Real World Learning in Real Time

USD 232 partners with local businesses to cultivate tomorrow’s workforce.

ARTICLE BY Rachel C. Murphy

PHOTOS BY Casey Rooman Smith

“But when will I ever use this in real life?”

The sentiment echoes through school hallways nationwide as students shuffle from trigonometry class to English. While the math and English teachers know the practical applications, it can be a tough sell for teenagers. But the state of Kansas is subtly integrating more readily applicable benchmarks in the educational system, and De Soto’s Unified School District 232 is ahead of the curve by partnering with the Real World Learning program.

The Real World Learning program is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, presently with more than 80,000 participating students across 30 districts. The program aims to cultivate at least one ‘market-value asset’ for each student by 2030. To do that, the program connects local employers with schools. These connections yield class projects with real impact, internships, and on-the-job learning opportunities to help cultivate well-rounded, job-ready graduates, whether they pursue higher education, launch their own businesses, or go directly into the workforce.

Kevin Jeffries is the Real-World Learning Business to Education coordinator for USD 232. He says, unlike some pre-professional programs, the Real World Learning program integrates into every student’s educational journey through class projects and internships at the high school level. Rather than simply funnel students into jobs, the program is customizable to allow students to earn college credit, get work experience, and get a feel for what career they might want to pursue.

The district’s two high schools— De Soto High and Mill Valley High—aim to help students gain real-world experience even before graduation.

Students at De Soto High School and Mill Valley High have a wide range of opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

“What we’re trying to do through the program is develop what some people call soft skills,” Jeffries says. “How do (students) communicate what they learned in class? How well do they communicate with their co-workers, offering ideas, being an active part of the workforce? Are they creative problem solvers?”

The district’s main focus so far has been securing internships, many of which take place during school hours and on clientconnected projects. Client-connected projects are often integrated into regular classes, like English, Accounting, Marketing or Graphic Design. The students work together to complete a project for a local company, whether it’s an advertising campaign, product design, or human resources project.

The program highlights four market-value assets:

• Work experience through internships and part-time employment

• Entrepreneurship through developing business ideas that are theoretically pitched to investors

• College credit with nine hours or more of college-level credit toward an accredited degree program

• Industry credentials such as OSHA10

Although the Real World Learning program debuted in the Kansas City region three years ago, Jeffries says USD 232 started the program in the 2022-23 school year. He says every project and internship has been a success in one way or another.

A large healthcare system worked with a group of students on a graphic design project for the holidays. One student stood out to the client, and they praised her gifted eye for design. That student is now working on redesigning a logo for one of the USD 232 middle schools. Jeffries says this outside affirmation of the student’s skills was a shot of confidence when it’s most important.

Conversely, some internships reveal what students don’t want to do with their lives. “We’ve had a couple of students that have done internships with local companies,” Jeffries says. “Some of the students came back and said the work wasn’t what they thought it would be.”

Cedar Trails Exploration Center allows students to catch a glimpse of a number of possible career paths.

Road to Entrepreneurship

Jeffries says the only component missing now is entrepreneurship, but he expects the district will be able to involve that soon. There are opportunities to grow with a student-run coffee shop on campus and a spirit-wear store.

So far, the district has engaged with more than 40 partners through the program in the form of internships, guest speakers, and career days for middle and high school students. Partners have included Quest Diagnostics, AdventHealth, AAA Party Rental, and EvapTech.

Millie Laughlin, a bioscience instructor at the Cedar Trails Exploration Center (CTEC), says that despite some challenges, she and her students have enjoyed working within the new format. CTEC, which opened two years ago, shares the mission and methodology of Real World Learning, with a focus on bioscience, design, and emerging technologies.

“I’ve been teaching for 30 years and I’ve taught at different schools, but teaching at the CTEC facility is different,” Laughlin says. “Students are not only exploring the work in their fields of interest, but also exploring different careers—it’s incredible. It really gives them a great picture of what their future can hold before they graduate from high school.”

Since most lab and bioscience jobs or internships require participants to be 18, Laughlin has found ways to give real world insight with site visits and guest speakers. CTEC bioscience students have visited Merck, Hangar Fabrication, and the medical examiner’s office to experience autopsies and forensic science, as well as completed job shadowing in various fields.

For industries where age isn’t an issue, Laughlin and her peers are finding opportunities to put students in the driver’s seat. One of her students landed an internship at the Johnson County Water Quality facility after taking a course in biotechnical engineering. Another student is an intern at Quest Diagnostics. Both students have enjoyed the hands-on experience in industries that may define the course of their future careers.

Jeffries is thrilled at the progress the Real World Learning partnership is fostering—the district is currently building capacity for more students into their programming. With new businesses making De Soto home, the district’s leadership is excited to help students enter the workforce with viable skills and a roadmap to success.

“Every one of our employers that’s seen these students out in the workforce has been impressed by how much they know,” Jeffries says. “We’re looking at career paths for these students, whether that’s photography or theater or science, and figuring out how we can better prepare them for the future.”

Learn more about Real World Learning at https:// realworldlearning.org.

Students at De Soto High School and Mill Valley High have a wide range of opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

A Changing of the Guard

After 30 years of devotion to education, Frank Harwood, Ed.D., announced his retirement as superintendent of USD 232 last October and finished his duties at the end of the 2022–23 school year. Harwood served the district for seven years, ushering in an era of missiondriven focus, resulting in the Pathways course and the successful passage of a bond issue that benefited more than 38 different projects.

Frank Harwood

In March 2023, the district introduced the district’s next leader, Cory Gibson, Ed.D. Gibson will assume superintendent duties July 1. Gibson, a native Kansan, brings decades of experience to the role—he has served in every educational capacity, from maintenance director to teacher to principal to superintendent. In 2020, he earned praise as Kansas Superintendent of the Year.

Cory Gibson

For More

USD 232

35200 W. 91st St.

De Soto, KS 66018

913-667-6200

www.usd232.org

Cedar Trails Exploration Center

8201 Mize Blvd.

Lenexa, KS 66227

913-667-1820

www.usd232.org/ctec