Written by Chandler Flowers, Communication Services junior associate.
When seniors cross the stage at graduation, Dallas ISD wants to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to take the next step in their lives.
The district’s WorkReady Program does just that. The program, organized by the district’s Workforce Development and Employer Relations department, has provided 1,383 internships to students, collaborated with 310 industry partners, and planned 9,860 engagement activities to get students ready to enter the professional world.
During the last school year, 200 instant job offers were extended to seniors who participated in the program. And, between 2021 and 2023, students earned an estimated $2 million to invest in their futures.
At the latest Board of Trustees briefing, Michael Gagne, executive director of Workforce Development and Employer Relations, in collaboration with Brian Lusk, deputy superintendent of Academics and Transformation, and Tiffany Huitt-Powell, Chief of School Leadership presented the workforce development update.
“We believe our students are the economic engine that’s going to fuel the workforce for this region,” said Gagne “And as such, we really need to prepare them to be successful in high growth, high demand, high wage jobs.”
Through the WorkReady program, students get hands-on experience that sets them on the path to a bright and secure future.
WorkReady offers career preparation, which provides students with work-based learning experiences through collaboration with industry partners. Students also have access to ConnectAlum, a network of Dallas ISD alumni who are eager to help their peers with networking or helping them get into postsecondary credential programs after graduation.
“Every time I run into a department head that has one of our student interns, all I hear is how impressed they are with our students,” Gagne said.
Despite these incredible achievements, there is still more work to be done.
The hope is for students in the WorkReady program to have multiple work experiences, more preparation for education outside of college, equitable access to these opportunities, and paid internships. The department also wants to establish a system to track students’ employment post-college to improve the WorkReady program.
During the briefing, trustees said the efforts to track and support students after they graduate sets the Dallas ISD WorkReady Program apart from other districts. They also acknowledged the difference the program is making in the lives of Dallas ISD students.
“This is taking a step of ownership and saying we’re not just there until graduation day,” said Ben Mackey, trustee for District 7. “We actually want to see students go off and be successful in what they do next. So thank you for all of your critical work.”
