The Gorham Business-Schools Roundtable is back in action. Representatives from Gorham schools, businesses, and community partners met at Gorham High School (GHS) to discuss opportunities for students to connect with businesses this year.
Twenty-one people were on hand for the first meeting of the school year, including founding members Jon Smith of Great Falls Construction, Michelle Belhumeur of Gorham House, and Becky Winslow of Gorham Savings Bank. Gorham Police Chief Daniel Jones and University of Southern Maine President Glenn Cummings also attended, along with Superintendent Heather Perry and GHS principal Brian Jandreau.
Photo credit LifeTouchEliza Kenigsberg is Gorham’s community and career coordinator for a new Gorham Schools initiative called Aspire Gorham.
The roundtable was created in 2011 to explore and foster relationships and communication between the schools and businesses in town, and find ways for students to have educational exposure to career opportunities.
The group has long advocated for the creation of a position to coordinate efforts to connect students and businesses. This year, thanks to a partnership between Gorham schools and Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG), that position became a reality.
Eliza Kenigsberg is the district’s new community and career coordinator. She serves as the pri- mary point of contact for businesses interested in helping GHS students explore their career options through classroom presentations, mentorships, job shadows, and workplace learning experiences.
A MELMAC Education Foundation grant is funding the position as part of a new Gorham Schools initiative called Aspire Gorham.