When Valerie Heins stepped into her new role at Trico CUSD #176, she brought with her more than a decade of corporate marketing experience and a career spent helping college students prepare for the working world. Now, with the support of a five-year Full Service Community Schools grant, she’s channeling those skills into something closer to home—helping Trico students of every age discover what’s possible for their future.

Trico’s geography is both vast and close-knit: 262 square miles spanning parts of six communities and three counties, yet serving just over 800 K-12 students. “We’re large in area but small in number,” Valerie says. “That means the school becomes the hub—for students, families, staff, everyone.”

Her mission, as Community School Coordinator, is to make that hub a true launchpad from “cradle to career.” The work starts early—planting seeds in junior high—and grows into hands-on opportunities for high school students. “Some kids don’t know what they want to do. Others have a dream that just needs direction. We want to give all of them a taste of what life could be like after high school,” she explains.

This past summer, Trico piloted an internship program. Eight students participated, and more than half received part-time job offers by the end. “It was amazing,” Valerie says. “Whether they go to college, join the trades, or enter the workforce right away, they’re learning what it really takes to succeed.”

The district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program plays a key role. Led by talented instructors like industrial arts teacher Mr. Asselmeier and agriculture teacher Mr. Huseman, students can explore welding, HVAC, electrical work, plumbing, building trades, and ag science. The programs are layered—offering students the chance to build skills year after year. There’s also food and nutrition, business education, and a partnership with Jackson County CEO for budding entrepreneurs.

Plans are in motion for a Certified Nursing Assistant program in partnership with John A. Logan College, with a goal of launching in the fall of 2026. “A lot of our students are interested in healthcare,” Valerie says. “We want them to get that real-world exposure—sometimes it confirms their path, and sometimes it saves them from investing time and money in a field that isn’t right for them.”

Technology and innovation are also on the table. Valerie is introducing students to the ways artificial intelligence is shaping industries—from sports science to marketing—so they’re ready to compete not just locally, but globally. “They’re not just competing with kids from neighboring towns,” we mutter simultaneously. “They’re competing with kids from around the world.”

Beyond programs and software tools like School Links, which helps students identify career clusters that fit their interests, Valerie emphasizes a bigger goal: sustainability. “Everything we do, we want to weave into the fabric of the district so it lasts beyond the grant,” she says. That means partnering with local businesses so they become ongoing supporters of student internships and job shadowing.

While the programs are impressive, it’s the community’s character that makes them thrive. Valerie, who married into the area Trico serves, sees the district’s strength through her objective lens in its unity. “We may be six different communities, but we come together and work together as one big family,” she says.

In a region without fast-food chains or stoplights, students learn in a setting shaped by grit, entrepreneurship, and resourcefulness. “People don’t always realize the opportunities that are out there,” Valerie says. “You don’t have to be a byproduct of what’s right here. You can go out, find success, and bring it back to our community. And if you want to follow the path that’s already here, that’s okay too—let’s amplify it.”

From the outside, Trico might seem small. But listen closely, and you’ll hear something remarkable—a harmony of different voices, skills, and dreams, all working together. As Valerie puts it, “We’re showing our students they can build their future right here, with the strength of a community that’s behind them every step of the way.”