Editor’s note: This is the second part of a two-part guest editorial by Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.

The Marshalltown Community School District is taking big strides to implement purposeful curriculum, programing and teaching and learning methodologies; while forging partnerships with local business and industry, in an effort to create greater career awareness amongst students and staff and to develop higher degrees of college and career readiness.

Marshalltown High School and Marshalltown Learning Academy are implementing Bobcat Ready! College and Career Readiness Beyond High School which are targeted college, career and life ready indicators that students need to achieve in order to best ensure their preparation and readiness for success in post-secondary education, training and the workplace. The program strives to promote students’ pursuing rigorous academic programs, personalized and career-specific learning experiences and developing social and emotional skills that prepare them to be global citizens in an ever-changing world. Students who achieve these standards of college and career readiness; during their high school experience, will have their transcripts stamped with the Bobcat Ready! Seal; as well as, be acknowledged within their graduation program. The district has received endorsements for this initiative from the Marshalltown Community Schools Board of Education, Marshalltown Regional Partnership and Marshall Economic Development while currently in the process of seeking additional support from the Marshalltown Business and Education Alliance (MBEA), Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Vision Marshalltown, Iowa Valley Community College District (MCC) and the City of Marshalltown.

Students at Miller Middle School and Marshalltown’s High School take career interest and aptitude surveys to gain insights into potential future academic and career pathways. This information is used by students in the development of their Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP), a roadmap to taking the courses and programs that best align with their future education and career aspirations. Marshalltown High School has been developing explicit career pathways that are coherent sequences of high school academic and Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses that prepare students for careers and continued education. These college and career pathways are articulated in their alignment and comparability of coursework between the high school and Marshalltown Community College, resulting in numerous dual credit opportunities for students. The Marshalltown Community School District has a strong partnership with Marshalltown Community College and continues to look for ways to provide more dual credit opportunities for students and their families in the future.

A big focus in the coming year will be to build numerous partnerships with local businesses and industry in order to provide our students with work-based learning experiences while in high school. While high school freshmen and sophomores have numerous opportunities to attend career fairs and workplace tours, we’d like for juniors and seniors to experience job shadowing experiences; as well as, having options for internships, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships where possible. Much of this work has been initially designed and implemented with the National Gear Up MHS Class of 2020 and most recently Marshalltown Learning Academy has been the recipient of a State of Iowa STEM Best grant for the primary purpose of creating formalized work-based learning experiences for students.

Many of our students choose to work part-time jobs while in high school. The district is working with local employers of many of our students’ to develop a universal workplace performance assessment that emphasizes the basic knowledge, skills, aptitudes and talents necessary for college and career success. What better training ground for students future careers is there than the workplace and why not credit our students for their successful demonstration of workplace proficiencies?

Fifty Marshalltown Community School District teachers will have an opportunity this August to participate in a four day Teacher Externship Academy based on Regional Sector Board work in the areas of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health sciences and building and construction trades. More than 20 Marshalltown companies and businesses have partnered with the district to provide presentations, tours and insights into the knowledge, skills, aptitudes and talent necessary to acquire livable wage jobs within our community. Participating teachers will incorporate this new knowledge into future teaching and learning experiences within their classrooms.

The Marshalltown Community School District Board of Education recognizes the importance of doing “whatever it takes” to provide the necessary high quality staff, resources and supports necessary for all students to be positioned to successfully pursue their hopes, dreams and aspirations. Though a strong core foundation of the basic skills continues to be of critical importance to the learning process, it is equally important to support the incorporation of effective teaching and learning practices that inspire and engage students to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and encourages the creativity and innovation that has long been the backbone of our country’s economic strength. Twenty-first Century teaching and learning does not happen exclusively within the four walls of a classroom or within the exterior walls of a school building. Through the development of meaningful partnerships with local Marshalltown business and industry we stand our best chance accomplishing our district’s mission of “developing learners who have the knowledge, skills, and positive mindset to successfully pursue a meaningful future through personalized learning experiences.” We welcome all to partner with us as we “prepare ALL learners, through an unparalleled culture of excellence, to be productive and engaged citizens in a diverse world.”

——–

Dr. Theron J. Schutte is superintendent of the Marshalltown Community School District.