Investment in Baton Rouge’s workforce starts before kindergarten for some companies.Sponsored by: ExxonMobil

From the time students learn how to write their name to the time they sign their first offer letter, ExxonMobil has invested in their success. Since the founding of our Baton Rouge facility 115 years ago, ExxonMobil has made community support in the areas of education and workforce development a strategic priority. Specifically, the company takes a comprehensive approach to support and focus on student and teacher development, training and retention, literacy, college and career readiness, STEM, and energy transition education. doing.

“As a company, we recognize that these students will make up our future workforce, and we want to do everything we can to help them succeed along the way,” said Rory DeNicola, ExxonMobil’s public and government affairs advisor. I’m thinking about it.” “We are always looking to expand how we can best serve our community. Alongside our current district-wide campaign, we are implementing a new pilot program that will allow us to scale up in the future. North Baton Rouge is our home base and is where we believe the greatest need is, so that area is often our focus.”

DeNicola said ExxonMobil takes a pre-K to 20 approach to education, implementing age-appropriate methods and programs from the youngest learners to adults choosing their immediate career paths. He said there was.

Some programs, such as Khan Academy, are for pre-school to 12-year-olds^th students of the grade. Khan Academy is an online service that provides tutoring and coaching. DeNicola said ExxonMobil is considering implementing Khan Academy across the diocese so that both teachers and parents can support students in their educational journey.

“There are many ways to customize the program and use it to suit your needs, such as watching videos, taking self-tests, and getting study tips,” says DeNicola. “We hope kids can use it at home and at school to reinforce what’s happening in the classroom.”

To help elementary school students develop critical literacy skills, ExxonMobil will fund Lexia Core5 virtual intervention software for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at seven elementary schools in North Baton Rouge. provided. DeNicola said the program will target about 1,200 third- and fourth-graders whose test scores are found to be below literacy standards.

“This software is in addition to the summer remediation,” DeNicola said. “Students and teachers have weekly goals. The program is individually customized, so each student and school receives what is best for them. It does not interfere with regular lessons. It is their to supplement their education and help them reach proficiency.”

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

“This is a great way to collaborate with organizations that already have impactful mentorship work and introduce STEM career possibilities to students in that age group,” DeNicola said. “We started in January with 50 middle school students from Istroma and Scotlandville.”

DeNicola said the students who participated all expressed an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In addition to weekly mentoring, students participate in his monthly STEM-themed field trips and experience different career paths, including attending a local planetarium.

“Middle school is often a time when students decide what they want to do. We want to reach them now that we know there is a growing interest in STEM,” she says. said. “The mentorship is great, having someone to turn to if they are struggling in school or want to develop their soft skills. Most importantly, it helps these kids grow and helps them with whatever they may be going through. It’s about working together to overcome barriers.”

Additionally, through a grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation, the National Mathematics and Science Initiative (NMSI) is implementing 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 think of literacy, they think of English classes, but it’s just as important in STEM courses,” DeNicola says. “As we receive more funding this year, we look forward to adding more teachers to the program.”

ExxonMobil offers eight weeks of paid summer internships to approximately 40 high school students, giving interns a first-hand look at what it means to work for the company. Barania Robillard, ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge workforce development manager, said employees serve as mentors, assisting students with projects, answering questions and volunteering in the community.

“This is a great opportunity for students to evaluate careers within ExxonMobil. All of our interns are interested in exploring STEM-based careers, and some are interested in mechanical crafts while others are interested in engineering. Some interns want to focus, while others want to do more analytical work,” Robillard explained. “They get to work with leaders on the ground and experience what happens here every day. Additionally, each intern is assigned a project, so the interns can see what full-time employees do. In a highly structured environment, interns will learn about ExxonMobil’s safety and work culture, and how their work impacts society every day. ’s mission, values, and workforce dynamics.”

For those ready to begin a more intense career journey, the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI), located at Baton Rouge Community College’s Acadian Campus, offers educational training for ExxonMobil and other industrial jobs. serves as a direct path to This program provides free training in electrical, instrumentation, millwright, pipe fitting, and welding to qualified students. Students must complete her 75 hours of core curriculum courses covering construction mathematics, safety, tool usage, material handling, and more. After completion, students will continue training in one of her five industries.

NRBITI graduates earn nationally recognized certifications and receive ongoing employment support to secure employment in their chosen fields.

“This year-long STEM-based skilled trades training provides a unique opportunity to pivot or advance future career opportunities in the industry,” Robillard said.

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

“We are one of the largest employers in the Baton Rouge area, so we want to give back to the community in any way we can,” she said.