Iowa’s 2025 Teacher of the Year recently talked with the state Board of Education about her travels throughout the state. Melanie Bloom of Sioux Rapids says she learned there needs to be more done to educate students on the careers available to them. She would ask students about careers and says the majority could tell her what their parents do.
Bloom her findings among Iowa students are typical of students nationally.
Bloom says schools can do a better job of helping students look to the future.
Bloom is an agriculture teacher in the Sioux Central Community School District, and says she often talks to people who don’t know you can take classes about agriculture in high school.
Bloom says she believes every teacher can be a career-connected educator with a little training.
