Welcome from the President

Whether this is your first or thirtieth year in work-based learning, thank you for supporting students in a continuum of learning through industry and education partnerships. With the continued goal of connecting work-based learning coordinators with professional resources, IWBL continues to offer access to Schoology to members. In addition, the Iowa Department of Education’s Work-Based Learning site provides information and resources on getting started, course coding, signing up for the Work-Based Learning Coordinator Newsletter, and professional organizations. 

As an affiliate of Iowa ACTE, IWBL joins other educational organizations in promoting high quality learning and activities for students. Iowa ACTE has unified with ACTE, providing membership at a division, state and national level. IWBL members represent individuals passionate about helping students reach their educational goals through work-based learning. Membership in IWBL, IACTE, and ACTE provides a greater network to develop better practices. Additional information will be forthcoming on unified membership. 

The work to create educationally supported opportunities through the essential elements of 1. Academic Preparation, 2. Partnership Between Education and Industry, and 3. Academic Follow-up has never been more important. The need for ongoing professional learning continues and we want to extend a “Save the Date” for the 2023 IWBL Conference on April 4 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. 

It is an honor to serve as this year’s Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators President. From internships to student based enterprises, thank you, again, for your passion and leadership in providing high quality work-based learning experiences for students, businesses, and partner organizations. 

Sincerely,
Tara Troester
Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators President
2022-2023