How a Chamber and Spencer Schools Joint Program Helps Students and Businesses

Many high school students – and their parents, too – would probably agree that high school is over in a blur. Blink and it’s done. The student has graduated and it’s time to decide what’s next: college, trade school, apprenticeship or an immediate entry into the workforce. Unlike the homework and tests these students took throughout those last four years, there’s not necessarily a clear right or wrong answer.

But preparation, along with some exploration helps bring into focus those answers for individual students and their unique situations. Spencer High School students benefit from the opportunity to graduate both prepared and having explored different paths through the school’s Work Based Learning Program.

Under the Work Based Learning Program, the goal is for students to have six career experiences before they graduate. Anything from a job shadow or a college visit can count, as can a more in-depth experience, like an internship or what Spencer High School calls Extended Career Experiences. For students to find those opportunities at businesses within the community, a bridge is often needed.

Alex Dreier, Work Based Learning Assistant for the Spencer Chamber of Commerce, serves as that bridge between students wanting to gain experience in specific fields and the Spencer companies and organizations who are looking for eager young minds.

Dreier helps students looking for those Extended Career Experiences (ECEs) by setting them up with businesses that have opportunities that fit the mold of what the student is looking for or interested in.

Valuable Experience for Spencer Students

“Being housed at the Chamber, I get the benefit of all the Chamber’s business contacts,” Dreier said. “That’s been great as we try and continue growing the program. If I have a student who’s super interested in welding, then I’m able to use some of the Chamber’s contacts and relationships with businesses in the area to really try and find welding-specific placements for the student.”

One of the highlights of these ECEs is that the programs last an entire semester, so the student gains experience by either observing or through hands-on learning at several different Spencer businesses in their desired field.

“It’s a semester-long class where a student picks an industry like construction, agriculture, manufacturing (or another industry) and then we place them into maybe six to 10 different businesses in that sector,” Dreier explained. “They’ll spend a week or two at each business and get to learn and do some of the hands-on work at the business and just learn more about what the business does and what the industry is all about.”

Opportunities for Businesses

Dreier noted that the businesses and organizations involved in the Work Based Learning Program and ECEs also stand to benefit from the partnership.

For example, he said that many businesses are short staffed and are almost always actively looking for new employees. This program gives the businesses the chance to gain exposure among interested students.

“This is an opportunity for a business to have an upperclassman, a junior or senior who’s interested in their industry, come into their business,” Dreier said.

He added that could lead to a summer or parttime job after high school graduation – or perhaps a more permanent position down the road.

“It can kind of establish that connection and hopefully help with some of the staffing needs for the business,” Dreier said.

That’s a real benefit many Spencer businesses see value in. Dreier estimated there are upwards of 40 businesses currently participating in ECE opportunities for students.

No Boundaries Offers Deeper Exploration

Spencer students can also benefit from another in-depth program, No Boundaries. While some ECEs are more focused on aspects of a specific job or industry, No Boundaries leans toward creativity and is focused on project management, Dreier said. No Boundaries allows students to apply themselves in more of those problem-solving or outside-the-box thinking areas.

“Over the summer, we went out and talked with area businesses and learned about what projects they’ve had on their dream lists of things that they’ve maybe wanted to try and get going but just haven’t had the time,” Dreier said.

Students in No Boundaries learn a little more about each project and then students work in teams on the two initiatives they are most passionate about.

A True Community Partnership

Spencer’s Work Based Learning Program is a prime example of how schools and businesses can partner with each other. Businesses are able to tackle projects, help students discover their career interests and train them for future workforce needs.

Dreier said the cohesive, symbiotic relationship between businesses and the school district makes the program even stronger.

“More than any other community I’ve been a part of, in Spencer, almost every day I have a super positive interaction with a business who will do pretty much whatever they can to support the schools,” he said. “That’s a really neat thing to witness.”

Here at the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, we want to see our region thrive. Covering Clay, Dickinson, Buena Vista and Emmet Counties, the Corridor assists businesses, communities, and individuals to support the growth of the region. We do this through partnering with our local chambers, cities, and counties on business retention & expansion programming, business attraction efforts, entrepreneurial & small business support, and workforce & community development.

We know that the Corridor region has many amenities to enjoy and is a wonderful place to live, work, and do business. The Corridor staff is here to help you get a taste of life in NW Iowa and Spencer. Whether you’re looking to relocate, expand, own your own business, or learn more about the opportunities in the Corridor Region, we’d love to get to know you!

To learn more, visit our website at www.lakescorridor.com or contact us at info@lakescoridor.com or 712-264-3474.