On November 5, the newly established Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) SHSM Co-op Task Force held its inaugural meeting. The Task Force aims to equip co-op teachers with a comprehensive database of sector-specific employers and practical resources to support partnership development and recruitment. This work will help increase Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) completion rates in sectors with critical industry needs.
The Task Force is made up of the following co-op teachers: Elise Cordeiro, Michael D’Addario, Lisa Ellis, Jason Gill, Anita Karunakar, Raffaele Lupusella, Matthew Maciag, Daniela Nigro, Joe Pisani, and Stephanie Savelli.
The team is divided into three working groups, each with a specific focus:
Database Optimization: Organizing and improving employer databases to better align with SHSM sectors.
Recruitment: Building relationships with industry leaders in sectors with critical workforce needs.
Toolkit Development: Creating practical scripts, guides, and templates to support co-op teachers across the Board.
The inaugural meeting also featured contributions from Yoliana Azer (Business and Partnership Development Lead), Popy Dimoulas-Graham (Hour Republic Owner and Developer), and Lana Storto (DLIT/SHSM/Tech Ed). The guest experts shared strategies for developing business partnerships, leveraging Hour Republic software, and incorporating AI tools into co-op programming.
Funded through the TCDSB SHSM Expansion Fund, the Task Force will meet throughout the school year, with members presenting their completed projects in mid-May. These initiatives will help strengthen co-op programming across the Board and support student success in SHSM programs.
We look forward to seeing the team's work take shape throughout the year!
