THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606050127
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER SUFFOLK
LENGTH: 80 lines
FOR THE PAST few months, Yolanda Mason and Jennifer Rasberry have gained knowledge and experience by combining academics with the workplace.
Two of several participants in the Suffolk Public School System's Cooperative Office Education (COE) program, the teens are on a curriculum tract based on office support courses. The program allows students to attend classes for the first half of the school day and receive on-the-job training for the latter half.
Jackie Coppage, COE coordinator at Nansemond River, sent letters to community businesses explaining the COE program and how several capable students were available to assist their offices. Students were called for interviews and offered jobs.
The student workers, whose daily duties include filing, typing, answering telephones and operating the computer, copiers and fax machines, are evaluated every six weeks by the secretary with whom they work. Coppage is present at the time of the evaluation.
Yolanda and Jennifer, juniors at Nansemond River High School, have been learning while earning a salary by assisting city offices part-time with clerical support. Both also have enjoyed making friends and have been invited to return to work in the same capacity during the next school year.
Since January, Yolanda has worked from 1:30 to 5 p.m. daily with Kathy Brady, administrative assistant to City Manager Myles Standish. She has been asked to work full time during the summer.
``I appreciate my job,'' Yolanda said. ``I like sitting at a desk, typing. Some people have to work outside in hot weather.''
Yolanda, who has her own lap-top computer, answers the phone, makes ``lots of copies,'' types letters for the mayor, handles mail that arrives for city council members and fills in at lunchtime for Brady. Occasionally, she also helps in the finance department by folding and adding flyers to pay checks.
``One day, it snowed and they offered to send a battalion chief after me,'' Yolanda said, smiling. ``I really enjoy working with Kathy Brady. She's like my second mom. If I need something, I can talk to her.''
Yolanda, who loves to sing, dropped out of the Nansemond River Chorus to work in the COE program. However, she is a member of the youth choir at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Windsor.
The daughter of George and Mary Mason, Yolanda is undecided about a career.
``I may go to college or join the Air Force,'' she said. ``I want to see the world.''
Jennifer, whose family moved to Suffolk last year, transferred from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach. Her part-time job involves clerical work and assisting Martha Wheeler, executive secretary at the Suffolk Fire Department on Market Street.
``The high-pitched alarm scared me at first,'' Jennifer said, ``but now, I just go about my business. We're all one big family.''
Jennifer, who has worked from 2 to 5 p.m. daily since last September, types letters, runs errands to city hall, pulls up fire report sheets, and makes copies. She also designed a new press release form on the computer for Jeff Messinger, public information officer.
``My sister had been in the program, and I followed in her footsteps,'' Jennifer said. ``I knew I would gain experience and it would be something to put on a resume.''
When Jennifer was asked to write a brief summary, create a display board and provide photos of her workplace, she had fun having her picture taken in the basket of a platform truck that rises 150 feet into the air.
The daughter of Earl Rasberry Jr. of Currituck, N.C. and Carol Rasberry of Suffolk, Jennifer plans to study business management at North Carolina Wesleyan College after graduation in 1997.
Other Nansemond River students who work for the City of Suffolk, including Suffolk Public Schools and the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, are Keisha Everett, Personnel Department; Angela Honeycutt, Suffolk Public Schools - Finance Department; Alethea Swan, City Attorney's Office; Veronica Woodson, SRHA - Finance Department; and LaToya Young, SRHA - Section 8.
Lakeland High School students also participate in the same type of program with different businesses as employers.
The Nansemond River and Lakeland groups hosted a banquet recently to show their appreciation to the employers. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Yolanda Mason, left, and Jennifer Rasberry, juniors at Nansemond
River High School, have been learning while earning a salary by
assisting city offices part time with clerical support. by CNB