Ford gives $50,000 for ed-ucator professional develo-pment and business/education networking support

 

In response to high demand for technical assistance and professional development related to its award-winning education program, the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) program, Ford Motor Company announced that it will provide a planning grant to help develop a Ford PAS Resource Hub  in the Coachella Valley.  Through a planning grant of $50,000, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) will provide professional development to area educators and create networking opportunities between the education and business community.

Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) is a dynamic high school curriculum and program that engages high school students in areas such as business, global economics, engineering, alternative energy and math, while teaching essential skills needed in today’s workforce, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and team building.

Because curriculum is only part of the solution on student engagement and retention, Ford Motor Company Fund helps communities develop career academy networks—where students learn their academics through the lens of a career such as engineering or business—and sustain them over time through its other education program, Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Communities.

“Ford PAS has brought 21st century hands-on learning to my classroom, which has increased student engagement enormously,” said Veronica Nicholas, an architecture and engineering teacher at Cathedral City High School “Now, with the resource hub, I can keep up with the latest trends and have access to continuous training that will allow my classroom to continue flourishing.”

“The demand for professional development has increased exponentially since we first introduced Ford PAS into our community,” said Kim McNulty, CVEP. “Thanks to Ford’s support, this grant will help us develop a regional training resource to strengthen and expand the work we do with our business, education and program partners as we help students master the skills they need to succeed through high school, college and career.”

Ford Motor Company Fund introduced Ford PAS to Coachella Valley in 2007. The curriculum is aligned to the National and California State Academic Standards. Nationally, Ford PAS is currently being used in 300 sites across 26 states. Eighty teachers from Coachella Valley have been trained in Ford PAS this year as a kickoff to launching the Ford PAS Resource Hub.

“The Coachella Valley Economic Partnership is playing a critical role in forging links between educators and employers to ensure that the next generation has the workforce skills needed to succeed in a global economy,” said Cheryl Carrier, program director for 21st Century Education Programs at Ford Motor Company Fund. “The Coachella Valley came together as a region to address community issues and opportunities and put a plan into action that addressed the high school dropout rate, workforce pipeline needs and economic development, with education being the cornerstone of all their work.”

The announcement was made at the 6th Annual Ford PAS National Networking Conference held at Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa. More than 400 educators, business partners, and students attended the conference representing 23 states plus the District of Columbia. At the conference, Assemblyman John J. Benoit presented Ford with a member resolution commending its investment in Coachella Valley. Similarly, the mayors of the nine cities that make up the Coachella Valley presented Ford with a joint proclamation expressing their gratitude for Ford’s investment in their communities.

Among other activities that took place during the week was Ford Motor Company Fund’s Driving Skills for Life program, a national award winning, free, teen driver safety program.  This program helps young drivers improve their skills in hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed management, and space management that are critical factors in more than 60% of vehicle crashes. At the event, 200 teen drivers received hands-on defensive driving training by some of the country’s leading professional driving instructors.

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford does business. Established in 1949 and made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative.  The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford's legacy of caring worldwide.  Through the Volunteer Corps, salaried employees, union members, retirees and their families participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.ford.com.

The Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) program, created in collaboration with the Education Development Center (EDC), provides high school students with high-quality interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. By building strong local partnerships with business and higher education, Ford PAS encourages and prepares students for success. www.fordpas.org <http://www.fordpas.org/>

Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is an international, nonprofit organization that conducts and applies research to advance learning and promote health. EDC currently manages 335 projects in 50 countries.

The Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) was established in 1994 as an action oriented, non-profit corporation dedicated to expanding and diversifying the economy of the Coachella Valley while maintaining the region’s quality of life. In 2005, CVEP partnered with the James Irvine Foundation to launch the Career Pathways Initiative.