AchieveTexasinAction
PrimeWay
HoustonIndependentSchoolDistrict
www.houstonisd.org
CreateaLocalB.E.S.T.
YoushouldcreateaB.E.S.T.tooversee
implementationofyourlocalcluster
StudentsatWheatleyHighSchoolinHoustonare
program.Generally,thesepartnershipsare
takingtheireducationtothebankaspartofalocal
co-chairedbyarepresentativeofeducation,
partnershipwithPrimeWayFederalCreditUnionthat
suchasthedistrictsuperintendent,and
willsoonbringafinancialinstitutiontocampus.
business,suchastheCEOorpresidentofa
“We’removingintoournewupdatedschool
localcompany.Membershipisdrawnfrom
buildingthissummer,andourplanistodevelopa
theeducation,employer,government,and
fullyoperationalcreditunionwithintheschool,”says
civiccommunity,includingChamberof
WileyJohnson,principalofWheatley.
Commercerepresentatives.Thereisno
JohnsonstartedatWheatleyinthefallof2005.It
standardsizeforsuchagroup,butthey
didn’ttakehimlongtolearnthattheschool’s
commonlyhave10to20membersto
previousadministrationhadbeenincontactwith
representallstakeholders.
PrimeWayaboutafinancecourse.Johnsonwas
“OurPrimeWay
StartrecruitingyourB.E.S.T.bythinking
aggressiveaboutexpandingtheideatoafull
partnershipprovides
aboutstrongleadersinyourcommunity.
financecurriculum.HesaysthatWheatleyalready
Ask:
hasseveralcareerprogramsthatprovidedhands-on auniqueopportunity
� Whoaretheleaderswhocaremostabout
real-worldexperience,andthataddingfinancewas
studentsandtheirsuccess?
anaturalprogression.
forourstudentsthat
� Whohascontributedpositivelyto
Thefinancecurriculumisinitspilotstage.
encouragesthemto
educationinitiativesinthepast?
StudentsusePrimeWay’smobilebankingunitasa
� Whoisrespectedenoughsothatothers
classroomwheretheystudyconceptsrangingfrom
beginbuildingon
inthecommunitywilllistenwhenheor
managingtheirownbankaccountstostandard
theirfuturestoday.”
sheendorsesaclusterprogram?
bankingregulationsandbusinessmanagement.
� Whohasknowledgeofemergingcareer
Studentsalsohavetheopportunitytobecome
—W ileyJohnson,Principal,
opportunitiesinyourregion?
certifiedbanktellers,whichgivesthema
WheatleyHighSchool
marketableskillupongraduation.Inaddition,
PlanforyourB.E.S.T.tobecomea
PrimeWay,whichhassevenbranchesacrossHouston,providesguestinstructorsfor
permanentpartoftheeducationsystemin
classesandparticipatesincurriculumdevelopmentandassessment.“Someofmy
yourcommunity.Seekinputonwhatclusters
studentsaresittinginclasssaying,‘Yeah,IcanusethiswhenIenterthejobmarket,’”
andprogramsofstudytoofferstudents.With
Johnsonsays.“ButI’mtellingthemthattheyalreadyareinthejobmarket.PrimeWayis
businesses’help,redesigninstruction,rewrite
reallyassistingusinmakingthatlinkwiththecareercluster,andhelpingstudentsto
curricula,andreviseassessmentstoreflect
understandtherealityofit.”Wheatley’slong-termvisionfortheprogramisthatstudents
real-worldstandardsofstudentperformance.
willbeabletoservicecustomersatitsbranchofficeattheschoolandlearnabout
bankingpractices.
FormOtherPartnerships
Theprogramisalsolookingtowardsanarticulationagreementthatwillaward
Besidesformalpartnershipsimplementingthe
collegebusinesscredittoPrimeWaystudentsatsomeTexascollegesanduniversities.
careerclusters,therecanbecountlessother
OneofJohnson’sgoalsasWheatley’sprincipalistofosteracollegecultureonhis
less-formalpartnershipscreatedtosupport
campusthatgivesstudentsarangeofoptionstomakeconnectionsfromtheclassroom
yourprogram.Thiscouldbeapartnership
totheoutsideworld.Hehopestoincludemanymorepartnershipswithlocalbusinesses.
amongasecondaryschool,apostsecondary
“Iwouldliketoseedefinedprogramsofstudythatassiststudentsontheirway,and
institution,andlocalbankstoofferinternships
enablethemtotweaktheireducationsastheyseefit,”Johnsonsays.“Thebigpictureis
toFinancestudents.Allkindsofpartnerships
thatnomatterwhatstudents’plansareafterhighschool,Iwanttoseethemgraduating
arepossibleatalllevels,allbuiltaroundthe
withknowledge,skillsandabilitiesthatmakethemdesirabletoemployers.”
goalofhelpingstudentsprepareforcollege
andcareer.
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