Waukee High School Students Gain Real-World Experience

Kuder participates in the School-to-Work (STW) program at Waukee High School both as an online career planning system provider and an employer partner.

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Project Overview

The Waukee STW program begins with a career development course in the first term followed by an internship in the second. It employs Navigator to help students discover their career interests, and focuses on resume prep, workplace etiquette, and interviewing skills. Later, participating students apply for and are placed in college-level internships at a variety of local business partner sites based on their Kuder assessment results. In addition to the real world experience, students receive five community college credits upon completing the course and internship.

“We swear by and use Kuder Navigator in the School-to Work program. Navigator is an important and integral part of our district's preparation of students for college and future careers.”

Mindi Heitland, School-to-Work Program Coordinator

Waukee Community School District

The Kuder Solution

Kuder Navigator

Kuder Navigator®

Combines education planning, career exploration, and workforce readiness in a single platform. Waukee STW students can identify their interests, skills and work values; plan for postsecondary education or training; find scholarships; explore career options; create resumes and electronic portfolios; and much more.

Kuder Customization

Employer Partner & Internship Provider

Offering Waukee STW students the opportunity to gain real-world work experience, Kuder works with STW program instructors to tailor internships to suit students' interests. Students are immersed into various environments, including accounting, communications, client engagement, development, and human resources.

Parents gain peace of mind.

Dave and Cathy Gray say that at the beginning of the Waukee STW program, their daughter Mary Kate “was very uncertain about what she wanted to do, and a little frustrated about that.” The Kuder assessments provided “visible options,” and the confidence Mary Kate needed to pursue her career goals.

Mary Kate's Story: "I'm more confident."

Mary Kate Gray says thinking about a future career can be, "a bit daunting ... especially with the short time frame [between senior year and] college, but I think the Kuder assessments really specify what you're good at and give you the confidence you need to say, 'I can go after that job that I want.'"

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