Education & Workforce Development
Help Grow the Cathy and Ken Vogele Adult Education Fund!
In partnership with the Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF), we are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Cathy and Ken Vogele Adult Education Fund. This endowed fund will help cover the costs of adult education testing services for adult learners across the Black Hills region. We are deeply grateful to the Vogeles for their generosity. Many of our adult learners cannot afford the fees associated with GED® testing, and this fund helps remove a significant barrier. If you would like to support this pathway to financial stability for families and workforce development in our communities, please consider donating to help grow the Cathy and Ken Vogele Adult Education Fund. BHACF will continue to match new contributions to the fund at a 4:1 rate, up to an additional $7,500, increasing the fund by as much as $20,000.
About Us
Rapid City and the surrounding area residents rely on BHSSC’s Education and Workforce Development division to gain the education needed for jobs that ensure economic self-sufficiency. Our Workforce Connections program supports the non-traditional student into higher education opportunities. The Career Learning Center of the Black Hills serves as the hub for many workforce development activities.
Participants can enroll in a variety of programs including Driver Education, job-specific training, GED® preparation, adult basic education, English as a Second Language instruction, computer and keyboarding classes, and the National Farmworker Jobs Program. Community Education of the Black Hills courses offer opportunities for affordable lifelong learning. Additionally, the professional assessment center offers proctored exams, certifications, and licensures in over 1,325 fields.
Black Hills Academy
Located in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) in Spearfish SD, Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills Center is an education program for students 4-12th grade. Our students include residents at the facility as well as students from our member districts who benefit from a smaller setting. We strive to meet each student at their emotional and educational level and help them move forward at their own pace. We have a vastly talented staff who are very successful in targeting and meeting needs of students, Students are admitted through Lutheran Social Services or a referral from a member district.
Jeff Laughlin
Jenny Geis
Meagan Mettler
Jamie Hockenbary
Stephen Callies
Sandi Dahlgren
Stephanie Leinen
Kaleb Meyer
Mandy Fuller
Alec Bakke
Black Hills Education Connection
Black Hills Education Connection (BHEC) is an Alternative Education Program under Black Hills Special Services Cooperative. BHEC serves students enrolled at Spearfish High School (SHS) grades 10-12, with most students being in the 11th and 12th grade. The focus of BHEC is to provide at-risk youth with an alternative learning environment and increase the graduation rate. The target population includes students who are not successful in the traditional classroom and those who have fallen behind in credits. The main goal of BHEC is to assist students in receiving a high school diploma from SHS with a secondary goal of obtaining job readiness skills and career direction.
Community Education of the Black Hills provides affordable lifelong learning for all walks of life to enjoy classes in Languages, Arts, Body & Mind, History & Culture, Active Living, and much more.
Erika Schumacher
The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is a nationally-directed, locally-administered program of services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents.
Gloria Miller
Tammy Sellars
Erin Zimmerman
Laura Kelly
Shelly Disbrow
John Griffin
Project SEARCH is a unique business-led transition program for students with disabilites. Students who want to work have the chane to explore careers and devleop transferable job skills. The goal of Project SEARCH program is competitive employment for each intern.
Project Skills
Project Skills is a paid work experience program for high school students with disabilities between the ages of 16 and 21. Project Skills provides studentsthe opportunity to learn different skills in a variety of job placements, with the asistance of a job coach. Project Skills helps to build the student’s work history, references, and move into different and better jobs as they mature and are ready to take on new challenges.
The program is a cooperative arrangement between the SD Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and the local school districts. Districts served include Belle Fourche, Sturgis, Spearfish, Lead/Deadwood, Douglas and Hill City.
The Workforce Connections Program provides navigation support, mentoring, and advocacy to individuals pursuing adult education. Supports can include:
- Support Obtaining a GED®
- Career Exploration
- Mentoring to Pursue Further Education and Training
- Assistance with Education and Training Expenses
- Assistance with Other Emergency Expenses
- Resource Navigation
- Resume Development
- Developing Interview Skills
