Services
Career & Technical Education in Action
Welcome to the Work Skills Training Center for Youth Inc.! We believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to build confidence, independence, and authentic career skills in an environment that truly understands and supports their unique learning style.
Our Core Services
Specialized Career Tech Ed &
Work-Based Learning
A Comprehensive, Multi-Track Experience
Through our program, your child will step out of the textbook and into real-world applications. They will learn the science of agriculture in our indoor hydroponic setups, greenhouse and outdoor garden space, master the culinary arts while prepping meals for our community luncheons, and develop crucial logistics and retail skills by managing our weekly donations to the local food bank.
More importantly, our center is built on a foundation of inclusive, neurodivergent-friendly education. We utilize a “gradual release of responsibility” model—meaning we meet your child exactly where they are today slowly empowering them to take on leadership roles as they grow over the years. By the time they graduate, they will have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized, resume-building certifications in food safety, agriculture, and retail operations.
- Culinary Arts: Mastering kitchen safety and food prep.
- Agriculture & Horticulture: Managing the greenhouse and garden life cycles.
- Retail Operations: Working in a “live” convenience store, learning FIFO stocking techniques, facing products, expiration dates, and customer service.
✨ Choose Your Own Path: Customizing Your Curriculum! ✨
Are you more interested in the artistic side of baking than managing a dining room? Do you prefer working outside in the dirt over working at a cash register? We can build this program around YOU.
We are incredibly flexible, and our goal is to help you pursue the career skills you are actually passionate about. If you have a specific interest, we will tailor your program to match it!
- Love Baking? We can focus your curriculum heavily on advanced pastry skills, cake decorating, and the science of dough.
- Love the Outdoors? We can pivot your agriculture training toward landscaping, floral design, or heavy outdoor greenhouse construction.
- Love Business? We can dial up the retail curriculum, focusing on marketing, product displays, and small business management.
Just let us know what you are excited about, and we will build a path to get you there!
What Sets Us Apart
Why Choose Work Skills Training Center for Youth?
- Live Training Environments:
Unlike traditional programs that use “mock” setups, our students train in an active convenience store, live greenhouse, and a professional kitchen. This eliminates the “transfer of skills” gap often seen in special education. - Safety with Independence:
Our staff provides constant oversight, ensuring students are supported while they navigate real-world social and professional interactions.
When you enroll your student at the center, they are being mentored by an experienced, licensed professional dedicated to workplace readiness and specialized instruction.
- Licensed Educator: Licensed special education teacher in the state of Virginia for 17 years.
- Specialized Expertise: Holds a specialist certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders, ensuring the facility is a safe, structured, and accommodating environment for neurodivergent individuals and those managing anxiety or OCD.
- Vocational Background: Extensive professional experience developing successful workplace readiness and transition programs at the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC).
- Produce Safety Alliance Certificate of Training from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
- ServSafe Certified Instructor and Registered Examination Proctor
- CPR and First-Aid Certified
- Recognized as one of the most influential women in America by influential women.com Nicole Wyant – Special Education Teacher / Nonprofit Founder │ Influential Women