Amanda Guay, Hillary Adams and Kelly LeMay

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Life Skills Lab,” focuses on the development of a new simulated Life Skills Lab — an apartment-style classroom as part of the Hudson Falls Central School District’s High School Success and Soar Programs. This program supports students identified under the Committee of Special Education who are working on receiving their education modified as needed, along with learning life skills and specific work related transition skills for life post-graduation. The current Success Classroom teacher has begun fundraising efforts to offset the cost of the apartment. Her staff and students began a coffee cart with breakfast treats in January 2024 on Friday mornings. This initiative has already taught students the valuable lessons of entrepreneurship, money management, customer service, budgeting, inventory management and cooking basics. With the help of a Voya Unsung Heroes grant, the Life Skills Lab project would be able to build out and acquire the following: construction and installation of ADA compliant countertop; purchase of household appliances and furniture; acquisition of clothing, dishes, silverware and cleaning supplies.