Students getting work skills

Within the last two years, the Carlton and Wrenshall school districts have combined their football, cross country, and football cheerleading programs under the Raptors mascot.

This year, they are continuing their work together by launching another collaboration, this time in the classroom. Carlton and Wrenshall secondary special education students will have the opportunity to learn together in Wrenshall under the guidance of special education teacher Aaron Lattu and paraprofessionals Debbie Boustead and Tracey Mattson.

The Practical Assessment Exploration System is a career skills and transition curriculum that focuses on involving students in learning hard employment skills, soft skills and life skills. Students who enroll in the program will get a new classroom experience, one that mimics a job site. All teachers and paraprofessionals involved with the program will act as supervisors, and students will take on the role of employees.

Through the program, students will explore careers in computer technology, construction, production, consumer services, and business all the while learning life skills that will serve them as they transition out of high school.

"I hope to see students learn about different career options they have and start to focus on what they might want to do for a job both during high school and after," Lattu said.

Carlton and Wrenshall are not the only districts launching the program this year. Barnum is also housing the curriculum as well as Moose Lake and Willow River. The implementation and collaboration between districts would not have been possible without the Carlton County Career and Technical Education Grant, which paid for the program.

The grant also allowed Wrenshall to acquire a router and laser engraver (in photo, below) for its shop program and has benefited students across Carlton County. With more opportunities and collaborations on the horizon, teachers and administrators are excited to get students back into classrooms, learning together.