Education & Workforce Development

Education Workforce Development Logo
Education Workforce Development Group Photo

IN THE NEWS!

Project SEARCH of the Black Hills is helping those with disabilities find a career. KELOLAND Story.

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.

Jeanne McKenna

Jeanne McKenna

EWD Director
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Nikki Hoyt

Office Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Haley Lambert

Assistant Office Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Janet Divan

Administrative Accounting Assistant
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Adult Education

stephenie rittberger

Stephenie Rittberger

Program Manager

Judy Oldert

Teacher
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Alysa Roberson

Teacher
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Desi Kranz

ESL
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Kay Crandall

Computers/GED
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid city

Renae Schneider

Southern HIlls
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Paul Smith

Evening GED
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Judy Eason

Northern Hills
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Rhonda Leneaugh

RLA/ESL
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

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

Jeff Laughlin

Program Manager
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish
Jenny Geis

Jenny Geis

Assistant Program Manager
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish

Meagan Mettler

Instructor
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish

Jamie Hockenbary

Instructor
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish
Stephen Callies

Stephen Callies

Instructor
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish

Sandi Dahlgren

Instructor
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish

Mandy Fuller

Instructional Assistant
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish

Stephanie Leinen

Instructional Assistant
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish
Daniel Huitron

Daniel Huitron

Instructional Assistant
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish
Kaleb Meyer

Kaleb Meyer

Instructional Assistant
2519 Windmill Dr. - Spearfish

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.

bethany cook

Bethany Cook

Program Manager
2910 4th Ave. - Spearfish

Robin Lamb

Instructor
221 S. Central Ave. - Pierre

Karie Kinney

Instructional Assistant
221 S. Central Ave. - Pierre

CLC Assessment Center

Laura Hawley

Program Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City
Anita Blewitt

Anita Blewitt

Testing Assistant
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

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. 

Kari Smith

Kari Smith

Program Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

National Farmworker Jobs Program

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

Gloria Miller

Program Manager
221 S. Central Ave - Pierre

Tammy Sellars

Case Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City
Kathy Reisenweber

Kathy Reisenweber

Case Manager
5301 S. Sycamore Avenue - Sioux Falls
Shelly Disbrow

Shelly Disbrow

Case Manager
5301 S. Sycamore Avenue - Sioux Falls
Erin Zimmerman

Erin Zimmerman

Case Manager/MIS Data Specialist
221 S. Central Ave. - Pierre

Project SEARCH Black Hills

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.

Pam Junek

Program Coordinator/Employment Specialist
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Amanda Christensen

Program Coordinator/Instructor
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

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.

Kim Scott

Program Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Workforce Connections

The Workforce Connections Program provides navigation support, mentoring, and advocacy to individuals pursuing adult education.

Lori Larson

Program Manager
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City

Julia Kelly

Mentor
730 E. Watertown St. - Rapid City