Revamping the Social Fabric: A School's Innovative Approach to Workforce Development
In the realm of workforce development, various buzzwords often dominate conversations. Terms like "industry credentials," "soft skills," and "self-paced learning" are common. However, perhaps the true buzzwords should be "healing" and "hope."
During discussions with leaders from Oakmont Education, a network of schools educating over 5,000 students across 18 campuses in Ohio and Iowa, it became evident that before diving into the "what" of workforce development, focus must be placed on the "why." As the Wall Street Journal labels Generation Z as "The Toolbelt Generation," Oakmont offers valuable insights for this growing, necessary movement.
Many of the students at Oakmont are "over age and under credited." They have dropped out of school, have been involved with the criminal justice system, have become parents, or are a combination of those factors. While dropout recovery programs have been around for decades, Oakmont takes a unique approach, concentrating on four pillars.
The first pillar is "heal." These students often have experienced numerous adverse childhood experiences, ranging from abuse and neglect to witnessing parents incarcerated or dying to dealing with family drug addiction or other instability. By the time they arrive at Oakmont, they are in a survival mode, merely trying to get through each day. It is challenging to motivate students in this state to consider career development or long-term life plans, so Oakmont provides services to help stabilize their lives and prepare them for learning.
Next comes "hope." In discussing this with Dr. Farley, it is crucial to instill in students the belief that tomorrow can be better if they invest their time and energy in school. If they think their tomorrow will be as bad or worse than their current situation, what's the point? Showing students that a better life is attainable and that while it requires effort, it will be worth it, is crucial to preparing them for what follows. Becoming resilient and realizing that short-term setbacks are inevitable, but with determination, they can overcome them, is essential.
The third pillar is "workforce development." Students earn stackable and transferable industry credentials, recognized across state lines and by different educational bodies. With Oakmont, a significant portion of this learning occurs in real-world settings via work placements, not just in the classroom.
The final pillar is "placement." Oakmont has fostered relationships with various employers, providing strong, entry-level job opportunities in industries such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and others. Many students have already completed their school-based work placements at these organizations, granting them a trial period before being hired. The strong connections Oakmont has built facilitate the commanding of higher wages for its graduates, $2-$4 more per hour than typical first-time employees.
The most intriguing aspect of Oakmont's approach is the support they provide during placement. Many of these young people are entering the workforce during precarious life circumstances. They have less of a safety net than middle- and upper-income families, and if issues arise, their work may suffer.
How would socially connected families deal with problems in such situations? In such instances, a father with influence in a union or a sorority sister with power in a bank could help. Oakmont can supplement this support by connecting with employers on behalf of students, helping them navigate difficulties and maintain employment.
Speaking with Cris Gulacy-Worrel and Jerry Farley, it became apparent that their work, as a finalist for the 2022 Yass Prize, is not purely about career development. Rather, it is about reintegrating these young people into the social fabric that their chaotic lives have pulled them away from. It is about providing them with purpose, community, and employment, all vital components to their success.
Employment is more than just a paycheck. When Oakmont students work on projects for Habitat for Humanity, they take pride in building a house for a disabled veteran. When they care for the elderly, they realize their significance and impact on others' lives. Oakmont's innovative model for workforce development offers valuable lessons to the field as a whole.
Oakmont Education, with its network of schools, is investigating the "why" of workforce development before delving into the specifics. This approach isinexplicably linked to their focus on providing healing services to students who have faced numerous adversities.
The unique approach of Oakmont Education, as Dr. Farley explains, extends beyond workforce development. It is about reintegrating students into their communities, offering them purpose, community, and employment, essential components to their overall success.
