The Menifee County Board of Education recognized a workforce model delivering immediate operational relief to the community and career-launching wages to students this week, presenting the Community Spotlight Award to Prosper Appalachia Career Development Specialist Annabelle Ross. The award underscores the impact of the partnership between the school district, the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), and Gateway Community Action.
Superintendent Joshua L. Kincaid presented the award, highlighting how the collaboration moves beyond traditional education into practical workforce application.
Frankie Spencer, Dean of Students and Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Menifee County High School, detailed how the initiative actively solves staffing shortages for local employers and the district alike. By facilitating paid internships—ranging from positions at the local Sheriff’s Office and managing projects for the FFA shop to administrative roles within the district—the program fills critical operational gaps while students gain paid work experience during the school day.
“It’s a total win. Rural communities, small schools, we need these programs more than you know,” Spencer said. “It’s something that’s changing lives every single day.”
The success in Menifee County mirrors the broader economic impact of EKCEP’s Prosper Appalachia initiative. Across EKCEP’s 23-county service area, the program has partnered with more than 530 businesses to facilitate 1,423 paid internships for high school juniors and seniors.
Theresa Noble, EKCEP’s Workforce Coordinator, noted that the program’s success relies on the personalized approach taken by specialists like Ross.
“Annabelle sees potential in everyone; she never sees a child that cannot be placed,” Noble said. “This experience puts these students leaps ahead of their peers. They are learning where they fit in this world.”
The program focuses heavily on soft-skill development and confidence-building. Spencer highlighted a specific success story involving a senior placed at the local Sheriff’s Department who initially struggled with shyness.
“She was actually kind of timid, kind of shy, and it’s brought her out of her shell and able to talk,” Spencer said. “She actually spoke in front of the entire crowd just a few minutes ago and that would not have happened last year or the year before. So, it’s really making a big difference.”
Ross accepted the award, emphasizing that the program’s strategy begins with listening to the student.
“One of the first things I tell them is let’s look at your skill set. What’s your interest? What do you like to do? And then we kind of just grow from there,” Ross said. “It is such an honor to receive this award… they’re getting career skills early on and that’s just a really important thing that’s going to help them in their futures.”
Kelly Abney, Principal of Menifee County High School, noted that in just the last month of observing the program, the shift in student attitude is palpable.
“The students are excited, and they take these jobs very seriously,” Abney said. “Helping students figure out their career path is a primary objective for us, and this partnership turns that objective into reality.”
For more information on EKCEP’s youth programming and Prosper Appalachia, visit ekcep.org.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network. Learn more at ekcep.org.