Claire Spille, Coordinator: 893-8141, ext. 2497
Donna Eckman, Job Coach: 893-8141, ext. 2229

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STUDENT TRANSITION EMPLOYEMENT PROGRAM (STEP)

Supported by State and Federal mandates, this program provides students with Individual Education Plans, opportunities to develop skills and prepare for the world that awaits them after high school. The activities in this program are specifically addressed in the Transition Plan, a separate document included in the IEP.

 During the first year(s) of high school, students are introduced to the STEP program by enrolling in the SLE Prep classes and take Interest, Skills and Career Inventories. They then engage in Community Based Instruction (CBI) via field trips to many diverse job sites for exposure to different work environments. They are encouraged to identify skills needed to perform the specific jobs they are observing on these outings and determine whether they would be interested and/or able to acquire said skills.

 In the years that follow, job shadowing experiences are scheduled for individual students, based on their career interests and the results of the inventories, where they follow an employee at their place of work.

 Later, unpaid internships are set-up. These are for several days a week for a few hours each day for a marking period. In this component of the program the interns work with a work site mentor and truly learn and practice actual job skills.

 In their final year at Pemberton, students become employees. They are encouraged to obtain paid employment when possible, some with job coaches for a time, others with work-site mentors, or on their own, depending on the individual’s ability and need. The new employees are observed regularly by the Transition Coordinator and evaluated in collaboration with the employer.

 Another component of the program is the STEP Center in room 133 at the PTHS. It houses a, kitchen, laundry mat, and assembly line and computer lab. The Center also operates a book store, Page Turner, where teachers and students can shop for books, magazines as well as treats.  All of these areas are used to teach and hone job skills. Self esteem and pride in the knowledge they can be useful members of society are wonderful additional bonuses.

 MISSION

The mission of the Student Transition Employment Program--in partnership with the families and the community (where we place students to observe, learn, practice and work--is to create independent, responsible, productive citizens. As with every other graduate of Pemberton Township High School, each student who participates in the STEP Program will possess the skills and knowledge necessary to:

• Develop and maintain personal and employment goals.
• Demonstrate the ability to retain meaningful work.
• Communicate effectively with coworkers.
• Understand how or where to go to solve work place problems.
• Understand the value of paid employment.
• Acquire new skills in a real world setting.
• Develop and maintain self confidence, a positive attitude about the future, and a healthy self image through meaningful employment.