KANSAS CITY, KANSAS — From a quiet hallway between the pool where he teaches swimming two hours a day and a classroom where he teaches health and health sciences classes, Drew Garner, Turner High School teacher and head boys and girls golf coach, has launched a podcast to help students explore health industry careers.
As a product of Kansas public schools in the 1980s and early 1990s, I grew up believing that if I (as a girl) wanted to be president of the United States, I could be. My parents taught me that if William wants a doll, he should have one, and that it was just as important for women to work outside of the home as men.
Growing up, I was greatly influenced by my father, Eddie Anderson, who is an amazing speaker, mentor, church leader, project estimator, construction supervisor and a jack of all trades. Today, he’s highly respected by his peers, community and church. But in high school, he was told, “Eddie, you don’t need to go to college or get a degree to be successful. You can just work off your back.”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
When it comes to inspiring kids to think about their futures, asking this question can really put them on the spot. Sure, adults often think kids’ answers are cute, but for some kids, this question can be quite stressful because they don’t have any clue yet what their options are, and they might feel like they have to have their life mapped out in third grade!
Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) partners with public schools to help some of the most educationally at-risk and economically disadvantaged students overcome their barriers to success. We are a nonprofit state affiliate of the national JAG program, which operates in 39 different states and U.S. territories.
What comes to mind when you think of an apprenticeship? A 19th century shoemaker? Mickey Mouse and the sorcerer? You may be surprised to learn that a growing number of today’s employers in health care, construction, information technology, financial services, engineering and more now offer programs to allow Kansans to obtain their education and job experience simultaneously through an apprenticeship.
By Dr. Cynthia Lane, Co-Chair, Governor’s Council on Education
How many times have you asked, or heard a young person in your family ask, “Why do I have to know this? I’ll never use this _____ (fill in the blank).”
You may be hearing the acronym “IPS” used at your child’s school and be wondering what that means. Introduced in 2014, the individual plan of study (IPS) is a tool to help students explore possible future careers. An IPS includes all the processes and products that work together throughout a student’s educational career to help the student make informed decisions about a post-secondary education and career path. Knowing more about the IPS can help parents like you help your child get even more out of the process.
Hi! I’m Jim Genandt, President/CEO of Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC) in Manhattan, Kansas. MATC is an institution of higher education, and our emphasis is on HIRE education. We help our students enter the workforce with skills for essential occupations.
Starting in March 2020 in the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed our nation and forced schools across the globe to shut down as we determined the safest way to keep living and learning. For many parents, this meant adjusting work schedules or working from home so they could take care of, and teach, their kids. Millions of parents across the country — as well as the entire globe — have found themselves taking on a much more active, hands-on role in their child’s education.