This month's Spotlight on Business is Carol Seigel, Special Education Teacher/Career Coordinator at Island Trees High School. Seigel is starting her 16th year at Island Trees High School this fall. About nine years ago, Mrs. Seigel noticed that students needed more in their high school education than just scoring well on tests. With the help of colleagues, Seigel wrote a grant and was awarded $7,000 to start a School to Career Program. The School to Career Program includes a stand-alone full-year course called Career Advantage, an elective course in which students learn to be successful in the world of work. Students can earn high school credit for their paid work, internships and shadowing opportunities.

A large part of the School to Career Program is the Island Trees School to Business Partnership. The Island Trees School to Business Partnership is the advisory board for the School to Career Program at Island Trees High School. It is a forum of business professionals, parents, teachers and political leaders to network and share ideas that help shape your future workforce. The Partnership's input is necessary to make our students succeed in the world of work. The activities of the advisory board in part determine the curriculum for Career Advantage. The advisory board plans field trips, special events, schedules guest speakers, helps raise funds and much more. Some notable activities include a field trip to New Island Hospital for career exploration and a mock interview conducted by a business professional that is a large part of the midterm grade for Career Advantage. The mock interview conference is held at the Marriott Hotel in Uniondale. Students attend professional workshops designed for young people and after lunch go for their "interview." The conference is funded by local businesses and is the only one of its kind on Long Island.

To become involved in the program one can share their unique skills and experiences, hire students or refer them to a friend in a large or small business or trade, set up a shadowing opportunity for a student interested in a specific career field, be a guest speaker in the Career Advantage classes, schedule a field trip to your place of business or hire an intern or chaperone a field trip.

Island Trees School to Business Partnership meeting Dates for 2006-2007: Nov. 28, March 20, May 22. The meetings are held in the Island Trees High School cafeteria from 7:45 to 10 a.m. Check the website at http://www.geocities.com/islandtrees2003/SchoolToBusiness.html.

Seigel is a graduate of C.W. Post University and holds New York State Certifications in School District Administration, Special Education, Coordinator of Cooperative Work-Study Programs, Elementary Education, Speech and performing Arts/Drama. Mrs. Seigel also sings in the Island Trees Music Faculty Concert.

The Monthly Chamber Spotlight on Business is chosen by a business card lottery among the chamber members in attendance at the monthly chamber meetings. For information on becoming a chamber member and/or attending one of our meetings, call 520-8000 or go to the website at www.levittownchamber.com.