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To showcase the growth of work-based learning (WBL) in Iowa - and the ways that employers are utilizing the model - a new series of webinars took place in recent months. This second series was built on the success of an initial WBL series to highlight some of the most proven programs and approaches to WBL in Iowa’s most in-demand industries.
Employers and stakeholders are highly encouraged view recordings for the series. IWD's team stands ready to assist the efforts to explore recruiting and talent strategies, and ultimately partner on meaningful WBL programs.
2025-2026 WBL Webinar Series
Thank you for joining our WBL webinar series and for participating in the discussion to expand these programs across our workforce. All recordings can be viewed below. More information will be coming soon on our WBL plans for the future.
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List items for Recent Recordings
Learn how fire departments can expand opportunities for high students to take Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, launching careers and benefiting communities. Le Mars Battalion Chief John MacGregor and Waukee Lt. Chandler Thayer will share how their departments do this in partnership with school districts and community colleges. View the recording below.
Download Webinar flyer (790.38 KB) .pdf
Agenda
- Welcome: Kathy Leggett, Iowa Workforce Development Business Engagement Liaison and Webinar Moderator
- Why Fire Departments Providing EMT Training to High School Students Matters: Tracy Foltz, Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association President and Chief Medic, Sioux Center Ambulance
- Le Mars Fire Department/Le Mars High School/Western Iowa Tech Community College Model:
- John MacGregor, Le Mars Fire Department Battalion Chief
- Dr. Mark Iverson, Le Mars High School Principal
- Waukee Fire Department/Waukee APEX/Des Moines Area Community College Model:
- Chandler Thayer, Waukee Fire Department Lieutenant
- Kathleen Sender, Waukee Innovation and Learning Center Program Administrator
- How Community Colleges Can Facilitate Fire Department High School EMT Training: Joel Otte, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Science Education Coordinator, Des Moines Area Community College
- Q & A Session
- Conclusion: Kathy Leggett, Webinar Moderator
Join us to explore how intentional planning connects students’ academic goals with real-world career experiences. Discover how educators and employers can collaborate to create meaningful pathways that prepare students for the workforce, while helping businesses cultivate future talent and strengthen their talent pipelines. View the recording below.
Agenda
- Welcome – Abby Tibbetts, IWD, Work-Based Learning Program Designer
- Connecting WBL to DCAP– Cale Hutchings, Industrial Technology/Applied Sciences Consultant, Iowa Department of Education
- How Urbandale Schools are Building the foundation of Work-Based Learning – Darlene Wagner, WBL Coordinator
- How Holmes Murphy Uses Work-Based Learning to Create Future Community and Industry Leaders – Josie Stegman, Talent Acquisition Consultant
- Q & A Throughout
- Conclusion – Abby Tibbetts, IWD, Work-Based Learning Program Designer
Hear from employers across Iowa about how they built their high school internship programs, the advantages of starting early to prepare the future workforce, and what they need from educators to sustain a successful work-based learning partnership. View the recording below.
Agenda
Welcome and Introduction: Linda Fandel, Iowa Workforce Development Work-Based Learning Liaison
Panelist Presentations with Q & A Throughout:
- Kylie Ayala, Team Kline, Employee Development Coordinator and Registered Apprenticeship Instructor, and Matt Puffer, Team Kline, Human Resources Director
- Jennifer Downe, MercyOne Workforce Development Partner and Margrit Allen, Trinity Health System (including MercyOne) Director of Workforce Development, Innovation and Funding
- Doug Ford, Wells Enterprises Operations, Director of Training and Development
- Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag Founder & CEO, and Peggy Miller, Former High School Intern, Continuum Ag
- Kyle Kuhlers, Computer Programming and Cyber Security Instructor and Coach, Waterloo Career Center and Hawkeye Community College, 2025-26 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow
Concluding Remarks: Jodie Smith, Education Consultant for Work-Based Learning and Industry-Recognized Credentials, Iowa Department of Education
Conclusion: Linda Fandel, Iowa Workforce Development Work-Based Learning Liaison
Join us for an introduction to strategies that are working to increase awareness of the opportunities for Iowans to obtain great healthcare careers and for employers to fill high-demand healthcare jobs, both today and in the future. View the recording below.
Agenda
- Welcome and Introduction – Kathy Leggett, Iowa Workforce Development
- Brief Healthcare Labor Market Overview - Kathy Leggett
- Building a Healthcare Pathway – Dana Neemann, Crawford County Memorial Hospital
- Healthcare Career Preparation; EMT, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Tech, and Sterile Processing – Tammy Kacer, Mason City Community Schools
- Healthcare Internship Program – Jennifer Downe, MercyOne
- Healthcare Registered Apprenticeship - Kat Niemann, Cass Health
- Preparing Mentors – Dana Neemann, Crawford County Memorial Hospital
- Registered Apprenticeship and Earn and Learn Models in Healthcare – Kathy Leggett
- Questions and Closing – Kathy Leggett
Work-based learning is increasing the development of student-learner programs that are able to train 16- and 17-year-olds for careers in industries like construction and advanced manufacturing. Join us for this webinar as we highlight the components that comprise a student-learner program and the resources that can help you get started. View the recording below.
Agenda
- Welcome and Introduction
- Kathy Leggett, Iowa Workforce Development
- Brief Healthcare Labor Market Overview
- Kathy Leggett, Iowa Workforce Development
- What is a Student Learner Program
- Jodie Smith, Iowa Department of Education
- Heavy Metal Summer Experience Camp
- Jennifer Stanwick, Director of Learning and Development, Thompson Solutions Inc.
- Advanced Manufacturing Youth Internship Pilot Program
- Kate Bowmaster, Workforce Director, Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Justin Boliver, Marshalltown High School Principal
- CTE/Student Learner/WBL Agreement Parent Permission Form Overview
- Kathy Leggett, Iowa Workforce Development
- Questions and Closing
- Kathy Leggett, Iowa Workforce Development
This webinar helps you discover how work-based learning (WBL) can make a real impact in the lives of both students and older Iowans. Learn more about how a High School IT Community Help Desk is assisting residents of senior living facilities with everyday tech tasks - such as attaching a photo to an email and installing a solitaire app without ads - while helping students develop technical and customer service skills that support their long-term success. View the recording below.
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introductions:
- Linda Fandel, Work-Based Learning Liaison, Iowa Workforce Development
- Why and How Waterloo Career Center Launched a Community Help Desk and the Results:
- Kyle Kuhlers, Computer Programming and Cyber Security Instructor and Coach, Waterloo Career Center and Hawkeye Community College, 2025-26 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow
- Why NewAldaya Lifescapes Became a Partner, How Much Work Was Involved and How Residents Benefited:
- Kirstin Lunn, Recreational Therapist, NewAldaya Lifescapes, Cedar Falls
- How WesleyLife/Halcyon House Created a Paid High School IT Community Help Desk Model and Why It Is Working:
- Becky Carter, Director of Wellness, Halcyon House, Washington
- How High Schools Can Award Work-Based Learning Credit for a Help Desk Partnership:
- Heather Meissen, Administrative Consultant, Bureau of CTE and Postsecondary Readiness, Iowa Department of Education (IDOE)
- Final Remarks:
- Heather Meissen
This webinar showcases how work-based learning provides opportunities for high schools and community colleges to integrate industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) into courses and programs. Learn about which types of work-based learning are best suited for alignment with IRCs and how to integrate these credentials into existing and new work-based learning programs.
Presenters
- Jodie Smith, Education Program Consultant-Work Based Learning & Industry Recognized Credentials, Iowa Department of Education
- Shelly Duwa, Education Program Consultant, Business Education and CTSOs, Iowa Department of Education
- Alan Spencer, Career and Technical Education Consultant, Iowa Department of Education
Agenda
- Industry Recognized Credentials (IRC): What they are and how they fit into the Career & Technical Education (CTE) continuum
- IRC Accountability for ISPP & Reporting IRCs
- IRC Data: Most reported IRCs in 2024-2025
- Integrating IRCs into the curriculum for Career Exploration courses
- Simulated Work Experiences
- School Based Enterprises
- WBL & IRCs Examples
- Agriculture
- Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)
- Applied Sciences
- Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)
2024 Webinar Series
An initial webinar series took place from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, to highlight everything happening statewide in WBL - from building programs, utilizing apprenticeships, building relationships with businesses, and much more. This page includes a list of all recorded webinars and topics from the series.
List items for Full WBL Webinars
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Work-based Learning: Essential Tool for Preparing Students for Careers
- The first webinar in the series talked about the opportunities for high-school students to enter WBL programs. The call featured IWD Executive Director Beth Townsend, representatives from UnityPoint, and other voices in the WBL community.
- Monday, October 21, 2024: Jump-Start Careers: Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship and Industry-Recognized Credentials
- The second webinar in the series featured Apprenticeship programs - everything from apprenticeship to pre-apprenticeship, and what it really means to earn an industry-recognized credential. The webinar featured representatives from the Iowa Business Council, the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship, employers, Iowa high schools, the Iowa Department of Education, and the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators.
- Tuesday, November 19, 2024: Iowa Business Council’s ‘Top Four' List of Professional Proficiencies
- The third webinar in the series featured the Iowa Business Council and focused on the top qualities Iowa businesses seek when hiring new employees. Hear from representatives of Iowa’s largest companies and school districts on how to help develop skills and how future job candidates can come equipped with the right tools for the job.
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024: Where to Find Funding and Other Resources for Work-Based Learning
- The fourth webinar in the series focused on where to find funding and other resources for Work-based learning and how your organization can connect with Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Office of Apprenticeship, and Iowa Department of Education staff to launch a Registered Apprenticeship program.
January 21, 2025: A Deep-Dive Into Work-based Learning Models in Iowa
- The fifth webinar in the series covers a deep dive into Work-based Learning models in Iowa, including Pre-Apprenticeship, Registered Apprenticeship, and obtaining Industry-Recognized credentials.
February 11, 2025: A Deep-Dive Into Work-based Learning Models in Iowa
- The sixth webinar in the WBL series explores the many tools from Labor Market Information can be the difference maker in making decisions about WBL programs. Join Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Department of Education as well as partners from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) and other organizations for this important webinar.
March 4, 2025: Work-Based Learning for Students with Disabilities
- The seventh webinar in the WBL series highlights Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and the opportunities that they provide to help students with disabilities reach their employment goals.
April 8, 2025: Linking Perkins, CTSOs and Other Programs for Sustained Work-Based Learning
- As the final webinar in the initial WBL series, this webinar will features models and success stories that showcase how WBL is building the workforce pipeline across Iowa.
Getting Started with Work-Based Learning
Iowa Workforce Development is committed to expanding the ability for businesses to support successful work-based learning (WBL) programs. You can view some additional resources below, and then reach out to the IWD team to get started. Or if you're just not sure where to start, let's talk.
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