Manatee Chamber’s Project TEACH Brings Business Volunteers Into Fourth-Grade Classrooms Across County
More than 150 business professionals visited fourth-grade classrooms across Manatee County on Thursday as part of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s annual Project TEACH program, giving students a hands-on introduction to careers, first impressions, and the world of business.
The initiative, organized in partnership with the School District of Manatee County, connects local professionals with elementary students to help them explore future career possibilities while learning basic workplace and communication skills. During the classroom visits, volunteers shared information about their jobs, discussed how they entered their fields, and led activities designed to spark curiosity about different career paths.
Students participated in interactive exercises focused on the importance of first impressions and professional identity. One of the highlights of the lesson included students designing their own business cards representing the careers they hope to pursue when they grow up, encouraging them to think about their goals and interests at an early age.
Project TEACH, which stands for Teach Everyone About Career Horizons, has been a longstanding workforce education effort in Manatee County for more than three decades. The program brings professionals from a wide range of industries—including healthcare, construction, finance, public safety, technology, and small business—into local classrooms to provide real-world perspectives about jobs available in the region.
Each year the program reaches thousands of students across dozens of elementary schools. Volunteers begin the morning with an orientation before traveling to their assigned schools, where they lead discussions and activities designed to help students understand the skills, education, and determination required for different professions.
Organizers say the program benefits both students and the business community. Fourth graders gain exposure to careers they may not have previously considered, while volunteers build stronger connections with local schools and educators.
By the end of the classroom sessions, students leave with a better understanding of how the choices they make today can help shape the careers they pursue tomorrow.
