With a renewed focus on work-based learning spurred by initiatives from Governor Kim Reynolds over the last decade, the Sigourney School District has created the Savage Advantage program. Superintendent Kevin Hatfield tells KCII News about the outreach they did with the community that laid the groundwork for the program, “We went to our whole community two years ago and we basically had, the community give us what skills, the employers especially, they wanted Sigourney students to graduate with. We call it our ‘Portrait of a Learner’. We got it down to five (skills). Ultimately, yes, great readers, great writers, good at science, good at math, but we’ve also talked about them having these teamwork, collaborative experiences. They want people who are very responsible, show up at work on time. Get my projects in, get my workload done. All of us have experienced that, getting our kids to try to do their best. They are adaptable, can work on change and adjust. Are good communicators. People who are critical thinkers, there’s so much problem solving that goes on. Employers really want these big high-level skills!”

From that rose Savage Advantage, an enrichment program for all students, from kindergarten through seniors in high school, in the district, to begin the process of deciding their future career. Program and Curriculum Coordinator Jenny Bell explains the benefits of the Savage Advantage for students and goals of the program, “We’re going to look at their interest, career choice, and then align that job that they might go out into the community to see if that’s really what they are going to enjoy later on. It could be a kid that doesn’t want to go to college, and we are trying to find a job for them, or it could be a kid that wants to go to college but they want to get a feel for what this job entails. It used to be a big push on where they’re going to go to college, but now it’s a big push on careers. Starting in elementary we talk about careers and then when we get up into junior high and high 

Bell says the program is off the ground with 16 students who are actively off campus at local businesses like Sinclair Tractor. Some of the positions are paid, some are not. The district is in discussions to increase the amount of professions available including expansions into nursing and healthcare with the Keokuk County Health Center, human resources positions, technology, accounting, reception and more. The program is focused on using internship positions to place seniors in possible future career scenarios, but opportunities exist for underclassmen as well. To learn more about the Savage Advantage Program listen to the In Touch with Southeast Iowa Program Monday and Tuesday on KCII and find it archived free online at KCIIradio.com.