote a career fair for students.

Documents / Resources

Collaboration Collaboration Guide For Small Districts [pdf] User Guide Collaboration Guide For Small Districts, Guide For Small Districts, Small Districts, Districts

References

• User Manual