OPS, RVBH partner for job shadowing opportunities for students with special needs

Owensboro Public Schools’ Special Education Department is partnering with RiverValley Behavioral Health to give students with special needs hands-on job shadowing experiences across a wide range of careers.

The program officially kicked off this week with an orientation at River Valley’s Walnut Street location. Students received badges, went through human resources training, and learned expectations for workplace conduct — the same onboarding any new employee would experience.

Over the next eight weeks, students will shadow employees in two different departments of their choice. The opportunities span from information technology and maintenance to child care, patient services, and more.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students with special needs to explore potential career paths in fields they are interested in and another example of community partners finding ways to incorporate individuals into their workforce who have unique abilities,” said OPS Public Information Director Jared Revlett.

OPS Director of Special Education Carrie Wedding said the program was designed to prepare students for life beyond graduation.

“Our job in education is really to prepare our kids with all the skills they need when they leave us,” Wedding said. “We don’t just want kids to graduate. We want them to be ready for our community.”

Wedding said RiverValley’s willingness to include every department was key.

“They didn’t want to pigeonhole our kids into certain areas,” she said. “If a child is interested in whatever it is, we want them to have that experience here with us.”

Students will spend about 75 minutes once a week in their chosen placements. Most were assigned to their first choice. After completing the initial eight-week cycle, they will rotate into a second department.

RiverValley Vice President of Operations Cate Gaddis said the idea grew out of conversations between OPS staff and River Valley leaders following last year’s “Educators in the Workplace” program through the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.

“Some of the teachers at Owensboro High School wanted to provide students the opportunity to gain some real-world, on-the-job experience,” Gaddis said. “They asked if we would be willing, and we said yes. We’re just really appreciative to be able to collaborate in this way, and we can’t wait to see what else we might be able to do together.”

Gaddis added that the program has long-term potential. Students who enjoy their placements may return for additional experience, and in some cases, the opportunities could even lead to employment after graduation.

Wedding said the partnership is just one step toward expanding options for OPS students.

“We’re always looking for opportunities for all of our kids,” she said. “Our whole job is to give kids opportunity, and that’s exactly what this is. We’re just creating opportunities for kids so they can be the best version of themselves.”