‘Business Education Partnership’ featured in February’s ‘Murfreesboro Storytellers’

February’s “Murfreesboro Storytellers” features the Business Education Partnership Foundation (BEP), a partnership between the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools to promote and support programs that will prepare students for the business world.

The interview features Amelia Bozeman, the BEP’s executive director.  The ‘Storytellers’ interview includes the following topics:

• Bozeman brought experience in public relations and non-profits before joining the BEP as executive director. BEP is part of a twenty-eight-year education success story in Rutherford County.  The bulk of BEP’s funding is derived from business partners.
• Bozeman discusses the origins of the Business Education Partnership Foundation.  In 1988, a group of business leaders were concerned about an apparent “skill gaps” among graduating high school students needing the right skills for the workforce.  Nissan, State Farm and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, among other organizations, worked together to create the BEP.
• The BEP offers nine different programs targeted at students and teachers including the BEP Nissan Teacher Mini Grant Awards (the largest and oldest program), BEP Summer Business Camp presented by State Farm and the STEMEx camp. STEMEx stands for science, technology, engineering, math experience.
• BEP reaches all 52,000 students in Rutherford County – both Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools.  Two week camps target middle school students with real-world career examples from business and industry.  Eighth grade students are required to choose high school pathways that help determine their high school schedules.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation selected BEP to launch a new website calledwww.LaunchMyCareerTN.org., a tool for Tennessee students, parents and employers to explore different career options in the state.
• SPARK, Students and Professionals Acquiring Real Knowledge, was launched in 2014 to introduce sixth grade students to the engineer design process.

For more information on the Business Education Partnership Foundation, visit https://rutherfordbepf.wordpress.com/.  This month’s ‘Storytellers’ was recorded on location at Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce in Murfreesboro where BEP’s offices are headquartered.  “Murfreesboro Storytellers” is hosted by John Hood and produced by award-winning video producer Michael Nevills.