We are thrilled to introduce Sarah Grobbel, who joins CareerWise as our National Partnerships Consultant. Bringing 28 years of experience in K12 education, Sarah has a rich background as a classroom math and chemistry teacher, as well as an accomplished school administrator. She holds a degree in mathematics from Michigan State University and has furthered her education with degrees and certifications from Adams State College and the University of Denver.
Sarah has made significant contributions to the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) in Colorado, where she served as Assistant Superintendent of Career, Innovation & Student Engagement. During her tenure, she led the transformation of sixty-six K12 schools and spearheaded the construction and implementation of the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC). Reflecting on this experience, Sarah says, “I want to evolve our educational system by focusing on career exploration, preparation, and planning. This includes supporting students as they plan for post-secondary education and training which align with career competencies.”
Although she has retired from traditional education roles, Sarah felt she wasn’t done making a difference. “I retired from education but didn’t feel like I was done making a difference for students. I feel like I can have a meaningful impact at a national level on the expansion of youth apprenticeship,” said Sarah. She is currently working on the National Partnerships team supporting the Maryland Blueprint for Education and its alignment with apprenticeship programs. She adds, “I am also helping nonprofits work with K12 education to create partnerships where students can access apprenticeships in IT careers.”
Sarah’s passion for education extends beyond the classroom. She is dedicated to helping communities build strong foundations for student career preparation, including post-secondary education and training. “My goal is to take my learning as a practitioner and put promising practices into place in other communities. I want to provide foundations for those communities to thrive in earn-and-learn models,” she said.
Building on the foundation laid in Colorado, Sarah is also continuing to develop teacher degree apprenticeships across the country with CareerWise. This program allows new pathways where teacher apprentices complete college-level coursework, meet required on-the-job hours, and transition to the classroom full-time—all while getting paid.
When she’s not working, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband Matt and their two daughters, Kate and Molly. She loves reading and fly fishing in the rivers of Colorado.
We are excited to have Sarah on board and look forward to the incredible impact she will make at CareerWise and beyond. Her commitment to education is driven by the inspiration she finds in future generations. “I believe if others worked with our K-12 students, they would be inspired by their potential to shape our future workforce,” she shared. “Placing a greater spotlight on the contribution of students as modern youth apprenticeship could reshape our local and state economies.”
