Jefferson City, Mo. – On February 10, six rootEd Missouri advisors and eleven students from rural communities across the state traveled to the Missouri State Capitol to meet with legislators. They shared firsthand experiences of how rootEd’s career and college advising model is supporting students’ career success and strengthening Missouri’s workforce pipeline.
rootEd Missouri places dedicated career advisors in rural high schools to help students define and realize their career goals, whether through college, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, or military service. Through partnering with local employers, rootEd advisors help students learn about in-demand careers, including those close to home, and the necessary training or education pathways.
Governor Mike Kehoe met with rootEd Capitol Day participants to discuss the initiative’s impact on rural students and communities and the importance of making students aware of career pathways aligned to Missouri’s workforce needs.
During meetings with Sen. Rusty Black, Sen. Travis Fitzwater, Sen. Mike Henderson, Sen. Brad Hudson, Rep. Dirk Deaton, and Rep. Ed Lewis, students described working one-on-one with their rootEd advisor to help them better understand their options for after graduation and to access the right training and education for their chosen career pathways. High school seniors and recent graduates represented high schools in Ava, Moberly, New Bloomfield, Seneca, Ste. Genevieve, and Trenton.
Dr. Karla Eslinger, Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, invited rootEd students and advisors to the Missouri State Board of Education meeting, which coincided with rootEd’s Capitol Day, and engaged with each student and advisor during the meeting, asking about their plans after graduation. Additionally, Mary Schrag, President of the Missouri State Board of Education, recognized rootEd Missouri for its success in supporting college and career readiness across the state in the President’s Report section of the meeting.
rootEd’s Impact for Rural Students and Communities
Since launching in 2018, rootEd Missouri has supported more than 60,000 Missouri high school seniors and as of the 2025-2026 academic year, operates across 173 rural high schools, reaching nearly half of the state’s rural high schools. rootEd was able to expand into an additional 50 schools this academic year, thanks to state funding signed into law by Governor Kehoe.
The results of rootEd’s model are clear: 20% more students pursuing college or career training after high school and 47% fewer students entering low-skill, low-wage jobs.
Chase Glick, a senior at New Bloomfield High School who plans to attend Ranken Technical College this upcoming fall, discussed in his meeting with Sen. Fitzwater that having a trusted advisor made all the difference in charting the next steps to his career.
Glick shared how his rootEd advisor, Kirsten Wanner, helped him: “I’ve always liked building, for school projects and in my own time, and my rootEd advisor Ms. Wanner helped me realize I could have a real career in construction,” said Glick. “Once we figured out that construction made sense for me, she helped me and my family with applications for tech schools, plus the financial aid, resumes and interview prep. Having someone who knew how to help us through the process made a huge difference; I honestly don’t think I’d be as far as I am today without her. I want to build my future in construction here in Missouri.”
“When students have a rootEd advisor down the hall, they can get help tailored to their career path,” said Kirsten Wanner, rootEd advisor at New Bloomfield High School. “I have the dedicated time, knowledge, and passion to spend one-on-one time exploring career options, introducing them to local employers, visiting schools, and attending local events such as Build My Future, and working through things like the FAFSA, applications, and interviews. Helping a student set career goals and take the steps needed to accomplish their dreams, while minimizing debt and choosing the education or training path that best fits their strengths. That’s how we set students up for career success.”
Working with Educators and Employers
“rootEd bridges education and industry by helping schools connect students’ next steps in training or education to their long-term career goals,” said Brian Crouse, Chief Operating Officer of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “When rural schools have a rootEd advisor, students are set up to understand the skills and opportunities required to thrive in Missouri’s evolving workforce, today and into the future.”
To date, rootEd advisors have partnered with more than 700 businesses and organizations across Missouri on career exposure opportunities including job shadowing, internships, and industry tours. Nearly 99% of rootEd seniors participate in at least one regional career exploration experience, and rootEd schools have 30% higher participation in apprenticeships.
Dr. Hal Higdon, Chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College, which operates rootEd Missouri, shared, “Connecting education and training to in-demand careers helps both students and local economies thrive, and rootEd advisors provide the expertise, connections, and passion to do just that. We’re proud of the rootEd advisors who serve as these critical bridges in rural communities across Missouri.”
rootEd Missouri is a statewide public-private partnership between the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Ozarks Tech, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and national nonprofit rootEd Alliance. To learn more about rootEd Missouri, including viewing our new video, visit our website.
About rootEd Alliance
Founded in 2018, rootEd Alliance is a national nonprofit that helps rural high school students achieve career success and strengthens America’s skilled workforce. rootEd places dedicated career advisors in rural high schools to support students in defining and realizing their career goals, whether through a college degree, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, or military service, while partnering with communities, states, and employers to close talent gaps and drive rural economic prosperity.
To date, rootEd advisors have supported nearly 90,000 students across 280 rural high schools in six states, including Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Alaska, Idaho, and Tennessee. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists, convened by BDT & MSD Partners.