IJAG and ALPHA Programs report to the Humboldt school board

By KYLIE PORTZ
HUMBOLDT -- During the regular meeting on March 23, High School Principal Travis Sprague, along with ALPHA (Alternative Learning Program for Humboldt Area) teacher Kristen Fisher and IJAG teacher Drew Thomas, gave an update on their programs.

ALPHA
The ALPHA program, which recently moved into its new space inside the administrative building, is an opportunity for students to recover the credits they need to get on track to graduate, work ahead to graduate early or learn in an alternative classroom setting.

Fisher shared that the program utilizes the Ingenuity curriculum, which offers the same core classes as the high school, as well as electives. The program runs on a block schedule where the year is divided into four blocks, with each block spanning four weeks.

The curriculum and block schedule allow students to work at their own pace, while keeping track of their progress to ensure they are meeting their goals.

Fisher said, “How it works is, the students will do like vocab, there will be an instructor that comes in online and they watch a video and then there's some sort of online content, maybe extra reading. If it’s a science class, they’ll do a lab, they do homework, take a quiz. Depending on the class, there could be five or six lessons.”

She explained, “We offer a variety of core and elective classes. It’s flexible and the students can work at their own pace, they can pause the video, they can rewind, so if they miss anything there’s guiding notes that are available. So while they're listening and doing the instructions, they can fill in the notes. If students need notes printed for them, if they have it in their 504 or IEP (Individualized Education Plan) then there are notes available for them to use.”

She explained that ALPHA students are also expected to complete 48 credits to graduate, just as the students at the high school are required to complete.

She said, “We want our students, we push them to be employable, enlistable and enrollable.”

IJAG

Sprague then introduced Wildcat graduate Drew Thomas, who took over the IJAG (Iowa Jobs for American Graduates) program late last year.

Sprague said, “Drew (Thomas) was able to come in late December, early January, as we had a switchover. And our numbers, as we look for enrollments, the IJAG is going to double at least in terms of enrollment from the second semester of this year into the first semester of next year.”

He continued, “He’s worked really hard at building relationships. Some students might not have known him, we might have known him in the community, but our students haven’t known him and taking those extra efforts to help build up our numbers and be a positive support to our students in the classroom, but then also encourage others to join for next year, he’s done a really good job in the few months that he’s been here.”

Thomas introduced himself to the board.

He said, “About last July, my wife and I relocated back to the area, so it’s great to be back in what we like to call ‘God’s Country’ and back in the halls of HHS.”

He shared some information on the IJAG (Iowa Jobs for American Graduates) program at both the state and local level.

He said, “So there are 170 different IJAG programs, over 10,000 students are involved in IJAG. I believe we are either the first or second largest IJAG – there’s different JAG programs across the country – so we’re one of the largest.”

Thomas explained, “We’re a statewide nonprofit organization that partners with schools really hoping to hone in on a couple different areas, leadership, life skill development, work-based learning is probably the biggest thing and getting our students involved outside of the classroom and some civic opportunities as well.”

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