State Education Department lauds Career Partners Inc.

Career Partners Inc. received the 2009 Governor’s Career & Technical Education Exemplary Standards Award for its longstanding partnership with Culpeper County Public Schools and its work in promoting education through community projects.

The organization earned the Creating Excellence Award for its E-squared program in Region IV from the Virginia Department of Education during a banquet in Richmond on Tuesday.

“The educators, business partners, and programs honored with these awards are setting a standard of excellence for career and technical education in the commonwealth,” Gov. Tim Kaine said. “They are helping young people reach their goals while developing the crucial skills needed for success in the 21st- century workplace.”

The award recognizes business and industry leaders for their work promoting career and technical education and highlights the efforts of educators in providing instruction and positive outcomes for students.

“It’s just a great honor especially given the competition that we were up against,” said Jim Charapich, CEO for Career Partners, adding that Culpeper students went up against 88 high schools in Northern Virginia, of which 29 are in Fairfax County.

Some of the educational projects that CCPS and Career Partners Inc. collaborate in include the annual Career Expo where business leaders visit the schools in order to help students choose a profession by explaining various careers choices to them.

CCPS and Career Partners Inc. completed the E-squared competition earlier this year where business leaders helped develop programs and create a competition that introduces the business process to area students.

About 200 students participated in E-squared competition this year.

Career Partners also conduct mock interviews for the students.