Havermale, RPS team up for retail education

Havermale High School and River Park Square celebrated the completion of the first year of an innovative educational partnership on June 1. The collaboration between the high school and the retail center is the first of its kind in the region.

It offers class credit and employment opportunities for the students, as well as a pool of qualified employees for local retailers.

More than 20 students have participated in the program, which began last fall at the downtown shopping mall.

Mayor Jim West was at the Kress Gallery graduation ceremony to offer congratulations to the students.

Bob Smith, general manager of River Park Square, presented two $250 scholarships to seniors Amber Sands, 18, and Katrina Myers, 17, to use for their college educations. Smith has been involved in similar programs in Milwaukee, Savannah, Ga. and Chattanooga, Tenn.

“It’s nice to have people from the program. They learn about margins, marketing and inventory. There’s much more than hitting a cash register and hanging up clothes,” said Smith.

Sands has a job at Casual Corner as a result of the program.

“I used to be terrified, but now I’m not scared at all.” Sands said. “I’m confident in my skills and know what to do.”

Havermale teacher Hydee Reber began working with the retailers last November.

According to Reber, Nordstrom and Casual Corner played a significant role in the program.

“Professionalism is the most important thing we stressed. Students learned how to dress and how to behave,” said Reber.

“She nags us to success,” laughed Jennie Jardine, a 16-year-old who took the course for two quarters.

Jardine has been hired at the Sunglass Hut, where she job-shadowed. “Retail isn’t just buying and selling clothes. There’s a lot more to it. It’s harder than it looks.

“We learned how to dress professionally – no cleavage, no skin showing. Use a blue or black pen when filling out an application. No colored pens,” she said.

“Call if you’re going to be late or not make it in, and always put the customer first. It’s a real good class. It gets you ready for the business world.”