Investment in Baton Rouge’s workforce starts as early as pre-K for one company | Sponsored: ExxonMobil

From the time students learn how to write their name until the time they sign their first job offer letter, ExxonMobil has been investing in their success. ExxonMobil’s support for the community in the areas of education and workforce development has been a strategic priority since the founding of its Baton Rouge facility 115 years ago.  Specifically, the company has a wraparound approach to aid and focus on student and teacher development, training and retention, literacy enhancement, college and career readiness, STEM and energy transition education.

“As a company, we recognize that these students make up our future workforce, so we want to do everything we can to help them be successful along the way,” said Rory Denicola, ExxonMobil public and government affairs advisor. “We are always trying to expand on how we can best serve the community. We have new pilot programs in place that can be scaled up in the future along with some current district-wide campaigns. North Baton Rouge is our home and where we see the biggest need, so that area is often our focus.”

Denicola said ExxonMobil uses a pre-kindergarten to age 20 approach in its education initiatives, implementing age-appropriate methods and programs for the youngest learners all the way up to adults who are selecting an immediate career path.

Some programs, like Khan Academy, are applicable for pre-K to 12^th grade students. Khan Academy is an online service that provides tutoring and mentorship. Denicola said ExxonMobil is exploring implementing Khan Academy throughout the parish to support both teachers and parents on their students’ educational journeys.

“There are so many ways to personalize the program and use it to fit your needs, whether it’s watching videos, self-testing or giving study tips,” Denicola said. “We’re hoping kids will be able to use it at home and at school as a reinforcement to what is happening in the classroom.”

To help elementary students build vital literacy skills, ExxonMobil has funded the Lexia Core5 virtual intervention software for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at seven elementary schools in North Baton Rouge. Denicola said the program will be directed toward about 1,200 third and fourth grade students whose test scores indicate they are below literacy benchmarks.

“This software will be in addition to any summer remediation,” Denicola said. “Students and teachers will have weekly goals. The program will be personalized so each student and school receive what works best for them. It’s not taking away from normal classwork. It’s to supplement their education and help them reach proficiency.”

Another new initiative led by ExxonMobil is a mentorship program for Baton Rouge middle school students called LIFT (Leaders Inspiring the Faces of Tomorrow). The project is in collaboration with 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, the Foundation for the East Baton Rouge School System, and the YMCA of Greater Baton Rouge.

“This is a great way to work with organizations who are already doing impactful mentoring work to introduce students in that age group to the possibility of STEM careers,” Denicola said. “We started in January with 50 middle school students at Istrouma and Scotlandville.”

Denicola said the participating students all expressed an interest in science, technology, engineering and math. In addition to weekly mentoring, students will participate in monthly STEM-themed field trips to experience different career paths, such as one planned to the local planetarium.  

“In middle school, students are often on the cusp of deciding what they want to do. We want to reach them now when we know the STEM interest is there,” she said. “The mentorship is great because they have someone to talk to if they are having a hard time in school or want to develop their soft skills. The most important part is to build these kids up and work with them to overcome any barriers that they may be experiencing.”

In addition, through a grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation, the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is conducting a training program for middle school STEM teachers. About 60 teachers participated in the pilot last year. The program focuses on literacy and includes both virtual and in-person sessions.

“When people hear literacy, they think about English class, but it’s just as important in STEM courses,” Denicola said. “We’re excited to have more funding this year so we can add more teachers to the program.”

For about 40 high school students, ExxonMobil offers an eight-week paid summer internship where interns can get a firsthand look at what it means to work for the company. Baraynia Robillard, Baton Rouge Workforce Development Manager for ExxonMobil, said employees serve as mentors who assist students on projects, answer their questions and join them in volunteer activities in the community.

“This serves as a great opportunity for students to assess careers within ExxonMobil. Every intern is interested in exploring a STEM based career, some are interested in mechanical crafts, some want to focus on engineering, and others want to do more analysis work,” Robillard explained. “They’re able to work with leaders on the job and experience what goes on here every day. In addition, each intern is assigned a project, so interns gain a better understanding of the type of work full-time employees do and how that work impacts society every day. It’s a very structured environment that gives interns a great understanding of ExxonMobil’s safety and work culture, our mission, values, and the dynamics of being in the workforce.”

When someone is ready to begin more intense job preparation, the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI), at Baton Rouge Community College’s Acadian campus, serves as a direct path to educational training for jobs with ExxonMobil and industry. The program provides training in electrical, instrumentation, millwright, pipefitting, and welding at no cost to qualifying students. Students must complete a 75-hour core curricula course that covers construction math, safety, tool usage, materials handling and more. Upon completion, students continue their training pathway in one of five trades.

NRBITI graduates earn nationally recognized certifications and ongoing job placement support to help them secure employment in their chosen field.

“This one-year, STEM based skilled craft training offers a unique opportunity to pivot or advance one’s future career opportunities in the industry,” Robillard said.

Denicola said ExxonMobil’s commitment to education is rooted in a desire to develop a robust local workforce in the Baton Rouge area.

“We are one of the biggest employers in the Baton Rouge area, so we want to do as much as we can to give back to the region,” she said.