By Jessica Helms
CESA 3 is pleased to welcome Alexa Chiefari as its new Apprenticeship, Employability, and Emerging Technology Consultant. In this role, she will support school districts in Grant and Crawford counties through Youth Apprenticeship, employability and career readiness initiatives, and partnerships that connect education with workforce opportunities.
As a member of CESA 3's Career and Life Ready team, Chiefari will collaborate with educators, employers, and community partners to strengthen career-connected learning opportunities for students. She will also support CESA 3's Redefining Ready initiative, partnering with school districts to align the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Portrait of a Graduate framework with locally developed measures of student success. In addition, she will collaborate with colleagues through CESA 3's district advocacy model, which provides each member district with a dedicated advocate and cross-functional team to ensure schools have coordinated access to the expertise and services needed to achieve their goals.
“Alexa's experiences across K-12 education, higher education, and workforce partnerships make her an outstanding addition to our Career and Life Ready team," said Jamie Nutter, CESA 3 Administrator. "She understands the importance of connecting students with meaningful opportunities and building strong partnerships that benefit schools, employers, and communities. We're excited to welcome her to CESA 3."
Chiefari brings a strong background in K-12 education, higher education, and community partnerships to her new role.
Chiefari began her career teaching high school English for the Fennimore Community School District before joining Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, where she taught communication and literature courses, developed an Introduction to Education course for future educators, and worked in university transfer, student success, and strategic partnerships. In that role, she built connections with universities and employers, used student success data to inform decision-making, and helped create pathways that expanded access to higher education.
Raised in Soldiers Grove, Chiefari began her educational journey at North Crawford School District before transferring to Fennimore High School. She credits the educators and mentors in both communities who encouraged her curiosity and challenged her to pursue excellence with shaping her passion for education and commitment to helping students discover their potential. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education – English and a Master of Science in Teaching and Learning, both from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Through her experiences as a student, educator, and leader, Chiefari looks forward to helping create similar opportunities for students throughout southwest Wisconsin.
"Every role has reinforced one belief: education is most powerful when students can clearly see how today's classroom connects to tomorrow's career," Chiefari shared.
CESA 3's mission and collaborative approach drew Chiefari to the organization.
“CESA 3 sits at the intersection of education, workforce development, and community, which is exactly where I love to work," she added. "I was drawn to an organization that brings schools, businesses, families, and educators together around a shared goal of preparing students for meaningful futures. Southwest Wisconsin is something special and has tremendous potential, and I wanted to be part of an organization that is helping shape that future rather than simply respond to it. Our region is filled with people who genuinely care about one another and take pride in their communities. We have innovative employers, dedicated educators, and students with incredible potential. I am excited to help connect those strengths even more intentionally so students can build successful careers without feeling like they have to leave our beautiful area to find opportunities to be successful.”
When asked what motivates her work each day, Chiefari said the answer is simple: people.
"People have always been my greatest source of energy. I love being surrounded by educators, employers, and community leaders who are passionate about making a difference. There is something contagious about working alongside people who care deeply, think creatively, and aren't afraid to build something better for the next generation. I have always believed that lives are changed through relationships. One teacher, one employer, one conversation, one opportunity, or one organization can alter the direction of someone's future in ways we may never fully realize."
One area Chiefari is especially excited to support is Youth Apprenticeship and career-connected learning, helping students connect classroom learning with meaningful workplace experiences.
"I love helping students connect the dots between what they are learning today and the lives they hope to build tomorrow. Youth Apprenticeship allows students to gain confidence, experience, and purpose while they are still in high school. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching a student realize that they belong in a profession because someone gave them an opportunity to try it. I look forward to helping more students experience those moments."
Chiefari also looks forward to partnering with school districts through Redefining Ready, helping communities define and measure student success in ways that reflect their unique goals and priorities.
"I hope to be someone who listens first, asks thoughtful questions, and takes the time to understand the unique needs of each school, employer, and student. I enjoy bringing people together, finding common ground, and connecting ideas that create new opportunities. Whether that means helping a student discover a career path, supporting an educator in expanding classroom experiences, or working with an employer to develop meaningful workforce partnerships, I want to be a responsive, dependable resource. I believe the best solutions come from collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to helping students succeed,” she added.
As part of her work supporting employability and emerging technology initiatives, Chiefari believes strong partnerships between schools and businesses play a critical role in preparing students for the future.
"Students deserve to understand not only why their education matters today, but where it can take them tomorrow. The future of work is already here, and industries are evolving through innovation and emerging technologies at an incredible pace. Our students, especially those in rural communities, deserve a front row seat to those changes. They should have opportunities to see what's possible, engage with forward thinking employers, and build the skills and confidence to thrive in careers that may not have even existed a decade ago. Strong partnerships between schools and businesses make that possible by connecting learning with real world experiences and preparing students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of growth and adaptability."
Outside of work, Chiefari enjoys spending time with her husband, Marc, and their two children, Henrik and Gio. Together, they enjoy exploring national parks, discovering small Wisconsin communities, trying new restaurants, and cheering on their children at sporting events.