I was tasked with reviewing some of the Idaho Workforce Development Council’s work on work-based learning and developing some resources for school leaders to use to begin developing quality work-based learning opportunities in their schools. I read through the standards on work-based learning that had been developed by the Idaho Workforce Development Council and was able to provide some feedback to better align some of the language and formatting with language and formatting used in education content standards. I reviewed work-based learning resources developed by other states to create the start of a work-based learning implementation guide for school leaders in Idaho to use to start and/or evaluate current work-based learning opportunities in their schools. Finally, I create a 1 hour professional development that could be offered to school leaders to give them additional guidance on why work-based learning experiences are valuable for students, what quality work-based learning opportunities look like, and how to get started.

This was a great experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to work on something I feel passionate about, but knew very little about. Working with Jacque and Brock from the State Department of Education gave me valuable insight to the work they are doing and the passion they have for providing valuable work-based learning opportunities for students in Idaho. They gave me the support and resources I needed to be successful as I worked on this project. I feel that I have gained valuable insight into the work the State has done and the potential for work-based learning opportunities in my school as well as in the state.

Grade Level and Subject Taught: High School Principal