Park Center Senior High student represents school at regional workshop on the future of work-based learning

Park Center Senior High (PCSH) student Aaron Dungy represented Osseo Area Schools at a regional Human-Centered Design (HCD) workshop on April 24 at Hennepin Technical College. The event convened students, alumni, educators, parents and industry leaders to collaboratively reimagine how work-based learning (WBL) can support high school students as they explore career options while still in high school.

Dungy participated as one of several student representatives, contributing to small group discussions and design sessions focused on improving access and impact across WBL programs. He shared that his own experience working with Ms. Schreiner at the Career Resource Center and Mr. Sauter, construction instructor at PCSH, helped him find a meaningful WBL placement in the construction industry. That opportunity, he reflected, opened doors for his future and helped him better understand what career pathways he wanted to pursue.

Also attending from Osseo Area Schools were Ms. Schreiner, Mr. Sullivan from the Health Science program at Osseo Senior High, and Dr. Drake, who leads Career and Technical Education (CTE) work across the district. Together with other participants, they supported conversations about expanding hands-on, minds-on opportunities that align with students’ interests and local workforce opportunities.

Osseo Area Schools provides a variety of WBL opportunities through partnerships with GPS Ed, Hennepin Healthcare, Genesys Works and various local employers, offering students paid, credit-bearing work-based learning experiences across fields such as business, healthcare, construction and manufacturing.