Mount Ayr CSD leads the way in career and technical education

By Editor | April 29, 2025 |

Career and technical education (CTE) is a hot topic in the world of education, and school districts statewide are developing new programs or expanding existing programs to equip students with the skills necessary for success in an ever-changing employment marketplace. At the Monday, April 14 meeting of the Mount Ayr Community Schools board of directors, 6-12 principal Josh Vanderflught reviewed the district’s efforts to enhance CTE opportunities for Mount Ayr high school students.
Much professional development time for teachers this year has been focused on expanding work-based learning (WBL) opportunities.

The Mount Ayr staff has worked closed with Green Hills AEA CTE specialists throughout the year, and all teachers have implemented a WBL opportunity for at least one of their classes. A new Work-Based Learning Committee was formed to evaluate and update the MACHS Work Program for the 2025-26 school year.

2024-25 goals
Vanderflught reviewed goals set for the District Career Academic Plan (DCAP) for the 2024-25 school year and outlined the plan’s goals for the 2025-26 school year.
Program goals are a combination of district-wide (DCAP) goals and individual (ICAP) goals based upon each student’s four-year plan.
• Goal 1: 75% of graduates who had a post-secondary intent will be enrolled into a post-secondary institution within one year.
Result: 71% (37 out of 52) enrolled into a post-secondary institution.
• Goal 2: 90% of students will take college-level coursework.
Result: 70.59% took college-level coursework.
• Goal 3: 80% of senior students will complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Result: 78% completed the FAFSA..
• Goal 4: On the 2023-24 DCAP, Mount Ayr will average 28 of 36 on the DCAP rubric.
Result: Mount Ayr High School received a 24/38 on the rubric.

MACHS features a fully equipped woodshop where students build a variety of products such as boxes, plaques, and cutting boards for sale through Raider CTE Works.

CTE Works & Raider Cafe
One newly announced initiative is the Raider CTE Works – “Where Skills Meet Spirit!”
This initiative brings work-based learning into the classroom through hands-on experiences in a school-based enterprise where students work together to run a business..
The kick off for this program comes this week, leading up to a full launch in the 2025-26 school year.

As part of this launch, Raider CTE Works students will offer a variety of handcrafted and student-created items as part of the Mount Ayr FFA/Ag Department Greenhouse Sale, which continues through April 29 at the Ag Greenhouse on the south side of the high school:
Saturday, April 26 – 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Monday, April 28 – 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday, April 29 – 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Using this metal cutting machine, students can produce computer-designed custom signage.

Raider CTE Works will also display their creations in Aunt Jennie’s Attic on the square. Mount Ayr students have already been assisting in the store with arranging displays and other business-related duties.

Plans are to debut a Raider CTE Works Internet store where patrons can order merchandise online.
Another student-run business is the Raider Cafe, which serves coffee, lattes, pastries, and other breakfast offerings at pop-up sites at school and around the community. The enterprise provides students with real-world skills in meeting the public, handling money, and maintaining its supply of food and beverages.

Career Academy
One major initiative currently underway is the building and outfitting of a stand-alone career academy building to be located south of the middle school parking lot.
At Monday’s school board meeting, the district contracted with Vantage Architects for design services. The project is estimated to go out for bids in the summer, with groundbreaking in late summer or fall and completion in Fall 2026.
Total project cost of the project is $3.75 million with funding split between a $1 million state Career Academy Incentive Fund grant through Southwestern Community College, $1 million from capital project funds from the Mount Ayr schools, and $1.75 million from other grants and tax-deductible private donations.
For example, Ringgold County Hospital has partnered in the project with grants to equip the health occupations lab in the new facility.

To secure the Career Academy Fund grant, Mount Ayr, Diagonal, Bedford, Lamoni, and Central Decatur signed on as partner school that will send students to the facility, but enrollment is open to students from other districts to attend.
Initially the academy will provide instruction in auto mechanics, education, health occupations, and welding. Other programs may be added depending on upon demand. In the evenings, the classroom space can be used to deliver continuing education/adult ed classes.

Administrators are hopeful to provide students opportunities to earn Industry Recognized Credentials. These are certifications, licenses, or other credentials that are validated by employers and endorsed by a recognized industry association or organization. They demonstrate a specific skill or knowledge level and are sought after by employers for recruitment, screening, and advancement purposes.
The district is pursuing grants to help offset the student cost of the testing required to qualify for the credentials.

Goals for 2025-26
One overarching goal for the upcoming school year is to develop more true work-based activities in which all students have the opportunity to participate.
Specific goals include:
• Goal 1: 85% of students will take college-level coursework.
Current: Over the past five years, 80.38 % of MACHS seniors have taken college-level coursework.
• Goal 2: 80% of seniors will complete the FAFSA.
Current: In 2024, 78% of students completed the FAFSA.
• Goal 3: On the 2025 Iowa School Performance Profile, 68% of seniors will have participated in a work-based learning activity.
Current: 64.71% of Mount Ayr seniors in a work based learning activity as part of their high school coursework.
• Goal 4: On the 2024-25 DCAP, Mount Ayr will score 28 of 36 on the DCAP rubric.
Current: In 2023-24 school year, Mount Ayr’s score on the DCAP rubric was 24 of 36.
In reaching those goals, input from the community partners is extremely important to help drive the direction of Mount Ayr’s CTE program to prepare students to benefit the community as a whole.
In developing and evaluating Mount Ayr’s CTE and Career Academic Program, the district collaborates with the Ringgold County Development Corporation, the Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce, Green Hills AEA, and Southwestern Community College.