Linn-Mar Excessive Faculty senior Kyra Kanz (left) smiles at kindergartner Ellie McAlpine as they work on counting expertise Nov. 9 at Westfield Elementary Faculty in Robins. Kyra is among the college students within the district’s apprenticeship program to grow to be paraeducators. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Workforce Growth mentioned the variety of Iowans participating in apprenticeships is at a file excessive because the company celebrates Nationwide Apprenticeship Week.

In fiscal 2022, Iowa had 9,731 lively apprentices and created the best variety of new packages within the nation, the company mentioned in a launch. Iowa registered 5,402 new apprentices and 163 new packages in fiscal 2022.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds this 12 months touted the creation of two apprenticeship packages: One permits highschool college students to get paraeducator certifications whereas attending faculty and permits paraeducators to acquire a educating diploma whereas working within the classroom. A second program permits highschool college students to grow to be licensed nursing assistants earlier than graduating highschool.

“Iowa is a nationwide chief in creating registered apprenticeship packages, and I am proud to help this effort, and I’m dedicated to rising apprenticeship packages even additional and throughout a wider array of industries,” Reynolds mentioned in a video message Monday.

The rise in participation demonstrates the necessity for extra coaching packages as Iowa continues to get better from the pandemic, Iowa Workforce Growth Director Beth Townsend mentioned within the information launch.

“Registered apprenticeships present Iowans with a superb dwelling whereas they enhance their skillset, and so they usually promote retention as newly expert staff predominately stick with the employer that educated them,” she mentioned.

Iowa HHS fills new management roles

The Iowa Division of Well being and Human Providers created two new divisions and appointed leaders of these divisions, the division introduced Monday.

Janee Harvey will lead the brand new Household Properly-Being and Safety Division and can “oversee coverage and apply for youngster protecting companies, youngster care and household companies.” Erin Drinnin will lead the Group Entry Division and “oversee youngster help companies, financial help packages and wellness and preventive well being,” in response to a information launch from the division.

Harvey was beforehand in control of the Iowa Division of Human Providers’ Division of Grownup, Youngsters, and Household Providers. Drinnin was most lately group affect officer for United Means of Central Iowa.

“Each have robust imaginative and prescient for a way the work of their division contributes to the general success of the company as we execute our objectives of serving Iowans. I can’t anticipate them to get began,” HHS Director Kelly Garcia mentioned.

The Division of Well being and Human Providers was created this 12 months as a merger between Iowa’s Division of Public Well being and Division of Human Providers.

Iowan appointed to Fee on White Home Fellowships

Jackie Norris of Des Moines was appointed to President Joe Biden’s Fee on White Home Fellowships, the White Home introduced Monday.

Norris runs SPPG, an issue-based consulting agency, and serves on the Des Moines Public Faculty Board. She was beforehand CEO of Goodwill of Central Iowa.

Norris has held earlier positions in Democratic campaigns and administrations. She was the Iowa state director for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential marketing campaign and served as former first girl Michelle Obama’s White Home chief of workers.

The Fee on White Home Fellowships selects candidates for an annual fellowship within the presidential administration.

Iowa Cultural Affairs Division to carry annual gala

The Iowa Division of Cultural Affairs will maintain the eleventh annual Have a good time Iowa Gala on Dec. 9.

The gala will increase funds for the State Historic Society of Iowa, which is a division of the Division of Cultural Affairs.

“Funds from the gala have helped the museum and archives groups develop new reveals, academic packages for all ages, an internet catalog of the state’s huge assortment of historic supplies, and a cell museum in a custom-built Winnebago that travels to all 99 counties,” the company mentioned in a information launch.

The gala will characteristic music from native bands, paintings and meals and drinks from native farms, eating places and breweries.

With tickets starting from $125 to $250, the occasion might be held on the Scottish Ceremony Consistory in Des Moines.