Success Story
Workday Wednesday
“Workday Wednesdays started with the Treasure Valley Pre-ETS Team, who wanted students to hear about real careers straight from the professionals working in them. What began as a creative way to connect with students during the summer quickly grew into a statewide effort, with VR team members and employers teaming up to provide fun and engaging informational interviews. It gave students across Idaho the chance to explore different career paths and hear real stories that can help guide their future decisions.” Caleb Tibbetts, Pre-ETS Supervisor
Story
This past summer, students with disabilities had a unique opportunity to explore the world of work through the 2025 Workday Wednesday Summer Series. The Workday Wednesday series is a virtual informational interview program designed to connect students with professionals from a wide range of industries.
Each week, students heard from business professionals who generously shared their personal career journeys, offered insights into their industries, and answered questions about the skills and experiences that lead to success in the workplace. These interactive sessions provided a welcoming, supportive environment for students to explore potential career interests and to gain a deeper understanding of different career fields.
Over the course of the summer, 25 professionals participated in the series, representing diverse industry sectors including Public Service, Skilled Trades, Transportation and Logistics, Creative Arts and Media, and Healthcare. Their firsthand stories and advice offered students an authentic glimpse into real-world careers.
The impact of the summer series was significant: 92 students attended the series, and thanks to the collaboration with the business professionals those students collectively received 194 work-based learning experiences.
The Workday Wednesdays Summer Series was a powerful platform for career exploration, helping to bridge the gap between education and employment for students with disabilities.
“I feel like workday Wednesday was good experience and I was able to learn about a lot of different jobs. I would like to learn more about the art and animation field. If offered again next sum mer, I would like to attend.” James, VR Pre-ETS Student Participant
“Workday Wednesday was a great opportunity for students I am working with to learn in a relaxed, no pressure environment. Having three careers highlighted each week allowed the students to learn about different careers they are interested in and about ones they maybe had not thought of before. Every student I spoke with that attended really enjoyed the sessions!” Zoe Remsburg, Pre-ETS VR Counselor