Forming a Partnership with Pella

Mr. Shaffer and I participated in a multi-day planning session this week with Pella business leaders and staff members to consider how Shenandoah High School and Pella can develop a partnership to provide a seamless transition for students as they transition from school to work. This experience was an excellent opportunity to learn from each other, stretch our thinking, grow new ideas, and build upon the strengths of both the District and Pella.

The result of our conversation was to develop a plan of how we can work together to add course options that will introduce students to manufacturing with the support of staff from Pella, transition them into Career Technical Education (CTE) courses in woods, allow the students to participate in an internship and mentor them into full-time employment.  We also considered ways we could introduce students to manufacturing and CTE at a younger age by working with Pella to sponsor some of our afterschool and summer interest camps. 

This is exciting and motivational work as it ties directly into meeting a District goal to expand curriculum and access to CTE programs that are aligned with post-secondary learning opportunities and certification programs.  Developing this partnership will be an important focus for the District because we know and understand when schools, business, and communities work together it is good for our students and powerful things happen that are a benefit to everyone.

Thank you for the invitation, Pella. We are better for having spent time working together.