AAW has partnered with Nepris, to connect industry professionals with K-16 classrooms, so that students see the relevance of what they are learning in school. Nepris connects educators with a vast network of industry professionals to engage students in their learning, expose them to diverse career role models, and prepare them for their future.

Bridging the Gap

AAW Members can offer an “Industry Chat” on a topic of their choosing from their desktop to classrooms around the region. Multiple classrooms can listen in and ask questions.Professionals can view and respond to teacher requests for a speaker on a specific topic. Under this scenario, the industry professional will virtually speak about the topic requested by the teacher with one classroom at a time chosen by the teacher.

There are benefits to both AAW and teachers beyond the convenience of virtually connecting with classrooms. Through the Nepris platform, AAW members can help build their industry brand, eliminate travel or logistical costs incurred from visiting schools, and the platform allows them to find speakers for their classroom that would have been unlikely to travel to speak to a class. In a time of increased focus on testing and accountability, virtual guest speakers provide schools with the ability to provide real-world connections without disrupting learning in other classes. All classrooms benefit from the expert perspective and real-world experience that industry professionals bring to the classroom. The possibilities are endless.