State legislators, Iowa school board reps visit Greene County career academy

Special to the Jefferson Herald

State Legislators, Iowa School Board (IASB) representatives, Iowa Central Community College representatives, and community leaders visited the Greene County Career Academy Friday, Feb. 24 to learn more about the career academy.

Greene County Superintendent Brett Abbotts and Iowa Central Community College President Dr. Jesse Ulrich welcomed guests and discussed the impact the career academy has on local high school students and the college community.
Greene County Development Corporation president Sid Jones and community leader Chris Deal told the story and how the career academy became a reality for Greene County.

Neale Adams, Iowa Central’s Dean of Career and Technical Education, then spoke about the impact Iowa Central’s career academies have on all of the students in our region. Neale shared the relationship between Iowa Central and Greene County Schools and how Iowa Central helped the Greene County Career Academy.

Jim Ober, Vice President of Operations of Scranton Manufacturing, spoke about the business partnership New Way has with the career academy, as well as their commitment to support the programs.
The group then toured the Greene County Career Academy and the Greene County High School, including the auditorium and gymnasium.

During the last 30 minutes of the visit, four students from the career academy spoke during a Q&A session. These four students will graduate from high school with more than 180 college credits.

Their presentation showed the powerful magnitude of the career academy and what it can do for students.