QHS Employer Roundtable hopes to strengthen future workforce

Published 2:52 pm Thursday, May 28, 2026

QUINCY — Angela Raines-Caldwell hopes building a partnership between Quincy High School and area employers can strengthen the future workforce.

A first step is a QHS Employer Roundtable set for 1 to 2 p.m. or 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11 in Room D137 at the school.

Employers who hire high school students are welcome to join the focused conversation about supporting student success in the workplace and in school.

“We are trying to come up with ways that will encourage the student to show up for class, put their best foot forward while in class and remind them that everything they do here will help them once they graduate and move on to either the workforce or to higher education,” said Raines-Caldwell, QHS community schools coordinator.

“If we can sit down and discuss those things, maybe come up with a plan together, and if students are getting it at school and getting it at work, hopefully we can encourage them to be more proactive about how they treat school and work.”

The conversation joins a growing focus on the soft skills students need to succeed in the future.

Discussion topics will include student reliability, attendance and punctuality, workplace readiness, communication between schools and employers and aligning work schedules with student success.

Raines-Caldwell wants the roundtable to lead to ongoing discussions with area businesses.

“I’m hoping they will see where it can benefit them,” she said. “There’s nothing but a win-win-win opportunity here because the students will win, the school will win and the employers will win.”

QHS Roundtable reservations are available online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWfRKnm63gOoHdFvnrjrZ4GjJE9_D4k_fRcY24DlPYgHxDEA/viewform?usp=header?. More information is available by calling Raines-Caldwell at 217-224-3775, ext. 1821.