VSBA recognizes workforce readiness at Waynesboro Education Farm

Waynesboro Schools is doing an excellent job of making students workforce ready, according to the Virginia School Boards Association.

The school system was awarded the VSBA Excellence in Workforce Readiness award, for which it placed first in small school divisions in the Commonwealth.

Waynesboro Schools Director of Secondary Instruction Dr. India Harris said the award is based on the school system’s new workforce readiness at the Waynesboro Education Farm. A new student employment program at the Berkeley Glenn Elementary School farm provides three tiers of support for students.

“It hits different groups of students and different ages of students based on what they’re interested in,” Harris said.

Pre-employment skills are acquired by junior farm assistants while older students serve as farm assistants and also supervise younger students. Farm assistants acquire job readiness skills similar to working their first summer job. Skills include punctuality, processing criticism of their work and leadership skills.

“All of these interpersonal skills that are really important for the students after high school,” Harris said.

The third tier of the program is a regional partnership with Project GROWS. All area high school students are eligible to participate and work at the Waynesboro Education Farm or Project GROWS’ farm in Staunton. Field trips provide opportunities for students to visit community organizations. The program provides community engagement and leadership components.

“I think it is we’re doing a lot of work to build up our workforce readiness and transition programs,” Harris said of the importance of the VSBA award for the school system. Waynesboro Schools’ plan is to provide even more hands-on experiences for students. The Waynesboro Education Farm is the perfect space to prepare students for leadership and workforce.

Harris said the award is also based on service learning for pre-K through 12th grade at Waynesboro Education Farm. Middle school and high school clubs perform service projects at the farm. Service opportunities allow the farm to provide opportunities to give back to the community.

“It was always a goal that this would be a pre-K through 12 farm and it would always be a platform for our kids to dig into another way of learning,” Harris said.