For Iola High School students, the path from classroom to career is getting clearer thanks to a new initiative that invites local businesses and community members to step inside the school and share their expertise. The program, built around tiered partnership levels, aims to connect students with real-world mentors who can help them navigate college and career choices long before graduation day.
The program is the vision of Dana Daugharthy, USD 257’s CTE coordinator and guidance counselor. Unlike traditional sponsorships that fund athletics or activities, this partnership is about something different: investing time and expertise in students’ futures.
“We are partners in the growth of our kids,” Daugharthy explained. “We’re mentors for our kids in terms of college and career readiness.”
The College & Career Partnership is structured into three levels — Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each level has certain participation requirements and corresponding benefits. Bronze partners would participate in two activities such as attending Career Conversations or reviewing resumés. Silver partners would take part in multiple events, like offering mock interviews or hosting student visits. Gold partners go further, committing to several informational and mentorship opportunities with students across the year.
Benefits for partners scale along with involvement. They can include social media recognition, print promotions at CTE events, and, at the Gold level, a gift package. Daugharthy emphasized that there is no monetary requirement to participate. “It’s not about a sponsorship check,” he said. “It’s about showing up, sharing your knowledge, and being willing to mentor.”
SOME OF the partnerships focus on career exploration. Iola High hosts annual Career Conversations and a College & Career Fair where colleges, businesses and organizations set up tables to speak directly with students. This would serve as an opportunity for a partner to share knowledge of their particular career field with students. Field trips are also on the table, whether that means taking a robotics class to B&W Trailer Hitches — as students did last year — or arranging visits to accounting firms, factories, or other workplaces.
“Kids drive by places like B&W or Russell Stover all the time, but they’ve never been inside,” Daugharthy said. “This gives them a chance to see the different professions available and what it’s really like.”
BEYOND exploration, the program emphasizes skill-building. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the district will host its first round of mock interviews for about 40 seniors. Business leaders in the partnership program are invited to serve on interview panels, asking questions and providing direct, constructive feedback.
“It’s a non-threatening environment where students can practice,” Daugharthy said. “They’ll get to hear, ‘That was a really good answer, but maybe you change this,’ from real professionals.”
In the spring, all sophomores will write resumés, with the possibility of a resumé competition judged by the community partners. Volunteers would review a handful of resumés, offer notes, and select their top picks. Daugharthy added that the top examples could be displayed to highlight best practices for other students.
Daugharthy noted that these kinds of activities aren’t just about skills, but about confidence. “If kids can sit across from a stranger in a suit and get through a conversation now, they’ll be so much more prepared when it really counts,” he said.
PARTICIPANTS in the partnership program don’t need to commit to every event. “If someone doesn’t want to speak in front of kids but would love to look at resumés, they can just do that,” Daugharthy explained. “These are opportunities to partner and get in front of kids or give feedback to kids.”
The annual Career Conversation event is set for Nov. 20, and Daugharthy noted that they are still seeking presenters from a wide range of industries. He added that the district is also working to reach middle school students with similar exposure opportunities, helping them begin exploring career options earlier.
“I just want to open up the information and opportunity perspective for our students,” he said. “The more adults they interact with, the more doors they can imagine opening for themselves.”
Community members, business leaders, or professionals interested in participating can contact Daugharthy directly at 620-365-4726 or by email at dana.daugharthy@usd257.org.
