By Jaime Crespo
Across correctional facilities, education has long been limited by staffing shortages, security protocols, and a lack of physical classroom space. Recognizing these barriers, Orijin created Virtual Classroom—a secure, cloud-based component of our managed learning platform that bridges educators and learners through live and on-demand video.
By expanding access to education, rehabilitation, and workforce development, Virtual Classroom is helping incarcerated learners prepare for reentry, sustainable employment, and long-term success. In states like Iowa and Kansas, correctional leaders are using it to strengthen human connection, build trust, and create equitable pathways for learning and transformation.
Building Connections Before Reentry: Iowa’s Tech to Connect Program
In Iowa, the Department of Corrections’ Tech to Connect program is redefining what reentry preparation looks like. Using Virtual Classroom, staff connect with incarcerated learners months before release—creating a bridge between confinement and community that once didn’t exist.
“We reach out about six months before their potential release,” said Juan Nuci, Community Treatment Coordinator. “We assign assessments through the tablet, meet with them virtually, and start building a plan—what led them here, what needs to change, and how to move forward.”
These early connections are personal, consistent, and deeply human. Learners begin skill-building sessions focused on decision-making, communication, and coping strategies. They also gain access to workbooks, TED Talks, and lessons on topics such as substance abuse, mental health, and parenting—all available through the tablet.
“We focus on things like staying sober, building a support network, or managing emotions,” said Tara Freking, a probation and parole officer. “I love that we can talk about values, motivation, and mindset—things that really prepare them for life outside.”
For many learners, this is the first time they’ve consistently engaged with someone who believes in them. The virtual format makes it possible to maintain regular contact and build trust long before reentry.
“By the time they walk out the door, we’ve already built that relationship,” Freking said. “They know me, and they know there’s someone rooting for them.”
These virtual sessions also help learners develop digital literacy and self-confidence—skills they’ll need to navigate daily life once they’re released. “Some of our learners haven’t used a tablet or video chat in years,” Freking said. “At first, it’s intimidating. But once they learn to navigate it, you can see their confidence grow. They’re learning real-world communication skills that will serve them long after release.”
For Nuci, the reward is seeing change happen early. “This is why we’re in this field,” he said. “To help people rebuild their lives. Being able to reach them months before release gives us a chance to do that in a meaningful way.”to minutes.
Expanding Access Behind the Walls: Kansas’s Virtual Classroom Journey
While Iowa’s story is about connection before reentry, Kansas shows how Virtual Classroom can expand access where it was once impossible.
At El Dorado Correctional Facility, where most residents live in restricted housing, education and rehabilitation programs were once out of reach. Moving even a few learners required hours of coordination and multiple staff members. Many went without learning opportunities altogether.
That changed when Kansas introduced Orijin. Now, residents can participate in GED prep, substance abuse treatment, and one-on-one tutoring—securely, from their housing units.
The success at El Dorado inspired other facilities to follow suit. Lansing Correctional Facility now uses Virtual Classroom to ensure learners who move between general population and restricted housing never lose access to education. And at Norton Correctional Facility, a rural site that struggled to hire instructors, Virtual Classroom allows educators to connect virtually—eliminating geography as a barrier to learning.
Kansas is also using the Orijin managed learning platform to strengthen career readiness. Learners practice mock interviews, build resumes, and discuss real-world workplace scenarios—all through secure video sessions. It’s not just about learning—it’s about preparing for employment, teamwork, and self-advocacy after release.
“Virtual Classroom expands the bandwidth of students you can reach. It makes sure every resident—whether in segregation or in a rural facility—has the same opportunity to learn, grow, and prepare for life beyond incarceration,” said Bre Carr, Orijin’s Strategic Account Associate for Kansas.
Today, Orijin tablets reach over 500 learners across eight Kansas facilities, with Virtual Classroom active in several and expanding to more. What began as a pilot at one site is now a statewide model for equitable access to education and rehabilitation.
One Platform, Many Pathways
From Iowa’s early reentry preparation to Kansas’s expanded educational access, Virtual Classroom is proving that connection can be the foundation for transformation.
When technology is used to expand access and strengthen connection, learning outcomes improve. Engagement deepens, participation increases, and people gain the confidence to apply what they’ve learned. As Freking puts it: “When people feel seen—when they know someone believes in them—that’s when change really begins.”
And across correctional systems like Iowa and Kansas, that change is already happening—one virtual connection at a time.
