NEXT Studio: Hands-on life skills classroom launches in Upsala

22 Aug 2026

News, Education, Community

Thrilled by launching the Navigating Everyday Experiences and Tomorrow (NEXT) Studio at Upsala Area Schools this fall, Special Education Teachers Courney Justin and Amber Mayers are spearheading the project. The new hands-on life skills classroom is available for students PreK through 12th grade and helps students build real-world, functional skills, confidence and independence.

Justin and Mayers said the NEXT Studio was a concept the two had talked about for several years. While the district has the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) Lab available for students in grades 9-12, teachers observed older students entering the program without prerequisite skills.

Click here to view the original article from the Morrison County Record.

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