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Trailblazers in Education: YouScience® Honors the Latest Winners of The Innovative Educator Award

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Washington County School District CTE Team (UT) and Jason Van Nus (GA) Recognized for Their Impactful Contributions to Student Success

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Aug. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — YouScience®, the leading technology provider dedicated to bridging the skills gap for students and employers, proudly announces the latest winners of The YouScience Innovative Educator Award. The recipients, Jason Van Nus, Lowndes County Schools in Georgia, and Jon Butler, Michael Hassler, and Helene Morse from the Washington County School District in Utah, demonstrated remarkable dedication to student empowerment and career readiness, setting new standards for educational innovation.

“YouScience has become the sharpest arrow in my quiver, allowing me to place students in environments where they thrive and contribute meaningfully to the economy.” – Jason Van Nus, Director, Work-Based Learning, Lowndes County Schools, Georgia

Washington County School District CTE Team: Making pathways meaningful

Comprising educators Michael Hassler, Helene Morse, and Jon Butler, the Washington County School District CTE Team has revolutionized the approach to career and technical education in Utah. They were the first district in the state to integrate YouScience into their college and career readiness programs, starting in 7th grade. This initiative, which has been in place for five years, empowers students to discover their strengths and explore career paths through project-based learning focused on Utah’s career clusters.

“Our goal is to transform the educational experience by shifting the focus from test scores to the students themselves,” said Hassler. “We want every child to see their potential and pursue their passions. YouScience gives our students hope and direction, helping them to understand what they’re good at and how they can excel.”

Through a collaborative effort, Helene Morse excels in communication with CTE teachers, Jon Butler builds robust pathways, and Michael Hassler connects students with real-world internship opportunities. Their innovative approach has made career pathways a vibrant part of the school culture, fostering a sense of unity and excitement among students, parents, and teachers alike.

“From the beginning, College and Career Awareness (CCA) teachers saw the value of incorporating YouScience and, without hesitation, utilized the program to help students start thinking about their pathway journey,” said Morse. “Without the CCA teachers’ buy-in and their efforts from the start, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

The district’s commitment to student success has contributed to the creation of a new CTE high school, where students can start as early as 9th grade to align their coursework with their career interests. This forward-thinking approach not only provides students with valuable trade skills but also instills a sense of purpose and belonging, essential for developing great contributing citizens of the community.

“Every person has a purpose, and we help students find theirs,” said Morse. “By focusing on pathways and creating meaningful connections between education and industry, we prepare students to become valuable assets in the workforce.”

Jason Van Nus: Pioneering Work-Based Learning in Georgia

Jason Van Nus, the Director of work-based learning and Youth Apprenticeship Programs for Lowndes County Schools in Georgia, has been a transformative force in connecting education with industry. His use of YouScience over the past three years has redefined how students engage with career exploration and preparation.

“I arrived at my advocacy for YouScience organically, seeing its unparalleled value firsthand,” said Van Nus. “It has become the sharpest arrow in my quiver, allowing me to place students in environments where they thrive and contribute meaningfully to the economy.”

One of Van Nus’ innovative initiatives is what he calls a Reverse Career Fair, where students learn to advocate for themselves by presenting and pitching their skills and interests to potential employers. This unique approach has received positive feedback from employers, highlighting its effectiveness in bridging the gap between education and industry needs.

His passion for using high school talent as a solution to labor shortages has garnered him recognition as Georgia’s ACTE Teacher of the Year, and he is a contender for ACTE’s National Teacher of the Year Award which will be decided in December 2024. Van Nus emphasizes the importance of speaking the language of industry, focusing on return on investment, and creating opportunities for students to become returnable assets in their communities.

“As a gentle disruptor, my mission is to challenge traditional education norms and demonstrate the power of connecting students with real-world opportunities,” said Van Nus. “By leveraging YouScience, we’re not just preparing students for jobs; we’re equipping them to be future leaders.”

Celebrating Educational Excellence

The YouScience Innovative Educator Award recognizes educators who implement forward-thinking approaches to inspire the next generation of professionals through academic and career exploration.

“At YouScience, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to discover their unique talents and pursue their passions,” said Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience. “The Washington County CTE Team and Jason Van Nus exemplify this belief by transforming education into a dynamic journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Their innovative approaches have not only inspired students but have also set a new benchmark for what education can achieve. We celebrate their achievements and look forward to seeing how they continue to shape the future of education.”

YouScience encourages educators, students, and parents to nominate deserving candidates who champion career exploration through YouScience products for future awards. Nominations can be submitted by completing this submission form.

To learn more about YouScience, please visit youscience.com.

About YouScience

YouScience® is the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills and exposure gap crisis for students and employers. Its end-to-end platform, YouScience® Brightpath, connects education with career applications designed to help students unlock their potential for future pathways. YouScience leverages proven research, artificial intelligence, and industry input to help individuals identify their aptitudes, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 11,500 educational institutions and millions of users nationwide.

Media Contact

Lindsay Hull

Zer0 to 5ive for YouScience

lindsay@0to5.com

Media Contact

Lindsay Hull, YouScience, 1 860.707.9461, Lindsay@0to5.com, https://www.youscience.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/trailblazers-in-education-youscience-honors-the-latest-winners-of-the-innovative-educator-award-302219293.html

SOURCE YouScience

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Who’s Working Remotely? Virtual Vocations Survey Highlights Evolving Jobseeker Demographics

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This survey underscores the diverse backgrounds and experiences of remote jobseekers, highlighting the growing demand for flexible work arrangements across various demographics.

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — With over 500 participants from the U.S. (69%) and international locations (31%), Virtual Vocations‘ 2024 demographics survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of remote work. By comparing responses across these groups, the survey highlights shared experiences and unique challenges faced by jobseekers worldwide.

“Whether based in the U.S. or abroad, jobseekers are embracing remote roles to align their careers with their personal goals, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.” –Laura Spawn, CEO and co-founder of Virtual Vocations

Although Virtual Vocations is a U.S.-based company, it supports international jobseekers through its fully remote job board and career resources, addressing the global demand for remote work opportunities. The company frequently receives inquiries from international members seeking to access fully remote roles, punctuating the worldwide appeal of flexible work arrangements.

“The 2024 demographics survey results reinforce what we’ve known for years—professionals around the world are seeking flexibility, balance, and opportunities to work from home,” said Virtual Vocations CEO Laura Spawn. “Whether based in the U.S. or abroad, jobseekers are embracing remote roles to align their careers with their personal goals, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.”

Fully Remote Jobs Remain Most Desired

A significant 43% of U.S.-based jobseekers and 42% of international respondents named fully remote, no-travel jobs as their top preference. These roles, which allow employees to work entirely from home, offer flexibility, aligning with both personal and professional goals. Although occasional in-person requirements may arise, fully remote roles are favored over hybrid, partially remote, and “work from anywhere” options. These positions provide businesses with access to a broader talent pool and enable employees to prioritize workplace values and culture.

Top Industries for Remote Jobseekers

The survey also highlights four key industries attracting remote jobseekers worldwide. Information Technology (IT) stands out as the leading industry for remote roles, with significantly more job postings than any other field. Healthcare follows closely, benefiting from the growth of telehealth and remote medical roles. Customer service offers engaging opportunities for professionals interested in client interaction, while education presents a wide array of roles in online teaching, tutoring, and instructional design, fueled by the expansion of virtual learning.

Jobseekers’ Common Frustrations

Both U.S. and international jobseekers shared frustrations, particularly with online job scams. Jobseekers expressed dissatisfaction with the prevalence of scams, especially when searching for work-at-home positions. Despite relying on online job boards, only a quarter (23% of U.S. respondents and 24% of international respondents) use dedicated remote job boards, like Virtual Vocations, where job postings are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are free of scams. Additionally, many jobseekers expressed frustration with excessive job requirements and employers failing to provide feedback or “ghosting” applicants during the hiring process, with one-third of respondents from both groups reporting these issues.

Income Insecurity: A Global Concern

Income insecurity remains a pressing issue for both U.S. and international jobseekers, with many reporting their earnings as insufficient for comfortable living. Sixty-five percent of U.S. respondents and 77% of international respondents reported inadequate household incomes. Nearly half (48%) of U.S. jobseekers earn less than $60,000 annually, while 68% of international jobseekers earn under $30,000. To improve financial stability, many jobseekers have set income targets, with 30% of U.S. jobseekers aiming for $60,000–$89,999 and another 30% targeting at least $120,000. In contrast, international respondents generally require lower salaries, with 38% seeking $30,000–$59,999 and 32% aiming for $60,000–$89,999.

For a comprehensive analysis and additional insights, read the full demographics survey report here: https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/annual-statistical-remote-work-reports/remote-work-demographics-survey-results-2024/

ABOUT VIRTUAL VOCATIONS
Founded in 2007 by CEO Laura Spawn and her brother, CTO Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations is a small company with a big mission: to connect jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings. To date, Virtual Vocations has helped more than four million jobseekers in their quests for flexible, remote work.

In addition to providing a database of current, hand-screened, and 100% remote job openings, Virtual Vocations offers jobseekers a number of tools to aid in their job searches, including exclusive career courses, downloadable jobseeker content, and career coaching and resume writing services. Virtual Vocations also releases several data-driven reports each year on current trends in remote work.

Virtual Vocations, Inc. is a private, family-owned, and 100% virtual company incorporated in Tucson, Arizona.

Media Contact

Kimberly Back, Virtual Vocations, Inc., 1 (800) 379-5092 x. 703, kim@virtualvocations.com, https://www.virtualvocations.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/whos-working-remotely-virtual-vocations-survey-highlights-evolving-jobseeker-demographics-302339757.html

SOURCE Virtual Vocations, Inc.

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Judge Baker Children’s Center d/b/a The Baker Center for Children and Families Provides Notice of Data Security Incident

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BOSTON, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Judge Baker Children’s Center d/b/a The Baker Center for Children and Families (“The Baker Center”), a nationally recognized provider of services for children’s mental health, has learned of a data security incident that may have impacted certain personal and / or protected health information. On December 27, 2024, The Baker Center formally notified potentially affected individuals with available address information and provided resources to assist them.

On July 28, 2024, The Baker Center discovered unusual activity within its local digital storage environment. After taking immediate steps to ensure the environment was secure, The Baker Center enlisted independent cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation to determine what happened and whether sensitive information may have been impacted. According to the investigation, an unauthorized actor gained access to The Baker Center’s systems between July 26 – 28, 2024 and may have downloaded certain files. Following a thorough review of the impacted files, on October 28, 2024, The Baker Center determined that certain individuals’ personal and/or protected health information was potentially impacted during the incident.

The information affected during this incident varies between individuals but may have involved the following: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license or other government identification number, financial account information, health insurance information, medical treatment or diagnosis information, and/or clinical information.

On December 27, 2024, The Baker Center mailed notification letters to potentially impacted individuals with verifiable address information. The letters include information about this incident and about steps that potentially impacted individuals can take to monitor and help protect their personal and protected health information. The Baker Center has established a toll-free call center to answer questions about the incident and to address related concerns. The call center can be reached at 844-920-8988, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern time

The Baker Center takes the security and privacy of information in its possession very seriously and is taking steps to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future. The Baker Center deeply regrets any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/judge-baker-childrens-center-dba-the-baker-center-for-children-and-families-provides-notice-of-data-security-incident-302339677.html

SOURCE The Baker Center for Children and Families

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outboundIQ Achieves Certified Implementation Partner (CIP) Status with Five9

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Delivering Optimized, Outbound-Focused Contact Center Solutions for Modern Businesses

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — outboundIQ www.outboundiq.com proudly announces its accreditation as a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner (CIP), a distinction that reflects its deep expertise in optimizing and streamlining outbound-focused contact center operations. With a team of seasoned Five9 veterans, expert programmers, and industry thought leaders, outboundIQ is uniquely equipped to help businesses of all sizes unlock the full potential of Five9’s Virtual Contact Center platform.

Optimized Solutions for Complex Contact Center Needs
outboundIQ specializes in providing expedited, outbound-focused contact center implementations, integrating advanced features such as inbound and outbound Voice, SMS, Chat, Email, Salesforce Integration, and other third-party app integrations. Clients can also leverage ongoing optimization engagements and monthly retainers for strategic consulting designed to support long-term, outreach-focused success.

“Who better to handle your domain configuration than the experts that understand the outbound contact center world. To be an outbound expert, you must know 3 things; how to configure the domain front end, how the architecture interprets that design, and how carriers respond to your dialing behavior as a result of the build. outboundIQ has the advantage of deeply understanding all 3 things. Our experts are seasoned professionals that will guide toward the best build for your business. You tell us about your business, your needs and your processes, and we will build you a domain fit for purpose. outboundIQ offers best in class Domain Optimization, Implementation and Consulting for customers of all sizes and complexity. Due to our methodology and proprietary automations, we are able to bring our customers’ projects to life within accelerated timeframes.”

Jessica Clay, VP Support and Services

“We launched our business in June and were fortunate to connect with the incredible team at outboundIQ early on. Navigating the world of outbound calling and building efficient prospecting systems isn’t easy, but the entire team at outboundIQ brought our vision to life seamlessly. They implemented our ideas quickly and executed them flawlessly. Since partnering with them, our contact rates have significantly improved, our conversions have increased, and our overall business is thriving. We’re deeply grateful for this collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together on future endeavors!”

– Tim, Lit Financial

“I genuinely don’t know enough ways to thank the entire outboundIQ team. I inherited a domain riddled with mistakes, tangled beyond belief, and I had essentially planned to scrap the whole thing and start over. That’s when this team, led by Jessica Clay’s brilliance, took over to understand exactly what I wanted to create and completely revitalized my domain. We are all beyond thankful as they continue to consult for us to this day and I see no reason to stop. Thank you, Jessica, Jason, Rudy, Bruno, Sandy and everyone who gets the pleasure of working with these domain geniuses!”

– Michael, Lifetime Home Remodeling

A Holistic Approach to Outbound Excellence
Creating a competitive, consumer-focused outreach program requires more than just advanced technology. As outboundIQ explains, a thriving contact center functions like a high-performing racing team:

The Car: Five9 Virtual Contact Center provides a cutting-edge technology foundation.The Driver: Strong Dialer Administrators who skillfully manage operations.The Pit Crew: IT/Support teams ensuring seamless functionality.The Spotters: Data Analytics and Reporting experts optimizing performance.The Fuel: High-quality data driving better outcomes.

outboundIQ’s professional services team brings these critical elements together, ensuring clients achieve best-in-class outbound operations that prioritize consumer experience while maintaining a competitive edge.

A Call to Collaboration
With its new CIP certification, outboundIQ invites businesses to explore select partnership opportunities and projects to reimagine their contact center operations. Whether through expedited implementations or ongoing strategic consulting, outboundIQ is committed to driving measurable results for its clients.

About outboundIQ
outboundIQ delivers optimized, outbound-focused contact center implementations, combining years of Five9 expertise with cutting-edge strategies to help businesses achieve exceptional outreach outcomes. As a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner, outboundIQ provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of modern organizations.

About Five9
Five9 is a digital enterprise’s leading cloud contact center and software provider. The Five9 Intelligent CX Platform is reliable, secure, compliant, and scalable, designed to create exceptional personalized customer experiences.
www.five9.com

Media contact: 
Sandy Tafur
Phone: 404-660-5314
mail: sandy@outboundiq.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outboundiq-achieves-certified-implementation-partner-cip-status-with-five9-302339797.html

SOURCE outboundIQ

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