BLR-TEA Introduces Dynamic New Team

Blue Lake, CA – April 11, 2024: The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Education Agency (BLR-TEA) receives $4.3M Career Connected High School Grant from the U.S. Department of Education and is excited to introduce a dynamic new team behind its Modern Youth Internship Academies (MYIA) Program. This team brings together a wealth of experience and dedication to ensure the success of the program and the youth it serves.

• Marnie Atkins, PIM Project Coordinator, manages communication and staff coordination, ensuring all resources and funding are effectively allocated to meet project goals.
• Danny Kelley, PIM Community Services Coordinator, builds connections between students and businesses, and assists with career preparation, including resume building and interview preparation.
• Korby Skoglund, PIM Career Readiness Education Coordinator, collaborates with high schools on the Humboldt County coast to support students’ social-emotional growth, mentoring, and career planning, including job training, internships, and certification courses.
• Isaac Kinney, PIM Career Readiness Education Coordinator, collaborates with Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District’s staff to support students’ social-emotional growth, mentoring, and career planning, assisting with internship placement and job training.
• Lisa Hoffman, NACTEP Career Readiness Education Coordinator and Mobile Makerspace Teacher, introduces STEM-related career exploration activities and agriculture and natural resources careers, with a focus on Native American students.

“We can transform the American high school experience and raise the bar for student engagement, achievement, and career-readiness in this country by providing all students with access to dual enrollment classes, work-based learning, industry credentials, and comprehensive career advising,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

With funding awarded through the Carl Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant (PIM), the MYIA will continue to support youth in their career readiness and college preparedness goals. Youth from Del Norte and Humboldt counties will be served through the MYIA program, which includes career readiness, college prep, mentoring, job coaching, student leadership, and internships.

Internships at various locations throughout Del Norte and Humboldt counties will start this summer, including job sites at Daluviwi’ community garden, a tribal nutrition program for Elders, a biology lab at CalPoly Humboldt, and as peer tutors at CalPoly Humboldt’s Summer Algebra Institute. The MYIA team has partnered with offices of education, schools, chambers of commerce, tribes, tribal organizations, Humboldt Builders Exchange, and other nonprofit and for-profit businesses to develop meaningful internship sites. As the MYIA Program moves forward, BLR-TEA envisions even more local industry locations opening their doors to support our counties’ youth in their career readiness and college preparedness.

Over the past year, the MYIA Program has been re-energized by the expertise and enthusiasm of our new team members who have worked tirelessly to build stronger collaborations with local businesses and enhance the program’s offerings. These internships, spanning various industries including technology, healthcare, and environmental sciences, are designed to equip students with valuable skills and insights, preparing them for future careers and academic pathways.

“We are thrilled to have such a talented and dedicated team leading our Modern Youth Internship Academies Program,” said Alison Robbins, Executive Director of Blue Lake Rancheria’s Tribal Education Agency. “Their collective efforts have been instrumental in providing meaningful real-world experiences for our students and fostering valuable community partnerships.”

Looking ahead, BLR-TEA aims to further expand the MYIA Program, increasing the number of available placements and diversifying the industries involved. The agency is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all students can thrive and achieve their career goals.

For more information about the MYIA Program and how to get involved, please contact Danny Kelley at (206) 550-1675 or visit our website at https://www.tea.bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov/tea.

About Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Education Agency

The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Education Agency is dedicated to providing educational opportunities and support to the local community. Through various programs and initiatives, BLR-TEA aims to empower individuals and promote lifelong learning.

For more information about the CCHS grant awards, please visit the Innovation and Modernization Program webpage at https://cte.ed.gov/grants/innovation-and-modernization-grant-program, and consult the Unlocking Career Success website for more information on career-connected learning at https://cte.ed.gov/unlocking-career-success/home.

Contact: Danny Kelley
Community Services Coordinator
Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Education Agency
Phone: (206) 550-1675
Email: dkelley@bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov
Website: https://www.tea.bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov/tea