‘Summer Experience’ prepares first cohort for Associate Degree at DHS

Freshmen begin work toward Information Technology degree

                 

For four days earlier this month, more than 50 freshman students enrolled in the first cohort of the Early College Opportunity (ECO) at Danbury High School participated in “Summer Experience.”

The summer program, orchestrated by Sarah Roy, ECO coordinator, and Dan Donovan, principal of the DHS Freshman Academy, introduced students to the workplace environment from practicing interview skills to learning to actively listen.

Following an overwhelming response to this new DHS program, 100 incoming freshmen were selected as the first cohort. These students will have an opportunity to earn an Associate Degree simultaneously with their high school diploma. The degree program is offered by Naugatuck Valley Community College at the high school as part of the program’s curriculum. Students will begin accelerating their high school requirements so that by sophomore or junior year they can begin incorporating college-level courses. They can expect to complete the Associate Degree in four, five or six years. Some courses may take place at NVCC’s Danbury campus. Danbury High School is the second high school in Connecticut to offer ECO.

Savings Bank of Danbury provided funding for the Summer Experience, which included a program orientation, introductions to mentors, team-building activities, introduction to the corporate partner NewOak Capital LLC, an informational session with NVCC and some baseline academic testing.

Jordan Coutu, a mentor from NewOak, said he volunteered for the opportunity to work with students to share his knowledge of working in the corporate environment.

“We’re making sure they make eye contact and don’t give one-word answers,” Coutu said. “This program is a good opportunity. For every generation, it’s harder to get an education and degree and a lot of kids get steered off course. These programs are the things that are going to help.”

Mentor Randy Young, a pricing manager from Pitney Bowes, agreed.

“Getting students in here to think about how to succeed and establish goals is very positive,” Young said.

The ECO students will have the same schedules as their freshman peers, but at the end of the school day they will partake in workplace learning. This class period will instruct them on skills that will help them grow in the workplace, similar to the Summer Experience.

This program is part of a growing nationwide trend modeled after the first program in Brooklyn, N.Y., at IBM’s acclaimed P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School). This school recently graduated its first cohort. The first program in Connecticut, Norwalk Early College Academy (NECA), began in fall 2014 as a partnership between IBM, Norwalk Public Schools and Norwalk Community College. Danbury is one of three partnerships in the state slated to begin this fall; schools in Windham and New London are also beginning programs. Danbury is partnered with NewOak Capital LLC, serving as the lead industry partner, Danbury Public Schools and NVCC. Pitney Bowes has agreed to provide mentors for the program. Additional funding for the program is provided by the state Board of Regents, which operates the state universities and community colleges system.

DHS and the Danbury Public Schools have long worked to offer students a variety of opportunities so that they leave the high school prepared for the workforce or to continue their education. The school offers a healthcare program, a culinary arts program, an ROTC program, in addition to Robotics, AP courses and Honors classes.

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Submitted by Bethel, CT

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