On February 16, the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) published an article highlighting a partnership between the Knoxville Community School District and Weiler, an asphalt and forestry equipment manufacturing company.
The program, created by KCSD science teacher Sean Sanger, has been successful thanks to partnerships with local businesses that provide “high-quality work-based learning experiences and purposeful real-world projects,” according to the article.
Students’ work with Weiler offers a primary example of the many successful outcomes of the program. The manufacturing company supplies funding for KCSD’s manufacturing equipment, including plasma tables and air compressors.
In addition to equipment, the partnership with Weiler provides students with internship opportunities, job shadowing, and worksite tours.
KCSD’s manufacturing program includes a school-based enterprise that empowers students to develop a business-like project to use what they have learned in school in real-world situations.
The article also features the partnership between KCSD and the Chariton Community School District, which produces two student-created trophies for Weiler’s sponsored night at Knoxville Raceway. Knoxville and Chariton students leverage the skills they have learned in the manufacturing program, such as teamwork and organization.
“It is an absolute honor to be recognized by the Department of Education for our manufacturing program,” said Cassi Pearson, KCSD Superintendent. “Mr. Sanger has put his heart and soul into this program to develop new opportunities for our students. We love seeing our students fall in love with a new field of interest that can lead to a wide range of job opportunities in the future.”
The article is available at: https://educateiowa.gov/article/knoxville-manufacturing-program-thrives-strong-business-partnership.
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