The WORK Program’s Transformative Approach to Student Success
River Bend Education District // 2024 Innovation Program Award Winner
In an age where education must evolve to meet the diverse needs of students, the World Of Responsible Kids (WORK) Program at River Bend Education District stands out as a beacon of innovation and empowerment. Designed to support students not only academically but holistically, the WORK Program is redefining what it means to prepare young adults for life beyond high school. This program, fueled by passion and dedication, truly deserves recognition for its forward-thinking approach and impactful outcomes.
The heart of the WORK Program lies in its dedication to nurturing the whole student. It’s not just about learning work skills but also about fostering home living abilities, promoting community involvement, and instilling the confidence needed to face life’s challenges. As Program Leader and Coordinator of Work Based Learning Elise Cronin put it, “We work on helping them be successful in all areas of their life after high school. The goal is to help them be happy, healthy, and safe.” This philosophy creates a robust foundation for students, empowering them to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
The curriculum is unparalleled in its depth and variety, offering students the chance to explore up to 264 different job experiences. From customer service and manufacturing to gardening, participants gain hands-on exposure that helps them discover interests and develop practical skills. One student shared, “I like how I can learn how to do stuff that I’ve never done before,” while another reflected on the joy and opportunities the program provided: “I’ve met a lot of great people and have been given a lot of hands-on experience.
The program’s origin story is rooted in a clear and compelling need. Prior to its launch, River Bend educators analyzed the post-high school outcomes of special education students and identified a gap: a significant portion were not achieving success in competitive employment. The WORK Program emerged as a strategic and empathetic response to this challenge, offering targeted support to students who required guidance in building skills, achieving independence, and setting life goals.
One of the program’s defining elements is its nurturing, mistake-friendly environment. “It kind of helped me learn from all the mistakes that I made in the past,” said a student. “It’s okay because people learn from their mistakes.” This attitude embodies the program’s core value: resilience. Instructors encourage students to tackle difficult tasks and teach that setbacks are not failures but essential steps on the path to growth. As Program Leader and Specific Disability Emotional Behavior Specialist Jen Isaac explained, “I want them to feel empowered. Knowing that they can try hard things and they can succeed—or try hard things and they can fail, and that’s okay.”
The WORK Program’s impact extends beyond individual students to the entire community, fostering a culture that values diversity, capability, and inclusivity. A colleague praised the program’s forward-thinking nature: “They’ve supported so many students in such unique ways, by getting more and more students ready to be successful in the work environment.”
Perhaps the most compelling testament to the WORK Program’s success comes from its participants. One student summarized his experience with heartfelt gratitude: “If you are given the chance to be a part of a program such as this, I would highly suggest you take it. It has been my highest chance of succeeding, and honestly, I don’t think I would’ve without it.”
As students walk out of the program and into the world, they do so armed not only with job skills but with confidence, resilience, and a deep understanding that success is within reach, even when challenges arise. For its outstanding contribution to shaping capable, self-assured individuals ready for life’s next chapter, the WORK Program deserves the highest praise and recognition.
Congratulations River Bend Education District on earning the 2024 Innovation Program Award. The World of Responsible Kids Program was honored and celebrated in November at the MREA Greater Education Summit at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd.
