BCI Launches First Apprenticeship-Pathway Training Program in Partnership with Fort Zumwalt School District
(St. Peters, Mo., March 24, 2026) Boone Center, Inc. (BCI)—a nonprofit dedicated to creating employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities—has announced a new vocational training partnership with the Fort Zumwalt School District (FZSD) designed as a direct pathway to a registered apprenticeship.
Fort Zumwalt is leading the way in developing student apprenticeship programs that connect classroom learning to meaningful, paid career pathways. This new partnership builds on that leadership and is uniquely designed to expand opportunity even further. While rooted in the district’s commitment to its students, this apprenticeship is the first of its kind to include adults outside the district’s student body, broadening access to workforce training across the community.
The program will operate under BCI’s established Custodial Training Program and will serve as the Related Technical Instruction (RTI) component of a registered apprenticeship. Through BCI’s training, participants will complete classroom instruction and foundational skills development required for the first step of apprenticeship preparation.
Creating a pathway to a registered apprenticeship is significant because it connects education directly to employment and long-term career advancement. Registered apprenticeships are nationally recognized, structured workforce programs that combine paid on-the-job training with technical instruction. They offer a clear roadmap for skill development, wage progression, and credential attainment. By embedding apprenticeship readiness into its training, BCI is ensuring participants do not just gain skills; they gain access to a formal career pathway with built-in advancement opportunities and industry validation.
Upon successful completion of the BCI vocational training program, participants will have the opportunity to be hired by the district. Once employed, individuals who choose to continue can register as apprentices and complete 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, approximately one year. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, participants will earn an industry-recognized credential as an Environmental Services Technician.
“This partnership creates a clear, structured pathway from training to employment to industry credential,” said Matt Jannings, BCI Chief Employment Services Officer. “It allows participants to build skills in the classroom, transition directly into paid employment, and advance through a formal apprenticeship, all while meeting a real workforce need within our local school district.”
BCI currently operates six active vocational training programs across multiple industries, focused on equipping individuals with the skills needed for integrated employment and competitive wages.
Pending enrollment, the first FZSD custodial apprenticeship-pathway cohort may begin as early as April. Individuals interested in applying can learn more and submit an application at https://boonecenter.com/vocational-training/.
MEDIA CONTACT: Dee Gerstenkorn
Director, Marketing & Communications
(636) 875-5245
dgerstenkorn@boonecenter.com
200 Trade Center Dr. W, St. Peters, MO 63376