Business & Education Partnership Opportunities

Brunswick CSD – based on student interest in developing an after-school robotics program, the District Superintendent sought direction on how to create a structure for this program. Questar III facilitated an introduction with an associate professor from RPI’s Electrical, Computing and Systems Engineering Department to provide guidance to support this endeavor.

Brunswick Elementary – in an effort to educate students about how a municipality/local government operates, a third grade teacher has developed “Lego City” and assigning students with managerial roles and introducing concepts on how one is developed, governed and operates. Seeking professionals to visit her class and offer insights/feedback, QIII facilitated interactions with an engineer from the Capital District Planning Commission to offer insights and feedback, a financial institution professional as well as local and county government representatives to visit with students to talk about their professions and share their expertise.

Hudson HS – Questar III introduced a middle school technology teacher interested in constructing a mini-wind turbine on campus to engineers from Avangrid Technologies for insights and support to pursue this endeavor.

Germantown CSD – as the district is scheduled to introduce a new elective in set design for 2019-20, Questar III is working with district administration to engage with professionals from the Capital Region’s creative arts community to assist in developing curriculum.

East Greenbush, Averill Park CSDs and Tech Valley High School – introduced statistics teachers to IBM data engineers to collaborate on developing classroom projects based on real-world data solutions developed by IBM.

Greenville Elementary – a seventh grade science teacher expressed an interest in hosting a scientist to visit his students to talk about their work; in response Questar III worked with the New York State Museum to connect a Freshwater Ecologist involved in research focusing on the impact of the invasive zebra mussel on native freshwater mussel. Working together with this scientist and a museum educator, they introduced three hands-on activities to four separate classes, collecting data and discussed findings regarding the impact of the zebra mussel on the region’s water ecosystems.

Cairo Durham CSD – members of IBM’s Research and Development staff on the Albany SUNY Poly campus worked with science faculty to introduce a variety of STEM activities in the elementary and middle schools and later engaged in a high school forum sharing information with students about their careers, their education background and skill sets as well as the R&D they’re involved on campus.

Hoosick Falls CSD – Questar III is working with the Bennington, VT Chamber of Commerce to explore collaboration opportunities with members interested in working with the district during the 2018-19 school year; Questar III also connected faculty with staff from the Bennington Banner newspaper to develop a class project focusing on the important role that journalism plays in our democracy.

Chatham CSD – working with faculty to pursue businesses to collaborate in developing and/or supporting student projects for their maker space.

Coxsackie Athens CSD – a high school faculty member expressed an interest in utilizing a long-dormant vacant greenhouse on the school’s campus and wanted to create a student garden club. Questar III contacted staff from Cornell Cooperative Extension, who offered insights on how to engage students in not only developing a club but also is working with faculty to create a business model to market their produce they grow to the community.

Rensselaer CSD – students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare toured Albany Medical Center’s interactive Patient Safety & Clinical Competency Center, learning about the field of medicine, how the cutting-edge technology that Albany Medical College’s certain illnesses are diagnosed and engaging in mock medical procedures working with computerized mannequins.

Averill Park Elementary – in response to a request from an 8th grade technology teacher interested in updating curriculum/integrating new engineering concepts, Questar III introduced him to three professionals with backgrounds in electrical, civil and architectural engineering to integrate into his curriculum.

Averill Park HS – Questar III worked with a Women’s Literature educator to schedule a variety of successful female guest speakers to speak to her class, sharing their experiences, the challenges they faced/overcame as well as offering anecdotes that were both educational and inspiring; Questar III also oversaw the planning of a day at the State Capitol for students to visit with female advocacy leaders who are actively engaged in impacting public policy on the state level.