Teachers from Suncoast Polytechnical High School will spend part of their summer break this week to “shadow” workers at three local companies on Thursday, June 24 and Friday, June 25. The goal is for them to bring their knowledge of diverse on-the-job experiences to the classroom when the 2010-11 academic year starts in August.

Since even before SPHS opened in 2008, Principal Jennifer Putnam and the school’s teachers began building relationships with local businesses as part of the school’s focus on preparing students for higher education and the workforce.

“Job shadowing is a great way for our teachers to observe local businesses whose work is related to the courses our students will study,” said Putnam. “Generous companies have welcomed our teachers — and at times our students — to their offices, conference rooms, manufacturing and repair facilities a number of times in the past two years. This summer, three very different companies are inviting our teachers to observe their employees at work, ask questions, and learn about their businesses. Forward-thinking executives see these opportunities as a way to support education and to ensure that they will have a highly qualified workforce in the years to come.”

Teachers will job shadow June 24 at Sun Hydraulics, a designer and manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds; and Blue Strategy + Creative, a creative services company offering traditional and digital (“tradigital”) marketing. On June 25 teachers will visit Wilde Lexus of Sarasota, a luxury automotive dealership and service facility.

About SPHS:

Suncoast Polytechnical High School is a public magnet school open to qualified students from throughout Sarasota County. Although instruction is offered in many technical and non-technical areas of interest, technology is infused throughout the curriculum to prepare students for the digital workplace.

SPHS offers a career-focused curriculum in a rigorous academic environment. After completing many of their core requirements in their first two years, students receive preferred admission to classes where they can pursue their areas of career interest on the adjacent campus of the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI).