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Staff writer

Although classes will not start until September, the new STEP (Secondary Technical Education Program) director is already hard at work.

Jessica Lipa took over the position formerly held by STEP’s first director Ginny Karbowski July 1.

Lipa came to the Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 in 2000 as a family and consumer science teacher at Crossroads Alternative High School, Coon Rapids.

In 2006, she moved to STEP to become its family and consumer science and current technical education teacher.

“I like working with at-risk students, but I needed a change” said the 33-year-old Columbia Heights resident of her move to STEP.

“I’m an applied learner. These are things that excited me in high school as a hands-on learner.”  

In her first years at STEP, Lipa taught students about careers in fashion, cosmetics and hotel baking.

“I have an extreme passion for career and technical education,” she said. “I have a love for what current technical education can do for students and applied learners.”

“It’s great to see the success of the students when they are given all these different opportunities. It’s an amazing experience.”

During the last three years, Lipa has been STEP’s career placement specialist and transition coordinator while working on her administrator license.

Although she was hesitant about leaving the classroom, Lipa said she wanted to pursue another degree.

“I really enjoyed working with the kids in that way and gaining more experiences,” she said.

She also loves education and anything involving education, said Lipa, a La Crosse, Wis., native.

Lipa graduated in 1999 with a bachelor of science from University of Minnesota and later returned to earn a master’s degree in education in 2000.

Two weeks after Lipa completed her administrative internship in 2009, Karbowski announced her plans to retire from the district and take a position at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) chancellor’s office.

Karbowski was a great mentor and she taught her technical education programming can make a great experience for students, Lipa said.

“I been very fortunate have worked for great mentors,” she said.

Her internship with Karbowski helped her gain valuable experience with creative programming and the wonderful things it can do to help students exceed, according to Lipa.

As the STEP director, Lipa said she will have an opportunity to develop and enhance the programs for the district’s high schools, applied learners and collaborate with teachers and students.

She is also looking forward to working with Anoka Technical College (ATC), where the STEP building is located.

The partnership that STEP shares with ATC helps the students earn college credit which will help with their success, she said.

When students are put into an environment that has relevance to their lives and there is the rigor of a college credit, it gives students confidence in what they do, Lipa said.

It’s exciting to come in every day and see what the students are doing and see the teachers get excited by the students’ performance, especially when that performance goes beyond all expectations, she said.

Since January, Lipa has served as the STEP’s interim director. She was appointed as the full-time director in June after Jeff Theis, the deputy director-principal of Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative, decided not to take the job.  

“I love the job and love the program,” Lipa said. “I really love working for our school district, which does great things for our students.”

According to Lipa, she loves the opportunities being the STEP director offers her.

It allows her the opportunity to develop and enhance the school’s programs and work with outside partners to do that, Lipa said.

She works with people from all five of District 11’s high schools, district administration, people from around the state, the Anoka County Workforce Center, ATC college staff and local business members.

“I get a chance to look outside the box more (at STEP) and find creative experiences,” Lipa said.

Right now, Lipa is learning about available grants and the grant application process, getting the school ready for the start of the school year and working to redesign the school’s course to conform with the district’s switch to the trimester schedule.

She is also working with the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce, the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Anoka Halloween Committee.

Lipa would also like to get involved with one of the local Rotary clubs.

“There is a lot going on, but I’m enjoying every minute,” Lipa said.

In the future, Lipa wants to work closely with the  ATC interim president, Dr. Shari Olson, to enhance the partnership that exists between the two programs.

Tammy Sakry is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it