Life Beyond the Classroom: Kari Radzik on Building Independence Through Transition Programs

How do you prepare students for life after high school when the world wasn’t built with them in mind? In this episode, Kari Radzik, Transition Coordinator at Mattawan Consolidated Schools, shares how her 18–21-year-old students are thriving through vocational training, community partnerships, and fiercely personalized support. From making hotel beds to handling customer service, these students are learning how to live and work with confidence. Kari also opens up about the challenge of helping students advocate for themselves in a system that often underestimates them—and why success isn’t just about employment, but about having choices. If you believe every student deserves a future they can be proud of, this episode is for you.