You don’t build bridges in middle and high school. You lay the foundation early.
Inspired by Wisconsin’s own Blue Bridge in Racine—a symbol of connection, foresight, and long-term planning—this metaphor captures what Random Lake School District is doing: laying the groundwork for a future-ready workforce and globally minded citizens starting in kindergarten.
Across Wisconsin, educators are rethinking how early we begin preparing
not just for academic success—but for life and work. While Random Lake had already been a leader in career and life readiness at the secondary level, administrators recognized the urgency of supporting students earlier because of the challenges associated with emotional breakdowns, screen time overload, and a rapidly shifting world.
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At Random Lake Elementary, that transformation began not with test scores or tech tools—but with a commitment to durable life skills and character education.
A Principal’s Vision: Starting with Character Building Toward Life and Career Readiness
At the heart of Random Lake’s elementary school transformation is Principal Rebecca Charbonneau, who recognized the need to integrate life readiness and social-emotional growth into daily learning.
With her leadership, UNYTUS became more than a program—it became a movement. From classroom visits to encouraging teacher voice, Principal Charbonneau helped embed character education and life skills into the school’s core culture and into everyday learning.
From the Front Lines: How Teachers Are Turning Character Into Confidence
Teachers like Amy Theis, Sierra Cashman, and Susan Goneau became early champions of the program. For them, the UNYTUS curriculum didn’t just fill a gap—it transformed their classrooms.
Using superhero characters like Perseus (Perseverance) and Empathus (Empathy), students began to internalize character traits through storytelling, role-play, and reflection. Teachers witnessed students owning their actions, improving peer relationships, and feeling confident.
From Feedback to Framework: How Random Lake Shaped UNYTUS
UNYTUS wasn’t created in a vacuum—it was shaped with educators, not just for them.
During the early pilot at Random Lake, our team sat down with teachers, observed classroom dynamics, and asked questions that mattered:
What worked? What didn’t? What made students light up?
That feedback directly influenced the stories, pacing, and visual design of our lessons. Together with:
- Sherri, our curriculum designer and former public-school leader
- Hannah, our illustrator who brought every superhero and setting to life
- Random Lake educators, who grounded our ideas in real classrooms
Watch how this collaboration came to life:
we co-created a curriculum that resonates in the places it matters most—with kids and teachers.
A Learning Journey that Grows with Students
As students move up in grades, UNYTUS evolves with them. What starts as a superhero journey in K–2 focusing on moral traits and cultural learning becomes a deeper exploration of performance traits, intellectual virtues, and global awareness in further grades integrated with academic standards.
- Grades K–2: Students engage with Superheroes like Perseus (Perseverance) and Honestus (Honesty) to learn about moral traits.
- Grades 3–4: They become Explorers, building curiosity, critical thinking, and community awareness
- Grades 5–6: They transform into Ambassadors, developing leadership, global perspective, and responsibility
This progression ensures character education doesn’t plateau—it matures alongside students.
Behavioral Impact, Backed by Real Results
In just couple of units, teachers reported visible shifts in behavior: Students became more reflective, resolved conflicts more thoughtfully, and developed a sense of ownership in the classroom community confirming the journey to outcomes had successfully begin. Expected outcomes include
Why It Matters: Career Readiness Begins in Elementary School
Wisconsin’s Career Readiness Standards emphasize the importance of soft skills—but these can’t wait until high school. Skills like communication, resilience, collaboration, and empathy are foundational, not optional.
And employers agree:
“These are the skills the world is asking for. At Random Lake, kids start building them Kindergarten onwards”.
Random Lake is showing the state—and the country—that when we start early, “We don’t just teach lessons, We launch futures”.
Final Takeaway
If you’re an educator, school counselor, or principal wondering how to bring Wisconsin’s Career Readiness Standards to life in elementary classrooms, look no further than Random Lake.
They drew the blueprint. UNYTUS helped build the launchpad.
Start with character.
Start with culture.
Start now—to build durable skills that last a lifetime.
Try the Launchpad: Free UNYTUS Unit
We’re offering a free trial unit to any school ready to bring this integrated approach to life. No commitment—just a meaningful step forward.