EP# 56: Bridging Dreams to Careers: Amy Scribner's Mission to Illuminate the Path from Classroom to Calling
Jul 02, 2024Episode 56
Liz Lemon & Amy Scribner
What makes Amy Scribner with River East School To Career a good neighbor?
Have you ever wondered what bridges the gap between high school hallways and the maze of career paths awaiting young minds? Amy Scribner of River East School to Career joins us to unravel the transformative journey of guiding students toward their passions and professions. Her tale, from a struggling student to a master's degree triumph, is not just inspiring, but a beacon for the power of education and mentorship. As she shares the essence of connecting students with real-world experiences and the pivotal role of mentors, you'll see how a career you love isn't work but a lifelong adventure.
In our heart-to-heart, Amy debunks myths surrounding her non-profit's mission, clarifying it's not about temporary jobs but fostering lasting career education. We explore how River East School to Career, under the statewide initiative Connecting Activities, crafts vital partnerships with school districts in Palmer, Massachusetts, and beyond. Whether you're a parent, a community member, or a student at a crossroads, this conversation sheds light on the invaluable impact of mentorship and the opportunities that await just beyond the classroom door. Amy's passionate plea for involvement ignites a call to action—to mentor, to guide, and to inspire the workforce of tomorrow.
What makes Amy Scribner with River East School To Career a good neighbor?
Have you ever wondered what bridges the gap between high school hallways and the maze of career paths awaiting young minds? Amy Scribner of River East School to Career joins us to unravel the transformative journey of guiding students toward their passions and professions. Her tale, from a struggling student to a master's degree triumph, is not just inspiring, but a beacon for the power of education and mentorship. As she shares the essence of connecting students with real-world experiences and the pivotal role of mentors, you'll see how a career you love isn't work but a lifelong adventure.
In our heart-to-heart, Amy debunks myths surrounding her non-profit's mission, clarifying it's not about temporary jobs but fostering lasting career education. We explore how River East School to Career, under the statewide initiative Connecting Activities, crafts vital partnerships with school districts in Palmer, Massachusetts, and beyond. Whether you're a parent, a community member, or a student at a crossroads, this conversation sheds light on the invaluable impact of mentorship and the opportunities that await just beyond the classroom door. Amy's passionate plea for involvement ignites a call to action—to mentor, to guide, and to inspire the workforce of tomorrow.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Liz Lemon.
Speaker 2:
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of school to career? Surprisingly, one might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your neighbor, Amy Scribner, from River East School to Career. How are you doing today, Amy? Very well, thank you. How are you Great? We're excited to learn all about you and your business. Tell us about River East School to Career.
Speaker 3:
So River East School to Career is a non-profit organization based in Palmer Massachusetts, and we are under a statewide initiative called Connecting Activities that provides career development, education and activities for high school students. We currently have 10 school districts that we partner with to provide those opportunities for students.
Speaker 2:
How did you get into the business?
Speaker 3:
I was in banking for many years and I joined the board over 10 years ago and had various roles on the executive committee, and then I joined as their marketing, business relations PR person and then the longtime partnership director, loretta Dancero, who was basically started all of this wonderful organization, decided to retire and this was the dream job, so I took it.
Speaker 2:
That's amazing. What are the myths and misconceptions of a school to career?
Speaker 3:
Well, we're you know. I think the biggest misconception is we are not an agency. We are not a temp agency. We are not an employment agency. We work directly with the school districts we currently have in Hamden, hampshire and Worcester County. So we only work with the school districts. We only work with K through 16 students. Each of our partnership school districts have a career facilitator that I work directly with. But we are not a temp agency or an employment agency. We only work with high school or school districts.
Speaker 2:
Right, absolutely Good to know Outside of work, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 3:
What do I do for fun? I'm a grandmother to a beautiful, handsome four-year-old, brantley, so I love being a grandmother. I have a wonderful husband, my daughter and my son-in-law, so we just spend time together hanging out and making memories.
Speaker 2:
It's important family first. Let's change gears just for a moment. Can you describe one hardship or life challenges that you rose above and can now say because of it you're better and stronger? What comes to mind?
Speaker 3:
I think my education I you know I was not a very good student in high school and you know now I have earned my master's degree. So I would say my education.
Speaker 2:
That's amazing. Congratulations for sure. What is the one thing you do wish that our viewers would learn and know about River East School to Career.
Speaker 3:
To be a mentor, to get involved with your students' decisions, whatever they are, whether that's going to college, right out of high school or going right into a career. We would love for parents to you know you're the parent your student is, you know your child. But you could also be a mentor for other students and we are of the range of careers it's student focused, so we don't focus on the career they do. So whatever interests the student is what we can provide the opportunity or the career development education. Some people call it internship or a job shadow. We call them work-based learning opportunities, because what we do is we connect the education piece, the school piece, with learning what the career they're interested in about. Before they graduate, before they invest or the parents invest money into education. We provide those students the opportunities to really get real world experience with the job that they're interested in. So we're always looking for parents to you know, to encourage their student to become involved in connecting activities, but also to be mentors.
Speaker 3:
That's important Stay educated, continue moving forward and education is definitely the most important thing and it's just about making good choices and, like and like I said, we we appreciate the college journey if that's what the student wants. But we also want to encourage those students that college might not be their journey right now, might not be in the present, but if you find the career you love, then it's not a job. So that's what we want the students to get out of this experience and the parents to understand that if you love it, you know, let them do whatever they want.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely. If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. How can our listeners learn more about the River East School to Career?
Speaker 3:
They can go to our website, rivereaststcorg, and all the information is there on how, as a student, a parent, a business can get involved. My contact information is there and they are more than welcome to reach out. I'm always I love talking about it, so I can talk about it all day so they can find out all they need through there. If not, they can reach out to me directly. Yeah, is there a phone number you'd like to share? Sure 413-283-5051.
Speaker 2:
Perfect, thank you. Thank you, amy, for joining me on the show today and I appreciate you and good luck to your business in the future.
Speaker 3:
Thank you so much for having me Take care, you too.
Speaker 1:
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnppalmercom. That's gnppalmercom, or call 413-414-5940. Thank you.