When IGNITE Pathways leaders sat down with area business partners to discuss what a first-of-its-kind, hands on education program might look like, ideas and suggestions were offered freely. Knowing that these great ideas needed to be recorded, someone grabbed a pen and a napkin, and the rest is history. Several iterations later, IGNITE Pathways is leaving its mark in Southwest Iowa and across the country.
IGNITE Pathways is transforming education by seamlessly integrating core academic credits into Career and Technical Education (CTE) experiences. This innovative approach allows students to fulfill essential requirements in subjects like English, math, social studies, and science while engaging in hands-on, industry-relevant learning. By connecting core curriculum to practical applications, IGNITE is changing the educational landscape, making learning more engaging and relevant for students. This integration not only enhances student achievement but also helps close workforce gaps by equipping learners with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s job market.
IGNITE students can earn core credits (English, math, science and social studies) in their career and technical education coursework. They gain technical and workplace readiness skills in the field to make them employable, regardless of the field of study they choose to pursue.
Perhaps most important, many students graduate high school, not only with a diploma, but also with in-demand job skills, college credits, certifications, and/or apprenticeships for a bright future.
IGNITE Pathways is committed to expanding its student programming to provide even more career exploration experiences for students in grades 6-12. In addition, we are growing our adult learning opportunities by offering both public courses and industry training programs that can be customized to meet the specific needs of businesses. A recent addition to our programming model is educator training options, which allow the IGNITE team to share our innovative discoveries and teaching models with districts across the country. This initiative aims to spread our transformative approach to education, ensuring that more students benefit from the skills and knowledge we impart.
