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Training & Education

TRAINING & EDUCATION

We’re committed to unlocking student potential

Nothing is more important than the success of every iJAG student – and we recognize that our in-school staff is the key to helping individualize their growth and development. This is why we invest in year-round training and education that anticipates needs in education, community, and the workplace.

New staff support:

All new staff members are required to participate in 90 hours of iJAG-led training and 40 hours of job shadowing with application.

  • Application responses 
  • Assessments, both formative and summative 
  • BOEE (Iowa Board of Educational Examiners) iJAG Authorization Credential
  • Data management system
  • Effective classroom management strategies
  • Google Workspaces
  • JAG Model Component & Standards
  • JAG advantage competencies
    • Project-based learning
    • Employer engagement
    • Trauma-informed care
  • Individualized coaching
  • Iowa Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) 360 training specializes in supporting youth who have experienced stressful or traumatic events. Research shows these events impact brain development and are related to health problems throughout the lifespan.
  • Mandatory reporting policies and protocol
  • Mentors during the first year of employment
  • Roleplay 
  • Small-group activities 
  • Teach backs, regular check-ins, and presentations to check for understanding 
  • Time management

All staff who deliver in-school programming must demonstrate competencies before they are placed in our classrooms.

Development that’s ongoing:

  • Crucial Conversations: This training for iJAG leadership team provides a curriculum rich with group discussion, real-time practice, and group support and coaching. Delivered over two days, this in-person class offers the best in traditional learning and development. Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue teaches nine powerful skill sets grounded in decades of social science research.
  • Summer Learning Summit (SLS): All staff participate in three days of offsite professional learning. The annual event includes a motivational keynote speaker, discussion-based breakout sessions, team-building activities, and an award ceremony where select staff are highlighted for their contributions.
  • Project-Based Learning (PBL): Dr. Graeber is a PBL expert who delivers skill-building and training for our school-based staff members. Learning concepts consist of effective teaching practices, standardization,  implementation strategies, and understanding of assessment and evaluation.
  • The Scanlan Center for School Mental Health at the University of Iowa: All staff complete a 10-Hour Best+Well curriculum that strengthens their mental health knowledge and evidence-based applications in their classrooms and schools, as well as their personal lives.
  • Work-Based Learning (WBL): School-based staff members participate in learning concepts that focus on the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of successful Career & Technical Education (CTE) programming. Other topics are centered around offsite learning and building employer partnerships.
  • On-demand resources: Available by role on a variety of topics, including bullying & harassment, classroom management, communication skills, mental health & wellness, preventing youth suicide, social-emotional learning, and substance abuse.
  • Quarterly staff professional development days
  • Monthly training events

Our training partners:

Breakthrough Co. Logo
Breakthrough Co. delivers an Active Manager Program that drives better results and creates sustainable change to help managers unlock master skills needed for the workplace.Participants are introduced to several important concepts such as the fundamentals of learning and the difference between active and reactive management. As they develop greater awareness of these concepts, they feel more confident and are able to demonstrate these improved skills.
Franklin Covey Logo
Franklin Convey features the Leader in Me curriculum whose goal is to develop college, career, and life-ready leaders in a culture where staff remains highly engaged with students. This training encourages everyone to be driven by purpose through leadership, culture and academics.
Jag National Logo
Four of our staff members serve on the National Training Faculty for Jobs for America’s Graduates, the affiliate for 39 state organizations including Iowa. Learn more about the support our trainers deliver nationwide here.
Junior Achievement of Central Iowa Logo
We partner with Junior Achievement of Central Iowa to deliver the Career SuccessⓇ Learning Experience curriculum with select school district partners. The program is an engaging and comprehensive strategy that delivers age-appropriate experiences in program that introduces teens and young adults to the workplace. As interns, they participate work across in realistic work experiences in several multiple departments for of a fictional company to gain, Orbit Boom. The learning experience teaches soft skills and business best practices in the context of realistic scenarios and assignments. Supporting blended as well as self-guided activities, Junior Achievement Career Success builds knowledge, skills, and abilities in every competency of their Work and Career Readiness Pathway.
We partner with Kuder, Inc. to offer career assessment tools, which are designed to help individuals explore and identify suitable career paths based on their interests, skills, and values. These assessments often involve self-assessment questionnaires and provide insights into potential career options that align with each individual student.
Scanlan Center for School Mental Health Logo
The Scanlan Center for School Mental Health at the University of Iowa is the state’s hub for school-based mental health research, training, professional learning and clinical services. We work with this organization to support the well-being of our students and Specialists statewide
The Work Based Learning authorization at the University of Northern Iowa is designed to fulfill the requirement of work-based learning coordinator techniques. Our Education Specialists will learn the basics of planning, organizing, and implementing work-based learning to address two goal areas: specific occupational skill development and standard work-behavior development.
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In addition to training and education facilitated by our organization, iJAG Specialists also participate in local opportunities provided by the school district in which they serve.