Business, education needs tied in course Doug Carroll The Arizona Republic They could have been out on the golf course or at the beach with a good book, but a dozen teachers from the Chandler Unified School District took a pass on recreation. Instead, the teachers participated in a continuing-education program called PASS (Partners Advancing Student Success), co-sponsored by Motorola and Arizona Public Service. They visited various businesses, learning about what employers are seeking in the employees of the future - their students. "Originally, I thought, 'How will this apply to elementary-school students?' " said Tiffanie Madetzke, a teacher at Santan K-8. "But I've been writing down little things, such as having them practice doing resumes and interviews." Madetzke, David Gorman of Bogle Junior High and Andrea Bastek of Knox Elementary were part of a six-teacher team that toured Randstad North America, a temporary-employment agency, and the Arizona Army National Guard one recent day. Two teachers from a Gilbert elementary school and a teacher from Mesquite High School joined them. Overall, 29 East Valley teachers and 32 businesses participated in the five-day program, according to PASS organizer Donna Davis. In visiting the Guard's facilities in Papago Park, the teachers heard from Sgt. Ted Wilson that the Guard employs electricians, welders, woodworkers, even a seamstress. The Army's principles of leadership - loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage - line up with the character education being taught in schools, Rose Smith observed. "This has validated what I do in my classroom," said Smith, who teaches at Finley Farms Elementary in Gilbert. "It's not just reading, writing and math. Our job is to get them ready for the employment world. All the public really sees are our scores." Gorman said he was impressed that Randstad and the Guard provide for lifelong learning, which is what schools espouse. "This shows that (academic) standards are important, but so are the things that don't get tested," he said.