Career & Life Readiness in South Dakota

WorkLifeReady supports schools and service providers across South Dakota with career readiness, career exploration, independent living, and life skills programs.

Photo showing a PAES Lab in White Bear Lake Minnesota

WorkLifeReady represents the following programs in South Dakota:

These programs are often used together to support career exploration, workplace readiness, independent living and life skills.

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Career & Life Readiness Programs for Minnesota from WorkLifeReady.

Learn how hands-on career exploration programs help students develop workplace skills and identify career interests.

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PAES Lab

Hands-on career exploration and assessment lab where participants complete real workplace tasks and develop employability skills.

Learn more about PAES

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Project Discovery Job Ready logo design.
A green banner with blue letters that say " achieve : life reset ".

Project Discovery and Achieve Life Skills

Portable hands-on career exploration curriculum that helps participants identify interests and career pathways. Adapted materials available.

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Learn more about Achieve Life Skills

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Celebrating the Opening of the Lucas P. Wintrode Learning Laboratory in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Preparing students for work, independence, and life through hands-on learning.

On July 27, 2026, the Sioux Falls School District, South Dakota State University, and the Paul and Maria Wintrode family celebrated the opening of the Lucas P. Wintrode Learning Laboratory with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

This collaborative initiative represents a meaningful investment in autism-specific education, creating opportunities for young adults to develop practical skills while supporting the preparation of current and future educators.

As part of this initiative, the Sioux Falls School District invested in three complementary programs offered through WorkLifeReady:

  • PAES® (Practical Assessment Exploration System) – A hands-on work skills assessment and career exploration lab where students experience simulated workplace activities, discover their strengths and interests, and develop essential employment skills.
  • Project Discovery™ – A hands-on career exploration and job skills development program that introduces students to a variety of career pathways through practical learning experiences.
  • Achieve Life Skills™ – A program designed to help students develop essential daily living and independent living skills that support greater confidence and independence.

Together, these programs provide a comprehensive approach to helping students explore employment opportunities, strengthen work readiness, and build skills for greater independence.

Heidi Johnson of WorkLifeReady was honored to attend the ribbon-cutting celebration, having worked with the school district to help bring these programs to the learning laboratory.

Congratulations to the Sioux Falls School District, South Dakota State University, the Wintrode family, and everyone who helped make this vision a reality!

WorkLifeReady is proud to support this meaningful initiative and looks forward to seeing the opportunities it creates for students and educators.

Photo highlights: Ribbon-cutting celebration, PAES Lab workstations, and learning environments supporting career exploration, work readiness, and independent living skills.

Schools and transition programs across South Dakota are continuing to expand career readiness and work-based learning opportunities for students and young adults. WorkLifeReady supports programs at the middle school, high school and post secondary levels.

Search for South Dakota PAES lab and Project Discovery locations near you:

Enter your zip code to search the locator map to find a PAES Lab, Project Discovery, or Achieve Life Skills program near you.

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      PAES Labs Across South Dakota

      WorkLifeReady is proud to support schools, districts, and organizations throughout South Dakota that use PAES® Labs to help students and adult learners develop essential work skills and prepare for employment.

      1. Brandon Valley High School
      2. Bridgewater Emery Site
      3. Children's Care Hospital & School – LifeScape
      4. Clark High School
      5. Harrisburg High School
      6. IPC Special Services
      7. Lennox High School
      8. Lennox High School – Lab 2
      9. MCTEA
      10. Sioux Falls School District
      11. Sisseton High School
      12. Sisseton School District 54-2
      13. South Dakota Development Center

      Project Discovery & Achieve Life Skills Across South Dakota

      WorkLifeReady is proud to support schools, districts, and organizations throughout South Dakota that have purchased Project Discovery™ and/or Achieve Life Skills™ programming to help students and adult learners develop essential work and independent living skills.

      1. Chamberlain School District
      2. CORE Educational Cooperative
      3. LifeScape
      4. Meade School District
      5. Medina Public School
      6. Mitchell School District
      7. Newell School District
      8. School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
      9. Sioux Falls School District
      10. Teachwell – East Dakota Educational Cooperative