Business leaders to work with high schools

Gary Moskowitz

Hoover High School Co-principal Kevin Welsh is a big fan of

anything that makes his students’ high school experience more than

just “seat time.”

Any time professionals in the Glendale business community share

with his students what it is really like in the business world, Welsh

believes the students are learning how to plan for successful

careers.

“We don’t want them just getting through and just fulfilling the

required seat time in our classrooms,” Welsh said. “Without a doubt,

we have a wide range of students, and I love having options for them.

If we can help find a niche for them, we are doing our job.”

Hoover High School, along with the district’s four other high

schools, can expect to see as many as five career-driven events

sponsored by The Character & Ethics Project in 2003, according to

project Executive Director Terry Duffy.

Project participants are scheduling days when local business

professionals can come into high schools for question-and-answer

sessions with about 30 students at a time, Duffy said.

“I think the adults [who participate] get a lot out of it, also,”

Duffy said. “They get a refreshed appreciation for young people. It

can be a very powerful experience.”

A youth leadership conference for Glendale Regional Occupation

Program students will be hosted by The Character & Ethics Project in

January, at which local business people will be matched up one on one

with students to discuss workplace ethics.

The Character & Ethics Project started in 1999 and a yearlong

campaign with the principal of “respect” was kicked off in January

2000.

The project now promotes 12 guiding principles among Glendale

students and the community. The principles are respect, honesty,

trustworthiness, loyalty, courtesy, self-discipline, integrity,

responsibility, fairness, cooperation, citizenship and compassion.

A 24-member board of directors has worked to form partnerships

with the Glendale Unified School District, the Verdugo

School-To-Career Coalition and local business professionals.