Iowa Department of Education

Signs saying “apply today” are commonplace as businesses across the country struggle to find employees. Iowa schools are no different, with some feeling the pinch of teacher and paraeducator staff shortages, particularly in content areas designated as shortage areas in the state.

If teachers could design their own classrooms, what would it look like? Adjustable seating for all? Desks that you can write on? A video game that drills into students the multiplication tables? Maybe even desks with bike pedals to help students wear off extra energy while they learn?

For four eastern Iowa school districts, career exploration just got easier. A new shared coordinator focused solely on work-based learning experiences is now onboard, traveling to middle and high schools to help connect students to hands-on learning and career pathway discovery.

No one would disagree that it can be a challenge filling teaching positions, particularly in identified shortage areas like secondary math and special education. But one district started the school year – on Day 1 – with every single teaching spot filled. Every. Single. Position.

14, 13, 11, 3 and 1. Like any family man, the ages of Mike Omari’s five children relay how busy his days are. Add in a full-time job, and his schedule is quickly filled up, seemingly too busy for any additional activities including opportunities for education and training.

Can you picture where you were 40 years ago today? Kevin Cooper can. He was at the Iowa State Fair serving as an FFA adviser to student exhibitors.