By Dave Caldwell, SCVNews.com

Nearly 80 teachers from Hart District schools and College of the Canyons took part in Educators in Industry on Friday, a collaborative program designed to provide teachers with a view of how classroom curriculum can be used in real world applications.

The event, coordinated jointly by the Hart District and College of the Canyons, provided the opportunity for teachers to spend time visiting local businesses to learn first-hand about the skills students will need to be successful in our global economy.

“It gives us a chance to see what businesses want or what they are looking for in employees,” said Dave Heffner, a photography and web design teacher at Saugus High School.  ”It’s not just books and assignments.  I found today that there are so many other things like good communication skills, problem solving skills and teamwork skills were the three biggest aspects that the two employees I went to were looking for.

After a morning spent touring various businesses, the teachers came together for a luncheon at College of the Canyons’s University Center and listened to keynote speaker Sue Reynolds, a senior partner at NewMarket Careers in Santa Clarita.

“That’s what’s so great about our community is that we have lots of opportunity for business organizations to interact with our educators,” Reynolds said.

“It re-invigorated me about different ways that I can maybe change what I teach or how I teach things to help students get motivated,” Heffner added.

The event was equally as important to the business managers as it was to the teachers as it gave them an opportunity to communicate what their future needs will be and what they are looking for in qualified applicants.

“These kids are our success tomorrow and we just enjoy working with them,” said Ken Wiseman, CEO of AMS Fulfillment.  ”Some of our best success stories have been kids who started with us in the warehouse at entry level jobs and moved on up to senior level positions with our company.”