School-to-Work
School-to-Work is a three-way partnership between the local school districts, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, and our corporate and community partners to provide mentoring in the workplace for high school students (Littles) to help improve graduation rates. Littles visit the workplace of the employees (Bigs) one morning each month during the school year for about three hours. They spend an hour learning post-graduation skills, then spend time with their Bigs through lunch before returning to school.
Why School-to-Work?
Many young people leave school before graduating and live in a cycle of poverty. The School-to-Work program targets students who are at risk of possibly not graduating, gives them exposure to workplace environments, and matches them with mentors who can encourage them to stay in school and make an empowered transition to the work world. The School-to-Work Program prepares students for life.
Typical Session
| 9:30: | Students arrive from school with a School Chaperone and a BBBS School-to-Work Coordinator |
| 9:30-10:30: | Students participate in a workshop on various topics |
| 10:30-11:30 | Students shadow their mentor in the workplace; matches are provided with lessons and conversation starters |
| 11:30-12:30: | Students and mentors have lunch |
| 12:30: | Students depart with Chaperones back to school |
How it Works
- Students and volunteer mentors commit to staying matched with each other the entire length of the program.
- Students go to the workplace once a month for three hours; combining relationship building and job shadowing with educational topics.
- During each visit, workplace partners and/or BBBS conduct a brief workshop for the students (topics include emotional intelligence, time management, workforce readiness, college planning, professional etiquette, financial planning, and conflict resolution).
- Workplace partners provides lunch to students.
- BBBS staff provides support & guidance to workplace partners and volunteer mentors.
- BBBS staff work alongside school staff (e.g., Guidance Counselors) to ensure the program is successful.
Benefits to Employers
- Recruitment: candidates are attracted to organizations that share similar values and want to give back to their community.
- Volunteerism: our onsite program is a convenient way for employers to bring volunteer opportunities to their employees.
- Engagement: helps employers maintain/build employee engagement.
- Retention: people want to stay with organizations that make a difference.
- Team Building: brings people from different parts of the organization together to strengthen the organizational culture.
- Diversity: our innovative mentoring model appeals to a diverse and multi-generational workplace.
100
of seniors who completed the School-to-Work program graduated from high school
174
Littles enrolled in School-to-Work in the 2020-2021 school year
39%
lower turnover among employees who participate as workplace volunteers *
64
of millennial employees have a stronger sense of loyalty to employers who are socially responsible *
* Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. (2020). Equipping Tomorrow’s Workforce: The Case for Beyond School Walls. Retrieved from bbbstampabay.org/bbbsa-2020_workplace-mentoring/
SCHOOL-TO-WORK PARTNERS
FROM OUR BLOG
SCHOOL-TO-WORK FUNDERS
Bank of America
Department of Economic Opportunity
Juvenile Welfare Board
United Way Suncoast
