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Breakout Session 203: Educational Partnerships & Future Ready Iowa

As many Iowa businesses struggle to recruit and retain health care professionals, workforce partnerships are a great tool. Health care is one of the most in-demand career options in Iowa, and as our aging population continues to grow, it has never been more important for our members to take advantage of all workforce options our state has to offer. In this session, you will hear from leaders of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency and Kirkwood Community College about Iowa’s Future Ready program and Education Partnerships, and much more.

  • Review the work being done in the PK-12 system to jumpstart partnerships in early education to address high demand career needs.
  • Outline pathways for engagement of all levels and how to get started.
  • Analyze how the Workplace Learning Connection can benefit your workforce and hear best practices and lessons learned from representatives using Workplace Learning Connection.

Jennifer Boyd, Future Ready Curriculum Consultant, Grant Wood Area Education Agency, Cedar Rapids
Jennifer Boyd is the Future Ready Curriculum Consultant for Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids. She supports 31 school districts in the region with development and implementation of career planning, career and technical education, and other Future Ready initiatives. Jennifer taught middle school for 9 years before moving into a CTE Curriculum Specialist role, redeveloping the program in Davenport Schools, embedding High School Registered Apprenticeships, and increasing program enrollment and retention over 6 years. She holds a BA in Elementary and Middle Level Education and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction.

Kristine Bullock, Director, Workplace Learning Connection Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids
Kristine Bullock is the Director of Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College.  She and her team partner with school districts and businesses in Kirkwood’s seven-county service area to provide a continuum of work-based learning experiences for 6th – 12th grade students.  Workplace Learning Connection is a national model of best practices to scale career exploration experiences to multiple districts and serves as a critical workforce development program for the region.


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