From tackling problem-solution challenges with local businesses, internships and supervised ag experiences to school-based enterprises and passion projects, students in MFL MarMac’s MORE (More Opportunities. Real Experiences.) authentic learning program continue to gain real-world knowledge while helping their school and community.

This semester, work-based learning coordinator Melissa Haberichter and agriculture teacher Sarah Plaht joined forces for the class, which they say will strengthen the school’s overall work-based learning efforts.

“Sarah and I have been collaborators for a long time. It really started when I was an instructional coach working with her on units in her classes,” Haberichter said. “From there, she pitched a drone program idea to the first group of MORE students, and we’ve continued building from there. We also started the school’s Pathfinders initiative together and have received two STEM BEST grants.”

Since Haberichter and Plaht are both part of Career and Technical Education, there are many natural overlaps in their work. Plaht was teaching Ag Leadership and Achievement this semester, and it happened to fall the same period as MORE.

“I want the kids to have a good story to tell at the end of high school, and Melissa has the same goal. We have the same mindset around work-based learning,” Plaht said. “So we have students working on their own projects, then they are going to come back and share with the group, providing feedback to strengthen the program.”

“They each have their own areas of focus,” Haberichter added, “but they all fall under the same work-based learning umbrella.”

Adrianna Schoulte is working with Plaht to strengthen the FFA chapter’s SAE (supervised agricultural experience) program—particularly in connecting freshmen with SAEs where they can log hours and worked toward their Iowa Degrees or other awards.

“We want to be able to give them a valid SAE for the state FFA, and hopefully it’s something they are interested in,” Schoulte explained. “I’m looking into what other schools are doing for foundational SAEs for the freshmen, and I’m trying to build us a program based off what I find.”

Bryce Jones and Will Howes are working to grow the Bulldog Supply Co., a student-run clothing store developed in their business management class. Through MORE, the two have focused on creating a storefront near the auditorium so fans can purchase merchandise when they attend sporting events. They would also like to make business management a year-long class, so Bulldog Supply Co. operations can continue uninterrupted.

Their efforts will help create a startup guide for school-based enterprises, Howes added.

Mariah Moser has been supporting the school as well. She’s helping the marking team with social media posts, in addition to improving the teacher assistant program by finding better systems to match students with teachers.

Outside MFL MarMac, Moser has undertaken a problem-solution consultation with a local business to do marketing research, which is a career field she is interested in.

In a similar vein, Grace Palas is interning at a dental office. She’s shadowing a dental hygienist—her intended career—and reviewing the most frequently asked patient questions.

“I’m creating an educational slide with all of that information for them so they can present that in the lobby or show their patients,” she shared.

Koda Warrington is partnering with Mar-Mac Human Powered Trails organizer Don Smalley to promote the new trail system taking shape in the McGregor-Marquette area.

“I chose it because I’m going into forestry, and I figured working in the woods and getting out in nature would be a good stepping stone,” Warrington said. “The main thing they needed help with was advertising and publicity. I’ve been doing parades, business cards and articles to help get the word out.”

Stone Martins-Saborio is working with Monona police officer Jed Jones on a community safety—a project he said plays into his interest in law enforcement.

“A lot of people think about a tornado, fire, but no one has really sat down and thought about violent intruders. Just because it’s a small town doesn’t mean these things don’t happen,” said Martins-Saborio, who is surveying and interviewing local businesses directly to generate awareness and planning.

“I think a benefit is the community is going to be safer and more people will think about it,” he said.

Haberichter believes MORE is good at identifying needs in the school and community and matching students with similar interests.

“We’ve used community think tanks and lots of different ways to gather input on what opportunities exist. The students often come to class now with their own ideas of projects that feel worthwhile to them,” she said. “Students are good at bringing new perspectives to old problems and community people feel good mentoring them. I think it’s a win-win.”

Students like gaining real-world experience, often through hands-on learning.

“I took a couple business classes, but it doesn’t really compare to when you actually see what happens. It gets us ready and is more of a job than a class,” according to Jones.

MORE work has informed career plans, while also honing general skills like project and time management, making and adapting plans, meeting deadlines and communication.

“I’ve learned how big communication is and talking professionally to people. It’s good to have clear communication and a clear goal for everyone,” said Howes.

Schoulte has learned how to work with others she doesn’t know and become more creative.

“My research skills have definitely been advanced too,” she said.

Plaht enjoys seeing this growth.

“I’ve seen some students come out of their shells and work at really high levels that you might not see from a traditional assignment or school setting,” she said.

Haberichter encourages any business with a project idea to email her at melissa.haberichter@mflmm.k12.ia.us. The best proposals involve a real problem students can research, offer suggestions on and then work to complete. She can’t promise every idea will be selected, but it will be considered.

“I am also working to increase the number of internship opportunities available to our students, and I encourage businesses to think of internships as a pipeline for possible future employees,” she added.

Those who would like to learn more should mark their calendars for Thursday, May 7, for the annual MORE Showcase. This open house runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and students will be available to answer questions about their projects and what they’ve learned. Community members can also connect about future ideas.