Local driver’s ed teachers attend state conference

The Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association had its 52nd annual conference April 5 and 6 at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd.

Pat Irsfeld, Cheryl Henn, Leann Carmany and Melissa Schulte, teachers from the driver education program, attended.

The convention’s theme was “ADTSEA Comes to Minnesota.” the program began with a presentation title ‘ADTSEA 3.0 Curriculum.” Each participating school received a copy of the latest curriculum materials and presenters Robin Bordner and Rich Hanson from ADTSEA broke their training into three sessions.

The Department of Public Safety Driver Education Coordinator Dustin Lacina and Scot Koester, an examiner, answered many questions to help the teachers better prepare students to pass the state exams.

Topics included “A Drug Free World,” “Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence,” “A Discussion with a State Trooper.”

Minneota High School junior students participate in job shadow experiences

Minneota High School, in partnership with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council’s (PIC) Youth and Young Adult Program, provided job shadow opportunities for the 11th-grade class to assist them in exploring their career interests and provide guidance towards a career pathway. Southwest Minnesota has incredible career and educational opportunities, unfortunately many students and adults are not aware of the opportunities. Job shadow experiences are designed to increase students’ awareness regarding current and future training and employment opportunities through interactive career information and exploration. Job shadows allow students the opportunity of an “on the job” experience, giving them a feel for what they would encounter if they were to obtain a position in that career field. It also aids students in determining what career to pursue and the steps or pathway to get to their goal.

The 11th-grade class at Minneota High School has a total of 44 students. The process of placing students at job shadow sites started with students filling out a career interest survey to identify career fields they would be interested in. The 11th-graders met individually with PIC staff and their high school counselor to: explore their interests, complete career assessments, review labor market information, and explore educational and career opportunities. After doing some research and considering multiple factors, students narrowed down a career and place of interest for their job shadow placement. PIC staff assisted in reaching out to employers to connect the students’ with their desired job shadow site. Job shadow sites were finalized and students began to explore their career of interest at local businesses and organizations.

Employers and organizations who hosted student job shadows included: Avera Marshall Medical Center (Marshall), MN State Patrol (Marshall), Minneota Family Dental (Minneota), B&B Electric (Minneota), Urban Appeal Salon (Marshall), City of Marshall, West Side Elementary (Marshall), Chamber of Commerce (Marshall), Marshall Lyon County Library, Puddle Jumpers (Granite Falls), Minneota Veterinary Clinic (Minneota), New Leaf (Canby), US Bank (Marshall), Pioneer Public TV (Granite Falls), Hy-Vee (Marshall), Centrol Consulting, MnDOT (Marshall), Action Sports (Marshall), Henle Printing (Marshall), North Memorial Ambulance (Marshall), Southwest Minnesota State University (Marshall),