Connecting Students to Careers Through Partnerships :

1. Connecting Students to Careers Through Partnerships: Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates Center for Energy Workforce Development and Midwest Energy Association Joint Meeting May 16-17, 2007 Presented by: Laurie Phelan, President/CEO I-JAG 515-242-5611 laurie.phelan@iowa.gov

2. Making Connections: Partnerships

3. Iowa Jobs forAmerica’s Graduates: ASmart Approach: To Improving Student Achievement, Workforce, & Economic Development Mission: To be a leader in effectively serving students with multiple barriers to successful graduation and transition to continued education and work.

4. Specifically I- JAG’s goals are to: • Build bridges between employer needs and students • that need them. • Develop workplace competencies that aid in workplace success • and career/life transitions • Create an environment where student know they belong and • people care. • Provide Individual career planning • Develop leaders, teach teamwork & volunteerism • Motivate students to reach for their dreams • Provide extra help for academic success

5. WHY? Dropouts affect the future of all. In Iowa approximately 3,500 students dropped out of high school 2004-05. (2.1%) • • Each year’s dropouts cost the country over $200 billion in lost earnings and tax revenues • • ½ of all heads of public assistance households are high school dropouts • Social costs include under-skilled labor force, lower productivity, lost taxes and increased crime • 1/3 of those in Iowa prisons are HS dropouts. Cost of prison averages $27,000 per individual annually. • • Dropping out forecloses a lifetime of opportunities

6. I-JAG achieves and documents extraordinary, consistent results – annually! • 93% Average graduation rate! • 82% Success rate: Employed in military and/or pursuing a postsecondary education! • 93% F/T Placement • 34% Average transition to postsecondary education!

7. Results Driven: Investors call it ROI • All I-JAG students have career plans and relevant learning • opportunities! • I-JAG increases GPA annually by an average of .3% • I-JAG increases average daily attendance by approximately • 5 days annually • I-JAG students average 3,500 hrs. of community service • annually • 3,000+ served in I-JAG over the past 8 years through 18 • program locations, statewide.

8. “I-JAG helps me be a better person.” “I-JAG has encouraged me.” “This is a very special program.” “I-JAG is beneficial.” “I-JAG brought me back to school. I’ll graduate this year” “Students State…” “I would not have stayed in school and graduated without my I-JAG teacher.” “I-JAG means a lot to me.” “I-JAG is important.” “I-JAG changed my life” “I-JAG will help you to find a job and career.” “I matter to my I-JAG teacher.”

9. Why I-JAG programs are successful? I-JAG Model Programs – Key Elements • Passionate I-JAG Specialist, accountable for 40 -50 students • • Strict accountability for Results: students earn a high school diploma & transition successfully • Competency-based curriculum – 37 core competencies • Multi-year & Dropout Recovery Programs – Up to 84 competencies, based on employer needs! • Daily classroom instruction & coachingto overcome barriers to school and career success

10. Why Does I-JAG Work Again? • • Serves as an in-school strategy for drop-out prevention (an • alternative for students) • Daily advocacy and support for students – a place to belong • Provides 12 months of post graduation follow-up for each • student • Dedicated, trained, “never give up” staff • AND, successful partnerships with business • and communities

11. Creating Electricity:A Partnership with Mid American Energy and Alliant Energy • Goals: • Generate interest in the energy industry • Spark interest in specific careers within the industry • Plug into a career path that leads to good jobs! • Establish conductors for support • Energize a future workforce

12. How? • Generate interest in the energy industry: • A. Developed a two week module for high school students • Determine current level of understanding about the industry • Making the industry personal: • Adventure • Commitment to community and passion for the work • Varied paths within the industry • Challenge • Benefits: Including salary!

13. Five Themes for Energy Module • Energy is the backbone of the country. Energy fuels our economy, our work and our personal lives. • It’s an exciting time to come into the energy industry. Technological advances and a focus on renewable sources of energy and the environment mean long-term employment opportunities for those who are willing to work safely, provide a needed service and help their community. • Our employees deliver. We equip employees with the resources and support necessary to be successful. We encourage teamwork and provide a safe, rewarding work environment. There are many well-paying jobs available in the energy industry.

14. Five Themes for Energy Module Con’t 4. Safety matters. The safety of employees and customers is critical. We provide assistance and safety education to customers and communities in our service territory. Its part of our promise to help you and your children stay safe at home and on the road. 5. Responsible environmental management is good business. It benefits our customers and improves the quality of the environment in which we live. 6. Customers matter. Our commitment to customers is to deliver the exceptional personal service they deserve. If our customers aren't satisfied, neither are we. That's a promise.

15. Energy Opportunities for Individuals age 15 – 18 • Goal:To present information to 15 – 18 year olds explaining job opportunities within the energy industry in a manner that is interesting, relevant and interactive. • Content Objectives: • Week 1 • Explain how energy is generated and how it is used. • - Terminology sheet – Rochelle to check and see if we have this • - PowerPoint utilizing website information. • Explain the world’s increasing need for energy and energy industry personnel. • - Renewable energy – website information • - Environmental focus – website information • - Energy use in the future – projects to 2025 • - Summary sheet of jobs –each company to provide, get job survey results • from CEWD in June 2007.

16. Two Week Module: Content Con’t • Week 2: Explore different jobs available at different points in the energy production cycle. • Skill requirements based on key jobs • Education requirements/training – speaker, videos, pictures of equipment – • match job and skills • What is apprenticeship training – show example (each company to provide) • …may have apprentice speak – 3rd or 4th year • Difference in certificate, two year and four year programs www.getintoenergy.comWhat energy training programs are available? • Labor Organizations – role, what it is and is not • Dual credit programs: Which high schools and community colleges offer • dual credit?

17. How? • Spark interest in specific careers within the industry • Research the industry: gas, electricity, nuclear, wind, hydro, geothermal, solar, bio-diesel, coal (fossil fuels), and Liquid Natural Gas • Connect students with employees in the business: Relationships • E-mail communications • DVD and video (Partner with Public Television) • Classroom Presentations • Virtual tours • On-site (at a distance) • Simulation (community colleges)

19. HOW? Plug into a career path that leads to good jobs! • Target in-depth career exploration based on area of interest • Identify specific skill requirements based on job interests • Determine centers for continued education and skill training • Develop initial Individual Career Plan (pathway to the industry) • Prepare and present a power point on WHY the Energy Industry • Establish and maintain a connection with the industry • Connections to continued education and training (community colleges, trade schools, customized training, apprenticeships)

21. HOW? Establish conductors for support • JAG Provides 12 months of Follow-up after HS graduation • Relationship within the industry to provide mentorship • Familiarity with the industry…”feel connected” • Providing opportunities for the industry to be relevant (summer jobs, internships, short-term work experiences, onsite classrooms, etc.

22. HOW! Energize a future workforce • Visualize and target your future workforce • What are their demographics and interests • Establish a relationship based on interests and opportunities • Stay connected – mentor – share the energy (passion for the work) • Celebrate the industry and successes – include families • Keep the pressure on “…turn coal into diamonds”

23. It’s An Electric Partnership: Get into Energy! Laurie Phelan, President/CEO I-JAG 515-242-5611 laurie.phelan@iowa.gov