District 88 Board of Education recognizes state-level award received for Project Hire-Ed Apprenticeship Program, formed with community partners

District 88 was recently recognized with a Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association for its partnership with the Addison Workforce Development Committee and College of DuPage to create the Project Hire-Ed Apprenticeship Program. Pictured above, the District 88 Board of Education and administration congratulate members of those groups during the Sept. 14 Board meeting for their efforts and for being honored with this state-level award. To watch the presentation, click the link above.

During its Sept. 14 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education celebrated the district’s recent Distinguished Service Award (DSA) from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA). The meeting took place virtually because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

INSPRA hosts the statewide DSA program each year to recognize public education advocates for their support of local schools and districts. For more information, go to www.inspra.org/dsa.

District 88 received an Award of Merit in the Team category for its partnership with the Addison Workforce Development Committee and College of DuPage to create the Project Hire-Ed Apprenticeship Program. See the nomination at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=5196.

Project Hire-Ed launched in 2018 with the intent to build a bridge between workforce needs and education to help employers find the right talent for their organizations and to teach students the skills employers are seeking. Geared toward soon-to-be and recent high school graduates, as well as those looking to retool their skills, apprenticeship programs provide hands-on training to an employee while he/she gains necessary competency. They offer skills in a particular occupation, help connect to a career pathway and combine on-the-job training with appropriate instruction. It is commonly referred to as an “Earn and Learn” model. This initiative is an example of what can be accomplished when business owners, education leaders and village officials come together for the betterment of the community. For more information about Project Hire-Ed, go to www.cod.edu/project-hire-ed.

During the Sept. 14 Board meeting, a video about Project Hire-Ed was featured and can be viewed above. The following members of the Addison Workforce Development Committee and College of DuPage also were recognized for their efforts.

  • Village of Addison Mayor Richard Veenstra (who brought together local businesses and education organizations to form the Addison Workforce Development Committee in 2015)
  • Village of Addison Special Projects Coordinator Anna Kubas
  • Project Hire-Ed Manager Danielle Kuglin Seago
  • SWD Inc. President Rick Delawder
  • SWD Inc. Director of Human Resources Erin Strickland
  • Pioneer Service Inc. President / CEO / Co-Owner Aneesa Muthana
  • Pioneer Service Inc. Customer Experience Specialist Laurel Hermann
  • DuPage High School District 88

District 88 provided each member with a certificate of appreciation in honor of the award, and INSPRA plans to recognize the 2020 DSA honorees at a later date (when it’s deemed safe to gather for large events).