Higley Unified staff, community members say business partnerships create career paths for students

At a business partner breakfast held at Cooley, Higley Unified School District staff and community members said partnerships with local businesses help create clearer career pathways for students.

Staff member, a Higley Unified School District staff member, said, "Today was our business partner breakfast, and we were super excited to host it here at Cooley. This was a great opportunity for us to highlight some of the things that were happening, not just at Cooley, but around the district and at all of our sites and all the things that we're proud of." The staff member said the event gave the district a chance to "highlight" programs across school sites.

Community member, a community member and resident, said involvement from businesses matters for students' futures: "I came, out of state and realized that the education for my children who are grown adults now was willfully lacking. There wasn't a a career path. There wasn't a direction. And I get into here into Arizona, and there is a career path. There is direction. The communities are involved." The community member added that connecting students with business partners "helps develop stronger schools and stronger communities, and hopefully, we're returning that favor back to those business partners in our communities and providing them outstanding business ready students."

Remarks by both speakers emphasized participation from local businesses as a way to change students' life trajectories and strengthen community ties. The community member summarized the district's goal: "When everybody's working together, there's a cycle of success, and that's where the difference comes in." No formal actions, motions, or follow-up assignments were announced during the remarks recorded in the transcript.

The comments came during a district-hosted event intended to showcase school–business connections; the district did not specify dates for future events or specific programs tied to the breakfast in the recorded remarks.