Teaching Through Service: iJAG’s Karla Lilly Leads by Example
At iJAG, preparing students for the future goes beyond career exploration and employability skills. It’s also about helping young people discover their purpose, connect with their communities, and understand the impact they can make.
iJAG Specialist Karla Lilly is bringing those lessons to life through service.
Recently featured in Waukee Living magazine’s Neighbor Spotlight, Karla works alongside her students on service-learning projects with Meals from the Heartland. Through the partnership, students gain hands-on experience serving others while developing skills they’ll carry into school, the workplace, and their communities.
For the past three years, Karla has connected iJAG students with Meals from the Heartland, creating opportunities to package food, prepare meal bags, work as a team, and better understand food insecurity in their own community. The experience also gives students opportunities to practice communication, responsibility, teamwork, and other skills that help prepare them for adulthood.
But perhaps one of the most powerful lessons comes from Karla herself: service is something we can model, not simply teach.
By working alongside her students and sharing her own passion for helping others, Karla is showing them that everyone has something valuable to contribute—and that giving your time can make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life.
We’re proud to have Karla as part of the iJAG team and grateful for the example she sets for her students and community.
Read the full “Teaching Through Service” feature on page 13 of Waukee Living magazine to learn more about Karla, her students, and their work with Meals from the Heartland.