School to Work

School to Work (aka Cooperative Education) is a program that provides supervised workplace employment opportunities and learning experiences for qualified students. The employment experience is based upon an agreement developed by the employer, student, parent, and high school representative. 

Students are closely supervised and periodically evaluated by the employer and the Cooperative Education Coordinator. The evaluations are used to assign a grade and receive credit for the experience in their career-theme class.

Services provided by the Cooperative Education Office:

• Assistance in finding employment
• Ensuring compliance with the New Jersey Department Education requirements for cooperative education
• Development of the training plan in cooperation with the career-theme teacher
• Assist with the process and assess the student throughout the work experience
• Approve employers

Where is the Cooperative Education office?

The office is located in the GCIT School to Work Office in the 500 wing. 

Cooperative education is a structured educational strategy integrating classroom studies with learning through productive work experiences in a field related to a student's academic or career goals. It provides progressive experiences in integrating theory and practice. Cooperative education is a partnership among students, educational institutions and employers, with specified responsibilities for each party.

All students are eligible to participate in Cooperative Education provided they meet the basic qualifications required by the school and employer. The Cooperative Education Coordinator will assist the student with this process. 

To participate, a student must:

• Complete the Cooperative Education paperwork
• Be 16 years of age and have been enrolled in the second year of a career-theme program
  • Working papers are required for anyone under 18 years old
• Have a GPA of C or better
• Maintain acceptable conduct and attendance
• Complete OSHA safety training
• Meet the qualifications required by the school and employer
• Have the recommendation of the career-theme teacher and guidance counselor
• Work at least 15 hours per week
• Sign an agreement and training plan developed between the employer, the student, the parents, and the high school staff.

The Cooperative Education Coordinator and career-theme teachers also assist junior students seeking paid summer internship experiences. 

Our students need positive role models in the business community who can help them develop their career goals or offer employment opportunities.

How can businesses partner with GCIT?

• Employ
  Hire GCIT students or graduates.

• Cooperative Education
  Hire GCIT students to work part-time in the career area for which they are trained.

• Apprenticeship
  Sponsor a GCIT student in an apprenticeship.

• Job Shadowing
  Host GCIT students to "shadow" you at your place of business.

• Sponsor
  Become a sponsor and help finance a school related project in one of our career programs or clubs

• Advisory Board Member
  Serve on one of our advisory boards and provide input into current and future industry needs.

• Guest Speaker/Class Tour Host
  Share your work experiences with GCIT students at your location or ours.

• Proctor
  Administer the occupational proficiency test to juniors and seniors and score the results.

Career OneStop

Occupational Mobility Explorer

Work-Based Learning

USDOL Young Worker Site

GCIT’s School to Work Program announced their newest members at their September Advisory Board meeting. The board works to advise, inform, and support GCIT students in apprenticeship, job, and career exploration for students in grades 9-12. The board welcomed 10 new members to help diversify and expand the options available to students.

George Barbin, Liberty Displays & Exhibits, Operations Manager, stated, "The students I have hired from GCIT are ready to work from the moment they enter the building. They possess operational knowledge, executable skills, the ability to problem-solve in real time, and are diligent workers. In an industry dominated by senior employees, GCIT students and graduates are a rare bright spot of young, reliable, and capable individuals who enter the workforce eager to continue cultivating their skillset."

School to Work is a program that provides supervised workplace employment opportunities and learning experiences for qualified students. The employment experience is based upon an agreement developed by the employer, student, parents, and high school representative. Students are closely supervised and periodically evaluated by the employer and the district Cooperative Education Coordinators. The evaluations are used to assign a grade and receive credit for the experience in their career-theme class.

The School to Work program had great success in the 2021-2022 school year with 60 students who earned a combined 32,000 hours and over $460,000 in wages. With the new members of the Advisory Board, they hope to increase this number greatly.

To learn more about School to Work, visit the What is School to Work tab.

Advisory Board Members:

Martha Ponge - Director, National Institute of Innovation and Technology

Michelle Shirey - Executive Director, Gloucester Co. Workforce Development

Tiruayer Battle - Director of Administration, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Thomas A. Bianco - Director, Gloucester County Economic Development

Jim Doto - President, Great Plumbers

Larry Banks - Operations & Business Development Specialist – NJ Manufacturers Extension Program

Fred McCoy - GCIT Cooperative Ed Coordinator/ Hazardous Occupations

Glenn Hubert - GCIT Cooperative Ed Coordinator/ Hazardous Occupations

Bryan Vahey - GCIT Guidance Counselor

Leonard Brinson, Jr. - Senior V.P. South Jersey Industries

Keith Burkhardt - Manager of Human Resources, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

George Barbin - Operations Manager, Liberty Displays & Exhibits

Dr. Allison Jackson - President AJA, Advisor to GCIT

Jon Blaisdell - Service Performance Manager, Ford Motor Company

Rich Whitworth - Service Performance Specialist, Ford Motor Company

Get NJ Working Papers Online