Des Moines, IA - Junior Achievement of Central Iowa announced that Ballard High School and Van Meter High School will launch 3DE by Junior Achievement beginning with incoming ninth-grade students this fall. The expansion builds on the successful launch of 3DE at Marshalltown High School and reflects growing momentum for instructional models that connect classroom learning with real-world application.
“3DE represents the kind of innovative, forward-thinking education model that Ballard is committed to providing. By partnering with Junior Achievement and local employers, we're ensuring our students don't just learn content, they learn how to apply it in meaningful, real-world contexts from day one of high school,” said Dr. Dani Trimble, Superintendent of Ballard Community School District.
Unlike traditional work-based learning or career exposure programs that serve select student populations or operate outside the core school day, 3DE is embedded across core academic subjects and designed to scale for all students. Through grade-level business case experiences developed in partnership with employers, students apply academic content while building transferable competencies such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.
“The 3DE model aligns perfectly with our mission to personalize learning and empower students,” said Deron Durflinger, Superintendent of Van Meter Community School District. “By embedding real-world business challenges into our core curriculum, we are giving our students a head start in developing the critical thinking and collaborative skills that today’s employers demand. We are thrilled to launch this partnership and see the impact it will have on our students' aspirations.”
As with Marshalltown, the first-year implementation of 3DE at both Ballard and Van Meter is underwritten by F&G Annuities & Life and other JA donors, whose investments support dedicated staffing, teacher training and certification, curriculum development, and business partner engagement to ensure high-quality implementation from day one.
“F&G is proud to partner with Junior Achievement to inspire and guide future talent,” said Amanda Wuest, Chief Human Resources Officer at F&G. “F&G’s mission is turning aspirations into reality, and that’s exactly what 3DE does by providing students with amazing real-world learning experiences. With this expansion into additional schools, we look forward to welcoming even more students into the program to expose them to new career paths including opportunities within the insurance industry.”
Launched nationally in 2015, 3DE has demonstrated an impact on student and teacher engagement, academic outcomes, and school culture, including reductions in chronic absenteeism and increases in student self-efficacy.
“3DE is about transforming the instructional experience for students, not adding another program, but reimagining how teaching and learning happen every day,” said Ryan Osborn, President of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa. “F&G’s continued investment allows us to expand 3DE to new schools with fidelity and excellence.”
To learn more about 3DE by Junior Achievement or partnership opportunities, visit www.jacentraliowa.org.
About Junior Achievement of Central Iowa® (JA) Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner collaborating with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a local leader in experiential learning backed by a national network and a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement of Central Iowa reaches more than 43,000 students annually across 200 schools and is part of JA USA, which serves 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets. Learn more at www.jacentraliowa.org. About F&G F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. is committed to helping Americans turn their aspirations into reality. F&G is a leading provider of insurance solutions serving retail annuity and life customers and institutional clients and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.fglife.com.
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