Volume 28 | Issue 4
Strategies for companies to build effective classroom connections.
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By Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Discovery Education
The global workforce is undergoing a significant shift. By 2030, more than 170 million new jobs are projected worldwide, and the U.S. manufacturing sector alone anticipates 4 million openings in the next decade.
Yet, despite this growth, the talent pipeline is under strain. The manufacturing industry could face a shortage of 1.9 million skilled workers by 2033 if current trends persist. This gap isn’t just in manufacturing: employers across industries cite consistent skills gaps, a fact compounded by the continued impact of emerging technologies, like AI.
Classrooms have the potential to address the skilled worker shortfall. How? Let me explain:
K-12 education is appropriately focused on academic achievement in line with state and national standards; but today’s economy and the rapidly evolving world demands more. Employers increasingly value adaptable, skilled individuals who can apply knowledge to real-world challenges and market needs.
However, 83% of students report they cannot link classroom learning to future employment. This disconnect not only impacts workforce readiness but also student engagement. Research shows that 92% of students find lessons more enjoyable when they see real-world relevance, a powerful motivator for learning.
Connecting careers to the classroom addresses both issues. For example, when students understand how math relates to engineering or how communication skills matter in health care, school becomes a gateway to opportunity. Career-connected learning fosters confidence, builds purpose, and equips students with durable skills like problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and other competencies employers consistently rank as critical for success.
In my role, I partner with global brands who want to help build an impactful workforce. Together, we prepare students for the future through innovative, real-world learning opportunities that nurture curiosity. Here are two strategies companies can take to build relations with schools.
Strategy 1: Classroom Connections with Employee Volunteers
Students cannot aspire to careers they don’t know exist. Career fairs, industry partnerships, and virtual experiences broaden horizons beyond the familiar. Meeting professionals helps students picture themselves in those roles.
With Career Connect schools gain a direct-toclassroom virtual volunteer experience where corporate employees meet with students to explain their jobs.
For students, these interactions reinforce classroom lessons by connecting the dots between possible careers and the actual people with the career. These interactions also cultivate mentorship opportunities and professional fluency, giving students practice in networking and communication long before their first job interview. As the platform offers virtual-based interactions, students all over the country are able to meet with industry professionals from anywhere, ensuring all students can access the benefits of career connections.
For companies, many prospective employees prioritize working for companies that support employees’ overall well-being. Offering volunteerism opportunities can improve how applicants see a company’s culture. According to a Deloitte volunteerism survey, 70% of U.S. workers “agree that companies who sponsor volunteer activities have a more pleasant work atmosphere.” Organizations such as Genentech, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Lockheed Martin, ProLogis, DuPont, Nucor, Trane, Capital Power, The Home Depot, and many others all use Career Connect to build employee engagement through volunteerism.
Strategy 2: Translating Work Tasks into Classroom Learning
Another way for companies to effectively connect with classrooms is to transform the day-today work experiences of professionals in diverse fields into resources for educator lessons plans. This type of work bridges industry to classrooms to inspire the next generation.
There are multiple pathways for how this can take shape, but let me highlight two:
- Immersing Students in Learning: Verizon took their power of connectivity and technology to create TimePod Adventures, which immerses K-12 students in the universe through state-of-the-art, life-size Augmented Reality (AR). Accessible on a browser, Chromebook, or mobile device, students need only internet access and audio, meaning more students are able to enjoy AR. Guided by an AI-powered assistant and featuring grade-band specific lesson plans available in English and Spanish, TimePod Adventures support educators in developing new skills and encourages students to take control, explore incredible environments, and solve complex challenges. Plus, accompanying professional development resources help educators quickly dive into new and innovative techniques and teaching strategies, all while teachers earn additional teaching credentials.
- Addressing Teen Driver Safety: In 2023, Honda launched the multi-year safety initiative – Honda Safety Driven – as a multi-to help address the nearly one-third of annual traffic fatalities in the U.S. involving drivers under the age of 25. Having already reached nearly one million students, the national safety education initiative uses real-world applications and practices of STEAM, aiming to empower students to use safe driving skills as a roadmap to become responsible decision-makers. The latest classroom resources bring Honda Racing Corporation engineers alongside IndyCar driver and Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon and champion motocross riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence of the Honda HRC Progressive racing team to teach students about safety.
Students Need You, Now
The future of work is being built now. By connecting careers to the classroom, we can inspire the next generation, meet critical workforce needs, and create a more resilient economy. Programs that help integrate industry expertise into classroom instruction help students see and practice what they can be.
Investing in education is a long-term strategic investment in both business and society. Corporate partnerships can create a stronger talent pipeline, improve employee skills and retention, and accelerate innovation.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to make these connections. It’s whether we can afford not to. If we miss the opportunity to act, the cost will be measured in lost potential. Millions of students will leave school without the confidence, skills, and vision to shape their futures. They’ll enter a world of opportunity without the tools to seize it. This isn’t just about education; it’s about ensuring every learner has a chance to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
About the Author:
Catherine Dunlop is an accomplished growth and partnerships leader with more than 25 years of experience building high-performing teams and driving revenue across mission-driven and technology-focused organizations. In her new role, Dunlop designs and implements strategies connecting PreK-12 education and the public/private sector, forging connections with corporate and community partners that infuse real-world content into school curricula. Together with her colleagues, Dunlop is nurturing curiosity in classrooms around the world through cutting-edge technology solutions and immersive, hands-on experiences focused on critical topics such as workforce readiness, STEM, environmental education, financial literacy, and more.
Prior to joining Discovery Education, Dunlop held leadership positions at Bonterra and Network for Good, creators of tech solutions supporting non-profit fundraising and engagement. At both organizations, she built meaningful partnerships across the philanthropic sector driving growth and impact. In addition, Dunlop has led strategic partnerships with companies including Walmart, Google, Facebook, and Patagonia, helping to advance their philanthropic goals.
