Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa and Cedar Rapids Community School District Celebrate Launch of 3DE at Washington High School

Author: Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
Published: Thursday, 06 Nov 2025

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See 3DE™ in Action: Real-World Learning in Eastern Iowa Classrooms

Image of a group of people cutting a ribbon

Image caption: Leaders, partners, and students celebrated the ribbon cutting for 3DE at Washington High School, marking the launch of this innovative, real-world learning model.

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI) and the Cedar Rapids Community School District celebrated a milestone moment on Wednesday, October 29th with a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the official launch of 3DE by Junior Achievement at Washington High School.

The event brought together school and district leaders, business partners, and community members to commemorate the start of this innovative education model that connects classroom learning with real-world career applications.

Image caption: Cedar Rapids Community School District Superintendent Dr. Tawana Grover speaks during the 3DE ribbon cutting at Washington High School, highlighting the district’s commitment to real-world, career-connected learning.

Speakers at the event included Christine Landa, President of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa; Dr. Tawana Grover, Superintendent of Cedar Rapids Community School District; Rich Jackson, 9th Grade Academy Principal; Danielle Monthei of Van Meter, a 3DE Case Partner; Theresa Hall, Principal of Washington High School; and student ambassadors Calista W., Raven D., Ah’Zariah D., Ben E., and Connor F., who shared their excitement and early experiences with the program.

Image of a woman in brown sweater talking to a group

Image caption: Danielle Monthei of Van Meter, a 3DE™ Case Partner, shares how collaborating with students through real-world case challenges creates meaningful learning experiences and builds future workforce skills.

This school year, all Washington High School 9th grade students began their 3DE journey—an immersive approach that blends academic coursework with case challenges developed in collaboration with local and national businesses. Through these experiences, students strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, and communication skills while discovering how their education directly connects to future career opportunities.

“3DE brings the future into the classroom,” said Dr. Nate Klein, Vice President of Education for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. “Students are no longer asking, ‘Why do I need to learn this?’—they’re applying knowledge to solve actual challenges faced by local companies. We’re proud to partner with Cedar Rapids Community School District to expand opportunity and help students see what’s possible for their future.”

“It’s incredible to see the excitement and confidence in our students as they tackle their first case challenge,” added Shelby Kobliska, 3DE School Coordinator at Washington High School. “They’re learning to work together, think creatively, and understand how the lessons they learn every day apply to real situations. It’s changing how they see their future.”

Image caption: Washington High School 3DE student ambassadors share their experiences and insights with guests during the ribbon cutting, reflecting on how the program connects classroom learning to real-world challenges.

3DE by Junior Achievement transforms high school education by:

Embedding case-based learning across subjects to deepen engagement and relevance
Connecting students with business professionals who mentor and coach through real challenges
Expanding access to economic opportunity by preparing students with essential work and life skills
Building a multi-grade model that grows with students through their high school experience

Washington High School becomes the third Eastern Iowa school district to implement 3DE, joining Alburnett and College Community in bringing this transformative model to life for local students.

The ribbon cutting ceremony marked not only the beginning of a new chapter for Washington students but also a community-wide commitment to preparing the next generation for success in school, work, and life.