Mark Perna: Recorded Session and Resources
Bestselling author and generational expert Mark C. Perna hosted two conversations with community lea...
Educators and counselors play a critical role in helping students explore careers, identify a career plan, and build the skills they will need for future success. We know you can’t do it alone! The resources in this section are designed to support the critical career-learning work you do in the classroom.
Once students have a few career pathways that interest them, it’s time to explore how they can build their knowledge and skills in that pathway through job shadows, internships, in-school courses, and outside-of-school programs and camps.
What types of experiences and information should a student have in order to make the most informed decision about college and career planning? This framework, developed in Illinois, provides a set of standards by grade that can help educators, schools, and districts connect and align their career exploration curriculum.
Financial Aid and Literacy:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Career Exploration and Development:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Financial Aid and Literacy:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Financial Aid and Literacy:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Financial Aid and Literacy:
Career Exploration and Development:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
Financial Aid and Literacy:
Post-Secondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection:
While we want every student to find their passion, we also want to make sure they know which careers are in high-demand in our region. Students who pursue these pathways and develop the required skills are likely to have job opportunities right here in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR).
CAREER* | EDUCATION | SALARY* | IOWA CORE |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural Engineer | Bachelor’s Degree | $49,000 | Career Pathway → |
Diesel Mechanic | Associate’s Degree | $40,000 | Career Pathway → |
Plumber | High School Diploma | $50,000 | Career Pathway → |
Farm Machinery Operator | Certificate | $35,000 | Career Pathway → |
Computer Software Developer | Associate’s Degree | $88,000 | Career Pathway → |
Health Info Technician | Associate’s Degree | $40,000 | Career Pathway → |
Financial Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $102,000 | Career Pathway → |
Marketing Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | $94,000 | Career Pathway → |
Registered Nurse | Bachelor’s Degree | $60,000 | Career Pathway → |
Computer Research Scientist | Master’s Degree | $93,000 | Career Pathway → |
*Information provided by Emsi National data and Kirkwood Community College Regional Talent Forecast Data
Explore the wealth of resources available to help your students achieve their educational and career goals through these local organizations.
Grant Wood AEA Media Center provides quality service and materials to support success for all learners. Resources include assistive technology; boxed, multiples, and leveled reading books; DVDs; professional journals; and access to a collection of 27 online resources. Visit Site →
Community Promise connects kids with real careers through their Career Explore Program. Visit Site →
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) is a nonprofit organization that assists students with multiple barriers to graduate from high school and/or successfully transition from high school to continued education and careers. Visit Site →
StairWay5 provides computer coding/programming, robotics, and engineering acceleration courses for youth, as well as summer camps and after-school STEM enrichment programs in the Iowa City area for elementary and junior high students. Visit Site →
New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is a nonprofit organization focused on ensuring that Iowa is known around the world for making big things happen. Visit Site →
WLC has developed age-appropriate programs to show younger students the relevance of classroom activities as they relate to the world of work. Visit Site →
STEM is a vital economic development advantage for quality job growth in Iowa, as STEM graduates are in great demand to meet current and future workforce needs. Created with the goal of increasing STEM interest and achievement, the Iowa STEM Council is a collaboration of bipartisan Iowa legislators, educators, business, nonprofits, students, and families focused on improving STEM opportunities and awareness in Iowa. Visit Site →
Ignite My Future in School is a comprehensive set of resources seamlessly integrating the principles of computational thinking across the curriculum and at home to give students the 21st century skills they need for future success. Visit Site →
Inspiring and preparing young people to succeed, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa helps prepare today’s students for a bright future. Visit Site →
Future Ready Iowa is a statewide initiative signed in by Executive Order that brings students, educators, and professionals together to foster work-based learning experiences that will jumpstart the next generation of the workforce by exposing them to different kinds of careers. Visit Site →
ICR Industry Sector Boards are business-led coalitions that develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to meet the workforce needs of a specific industry. These boards work hand-in-hand with regional organizations to help students explore their career interests and connect with career opportunities right here in ICR Iowa.
ICR sector boards have developed industry specific web-sites and a shared landing page to help students and job seekers complete a career interest assessment and navigate occupations across multiple industries that align with their personality type and natural skills and interests. Check out this resource at https://explore-careers.org.
High-quality teaching and counseling are vital for student success. Explore elements of effective professional development and leadership critical for growing and supporting your career.
Through Ignite My Future, TCS and Discovery Education are partnering to ignite action on the critical role computational thinking plays in 21st century classrooms by empowering educators with world-class transdisciplinary learning resources.
The Iowa STEM Council offers many professional development opportunities, including through programs such as STEM Scale Up, STEM BEST, and Iowa STEM teacher externships.
New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is a nonprofit organization focused on ensuring that Iowa is known around the world for making big things happen.
Equipping teachers with knowledge and hands on experience allows for a classroom curriculum best aligned with the employer needs. The Marion Community Promise provides resources to empower teachers to be more knowledgeable in the classroom as they influence the career pathways of our future workforce.
Grant Wood Area Education Agency offers opportunities for professional learning to enhance professional skills and practices to improve student learning. These include a variety of courses for credit, workshops that offer the latest evidence-based professional learning for educators, parents and community partners, and paraeducator and substitute authorization training programs.
Bestselling author and generational expert Mark C. Perna hosted two conversations with community lea...
ICAN’s new Trades Guide is a great resource for students considering a career path in the cons...
ICR Industry Sector Boards are business-led coalitions that develop, implement, and evaluate strateg...