On this episode of Career High, host Jeremy Smith sits down with Kristy Cleppe, Principal of Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, Iowa, to explore what it takes to build strong career connected learning inside a traditional high school.

Kristy shares her non traditional path into education. She began her career as a financial analyst with degrees in accounting and business administration before moving into teaching business education. That real world background shaped her passion for Career and Technical Education and long term pathway development.

Bettendorf High School serves about 1,350 to 1,400 students in the Quad Cities area. The school is known for strong athletics, fine arts, and a supportive community. Over the last decade, Bettendorf has also leaned into early career pathway development. Iowa data showing declining postsecondary completion rates and a growing number of students choosing alternatives to four year college pushed leaders to rethink how high school could better prepare students for what comes next.

Kristy explains how early partnerships with area high schools and the local community college helped the district design programs that allow students to explore pathways without leaving their building. What began as shared advising evolved into a full career center model that now supports students starting as early as eighth grade.

Key Moments

04:57 Launching the Future Ready Coach model

5:03 "Future-Ready Career Center Evolution"

06:13 Overview of major pathways offered

08:43 "Making Math Relevant Through Applicability"

10:31 Preparing Students for Future Careers

12:42 "Connecting Careers to Core Classes"

15:13 Student reactions to career exposure

17:15 "Bridging Teachers and Administrators"

19:28 "Non-Traditional Teacher Hiring Paths"

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode offers a practical look at how to build career connected learning without sacrificing college readiness. Kristy shares how to organize a career center, build strong partnerships, integrate career relevance into core academics, and support non-traditional teachers entering the classroom. It is a clear blueprint for schools that want to give students real options after graduation.

Connect with Kristy Cleppe | Principal, Bettendorf High School

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-cleppe-b49b8546
Company Website: https://www.bettendorf.k12.ia.us/o/bhs

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Career High By Pega6

Host: Jeremy Smith
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyasmith

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About Career High By Pega6

Career High is the podcast that spotlights principals transforming high schools into launchpads for real-world success through career-connected learning, industry partnerships, and innovative pathways.