The Dubuque Community School District is nearing the completion of their first year of their career and college readiness initiative, VERTEX.  The initiative represents the district’s strategic and intentional work to help students discover where their interests and future possibilities intersect.  VERTEX is designed around a core principle that career and college readiness is about more than one experience. In the Dubuque Community Schools, the process begins in middle school and continues through high school while providing experiences that get progressively deeper over time, moving through three key areas of awareness, exploration, and application.

Students are provided with meaningful workplace awareness, exploration and hands-on work experiences as they prepare to make informed decisions about their future. Experiences will include job shadowing, mentorship programs, services learning, and internship/work experience programs. These experiences are supported by strong academic opportunities across the curriculum including everything from career technical education and Advanced Placement courses to concurrent enrollment courses at area higher education institutions, that help prepare students for life after high school.

VERTEX also supports and aligns a variety of current programs that connect students with employers in real-world work experiences including: Work-Based Learning Program, School-to-Work Program, Summit Program, Transition Alliance Program (TAP), Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training (HEART) Program, and Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG). The initiative is uniting various offerings across the district while boosting the regional workforce pipeline with well-prepared, enthusiastic leaders of tomorrow.

FOR EMPLOYER INFORMATION: Contact David Moeller, Educational Support Leader, at dmoeller@dbqschools.org or 563-552-3082