Applications are being accepted for the fourth round of the college and career transition counselor (CCTC) grant. This grant will cover the 2024-25 school year. The deadline to submit a grant application on IowaGrants closes on Dec. 16. 

CCTCs work directly through the community college and secondary schools to support college transition and career exploration through targeted connections with students and families during crucial time frames, including preparation, transition to enrollment and persistence through their postsecondary experience. The CCTCs work closely with students in grades 11 and 12 in partner high schools, throughout the summer after high school graduation and as part of the first-year support system for students coming out of this program at the coordinating community college. The positions are hosted at the community college and partner with at least one school district.

More information on CCTCs and how to apply for grant funding can be found on the Department's CCTC webpage. Interested community colleges and school districts are encouraged to review the CCTC toolkit and information sheet. 

For more information about the CCTC initiative, contact Erica Woods-Schmitz at erica.woods-schmitz@iowa.gov or 515-330-0185.

When Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) celebrated their official grand opening at the DeWitt Career Advancement Center last week, they weren’t just opening doors to the facility. They were opening doors to new career academies, college pathways and opportunities for unlimited success.

The 26,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will serve eight rural school districts in Clinton and Jackson counties and will feature six different career academy programs in career and technical education (CTE). Students will have opportunities to earn short-term certificates and credits towards diplomas and associate degrees in agriculture, CNC (computer numerical control) machining, construction technology, health care, information technology and small business management. Courses at the DeWitt regional center will be split into two wings housing classroom learning and hands-on training with industry-standard equipment for industrial technology and agricultural programs.

“We worked with local high schools to see what programs resonated with students,” said Brian Kelly, EICC vice chancellor of strategy, support and planning and president of Clinton Community College. “The programs are also reflections of the jobs in the community and what careers are in-demand.”

The deadline to apply for the first round of the 2023-24 Career Academy Incentive Fund is Nov. 16. 

Submissions must include collaboration between at least one Iowa school district and one community college. Partnerships that promote equitable access to high-quality career and technical education (CTE) programs are strongly encouraged to apply. Priority consideration will go to applicants with partnerships between multiple school districts and a community college and who deliver programming through a regional center, which is a central location that offers high school students from several school districts the opportunity to explore career options while earning both high school and college credit.

The Career Academy Incentive Fund is provided through the 2019 reauthorization of Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE), and individual grant programs can be awarded up to $1 million for career academy development and expansion. The number of grant awards is based on the amount of funds available and the scope of projects submitted.

For more information on how to apply, visit the Career Academy Incentive Fund webpage or contact Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or 515-326-5378.

A hidden gem of Iowa’s community colleges is quietly helping to shape and strengthen the workforce across the state. Through partnerships with various employers, community colleges have been providing innovative customized training to help upskill workers through tailored technical and professional learning opportunities.

Aptly named, customized training are courses that have been individualized to meet the needs of a business and its staff. They can cover anything from technical skills, such as industrial maintenance, line production, health care and more, to language and leadership. Through customized training, employers can help recruit, retain and promote valuable workers by offering upskill opportunities.

“Our 15 community colleges really make customized training an easy option for businesses who need additional training for their employees,” said Paula Nissen, administrative consultant for the Iowa Department of Education. “There is so much flexibility that customized training can provide. Community colleges work with employers to set up goals, the length of the program and even what location is most convenient for staff participation.”

The search is underway for Iowa's top agriculture educator of the year. The nominating period for the 2023-24 Golden Owl Award honoring excellence in agriculture education is now open for submissions. The deadline to nominate an educator is Dec. 1. 

Sponsored by the Iowa FFA Foundation, Nationwide Insurance and other partners in agriculture, the annual Golden Owl Award celebrates the outstanding work of agriculture education leaders in Iowa. Students, fellow teachers, faculty and other partners are invited to submit nominations for exceptional ag educators who have made a difference.

Seven finalists for the award will be selected in early 2024. Each finalist will receive a $500 prize, a commemorative engraved plaque and the chance to be named as Iowa’s top agriculture educator. A grand prize of $3,000 and the Golden Owl trophy will be presented to the winner at the Iowa FFA Convention next April.

For more information, contact Mattthew Eddy at matthew.eddy@iowa.gov or 515-720-8863. 

When paraeducators Kara Maloy and Cody Saveraid stepped back into their schools this fall, they were more than just ready; they were prepared. This year, both associates returned to their school districts as certified paraeducators, which has strengthened their skills and provided strategies on how to best support students and teachers in the classroom.

Currently, Iowa does not require paraeducators to be certified to work in schools. An estimated 1,065 associates have received their paraeducator certification during 2022-23, and Maloy, an associate at Albia Community School District, and Saveraid, an associate at Waukee Community School District, had no hesitations about joining in the certification process.

“I wanted more knowledge about being a better associate and to have more tools to work with students,” Maloy said. “I loved being able to take the paraeducator course. It was very informational and will help me with many different areas at school.”

In Iowa, paraeducator courses are offered through 25 programs at community colleges, Area Education Agencies (AEA) and four-year institutions. To be certified, paraeducators are required to complete two to three courses of a total of 90 contact hours for general studies and another 45 hours for additional areas of concentration, such as English as a second language, special needs, early childhood and more.

Maloy and Saveraid both received their paraeducator certification through courses at Indian Hills Community College.

For more information on paraeducator certification grants, contact Amy Gieseke at amy.gieseke@iowa.gov or 515-858-2234.  

Welcome aboard! Jathan Chicoine joined the Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness on Oct. 13. He will serve as the consultant for the State Approving Agency for Veterans Education and Training. 

Prior to coming to the Department, Chicoine served as the program manager for Home Base Iowa at Iowa Workforce Development and started the first Veterans Center program at Iowa State University. Chicoine is a U.S. Navy veteran and has used his own experiences to build empathy and understanding for veterans issues at both the state and national levels. Chicoine is looking forward to collaborating with others and being a part of a growth mindset culture. 

For questions on Veterans Education and Training, contact Chicoine at jathan.chicoine@iowa.gov or 515-725-1057. 

Recent staff changes have occurred within the Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness. Bureau consultants Chris Dzurick and Kristy Volesky have recently left the Department, and consultant Kelly Faga has transferred internally. We thank all of them for their dedicated work and contributions to postsecondary education issues and wish them the best in their future endeavors. 

During the interim, contact Cale Hutchings for issues related to career and technical student organizations, business and marketing at cale.hutchings@iowa.gov or 515-975-8193. 

Additionally, any items pertaining to work-based learning programs can be directed to Joe Collins at joe.collins@iowa.gov or 515-419-5190. 

For questions regarding educator preparation, contact Maryam Rod-Szabo at maryam.rodszabo@iowa.gov or (515) 360-7369.

Join our team! The Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness has new career opportunities for candidates passionate about education in Iowa.

We are currently seeking applicants for two Education Program Consultants for Educator Preparation. These positions provide technical assistance, monitoring and support for administrator and teacher preparation programs. The deadline to apply is Nov. 26. 

Additional job openings for the bureau will be posted soon. To learn more about these and other Department job postings, visit the Iowa Department of Administrative Services website. For specific questions on open bureau positions, contact Amy Gieseke at amy.gieseke@iowa.gov or 515-858-2234.