Source Loudoun Now

‘Magic’ of School-Business Partnerships Celebrated

When National Conference Center was approached more than a year ago about taking on young adults with disabilities as interns, General Manager Geoff Lawson described it as “one of those easy, 10-second decisions.”

Now, nine recent Loudoun County graduates have become an integral part of the conference center’s team, working alongside its chefs, technical engineers, maintenance crew and others to learn hands-on job skills.

The National’s Human Resources Manager Helen Kendall said, “We know that teaching is all about making a difference, and I will say that we are pleased that we have made a difference. It has been so fulfilling.”

Relationships like this play out every day throughout the county and, this morning, they were celebrated at the Loudoun School-Business Partnership Recognition Breakfast. About 800 educators and business and community leaders gathered in The National in Lansdowne to honor the collaboration between hundreds of area businesses and the county’s public schools…