Area superintendents tour health pathways partnership between KCSD, KFCS, Sky Lakes

April 29, 2026 / A group of 11 southern Oregon school district superintendents, along with representatives from Asante Health, visited Klamath Falls on April 27 for an in-depth look at a growing partnership between local school districts and Sky Lakes Medical Center aimed at preparing students for careers in healthcare.

The tour began at the Crater Lake Learning Center with lunch and an overview of the collaboration between Klamath County School District, Klamath Falls City Schools, Sky Lakes Medical Center and Klamath Community College. From there, participants visited Mazama High School, the Klamath Regional Career & Technical Education (CTE) Campus, and Sky Lakes Medical Center to see the program in action.

The partnership provides students with a comprehensive health occupations pathway that combines classroom instruction, dual-credit coursework and hands-on clinical experience. Students can earn college credits, attend classes at the new CTE campus and participate in rotations across departments at Sky Lakes.

“This is about giving students real-world experience so they can make informed decisions about their futures,” said Lauren Lorenz, health occupations teacher at Mazama High School. “Without our partnership with Sky Lakes, these opportunities simply wouldn’t exist.”

Lorenz explained that the program is intentionally structured, with students progressing through foundational coursework before advancing to more rigorous classes and clinical experiences. By their junior and senior years, students can take upper-level courses that offer college credit and prepare them for industry certification exams.

“Professionalism is a critical component,” she said. “Students are interacting with healthcare professionals and patients, so communication and soft skills are just as important as academic knowledge.”

Mazama junior Dean Hanson shared how hands-on learning shaped his experience.

“One of my favorite experiences was working in patient transport,” Hanson said. “It gave me the chance to move throughout the hospital, see different departments and understand how everything connects. It really helped me see where I might fit in.”

For rural schools, the partnership has required creative solutions to overcome distance and access barriers. Bonanza Jr/Sr High School Principal Jordan Osborn said some students travel up to 59 miles just to reach school, making daily travel to clinical sites unrealistic.

Instead, Bonanza implemented a hybrid model combining virtual instruction with full-day, in-person clinical experiences once a month.

“On the first Wednesday of every month, our students spend six to seven hours at Sky Lakes completing their rounds,” Osborn said. “They’re fully engaged, and we have 100% attendance on those days. Students want to be there.”

Osborn said the program has been transformative for students who previously had limited exposure to healthcare careers.

“In my 17 years, I’ve had many students say they wanted to become doctors or nurses, but we’ve never been able to truly show them what that looks like,” he said. “Now we can -- and it’s been life-changing.”

District leaders also highlighted the importance of aligning coursework across schools to ensure consistent access for students throughout the region.

“We serve a highly mobile population,” said Mazama Vice Principal Sergio Cisneros. “A student might move between schools during the year, so aligning our CTE courses ensures they can continue progressing along a pathway no matter where they are.”

The district has also expanded opportunities to younger students by transporting Brixner Junior High students to Mazama for introductory CTE courses, giving them early exposure to career pathways in health sciences and other fields.

At the Klamath Regional CTE Campus, participants toured classrooms and labs where students from multiple high schools take part in specialized courses. Courses for high school students were launched last fall in partnership with Klamath Community College.

The tour was led by Jessica Gross, workforce program manager at Sky Lakes Medical Center, and Brian Fix vice president and chief human resources officer at Sky Lakes Medical Center. Gross oversees the campus and works closely with educators to expand programming. The facility, which includes classrooms, labs and simulation spaces, allows students to practice skills in a setting that mirrors real healthcare environments.

“This is a work in progress, but the growth has been incredible,” said Fix, who has played an integral role in developing the partnerships between the medical center and school districts. “We’re already seeing strong engagement, and next year we expect even more students to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Students emphasized the impact of the program not only on their career readiness but also on their confidence and motivation.

Mazama senior Devany Derry, who participates in the physical therapy pathway, said the experience has broadened her understanding of healthcare beyond the hospital setting.

“I’ve been able to work with a variety of patients, from elderly individuals recovering from falls to pediatric cases,” Derry said. “It’s helped me understand what happens after patients leave the hospital and prepared me for my future.”

Derry plans to attend Oregon Institute of Technology to pursue a career in nursing and said the program has given her a strong foundation in both technical knowledge and professional skills.

Other students shared how the program has opened doors they didn’t previously see as possible.

“The programs here and the support from staff have helped me do things I never thought I’d be able to do,” said Henley student Taylor Gaudin. “I’m hoping to be part of the CNA program next year.”

Henley’s CTE coordinator Gretchen Iverson said the goal is to ensure students graduate with both diplomas and industry-recognized credentials.

“Those certifications can be an endpoint or a stepping stone,” Iverson said. “Students can go directly into the workforce or continue their education with a strong head start.”

As visiting superintendents observed classrooms, labs and clinical rotations, the focus remained clear: building a scalable model that connects education with workforce needs while expanding opportunities for students across southern Oregon.

“This partnership is about breaking down barriers,” Osborn said. “For our students -- especially those in rural communities -- it’s opening doors that simply didn’t exist before.”