CLEVELAND, Ohio - Special needs high school students will be using manufacturer Jergens Inc. as their classroom for the entire year, thanks to a new pilot program.
The program that allows a full-time teacher to work with the students for the entire school year is said to be the first of its kind in Ohio, and state and education officials kicked off the program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
This program is a partnership between Jergens and the Mayfield School District- based program. Cuyahoga East Vocational Education Consortium offers services to 16 Eastern suburban school districts. CEVEC students have special needs -such as autism or cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Some students need real world social experiences in order to operate in a work environment.
Billboard at Jergens Inc.
Mike Krenisky, a teacher and job training coordinator at CEVEC who will work with be students at Jergens, said the goal is to start with four students and turn it into a business model. He's optimistic that other companies will see the potential of this type of partnership.
"Typically, our students are not going into higher education, but we need to build in work-skill development for them to enter the workforce," Krenisky said. "This is the first time we've ever had a partnership with a manufacturer."
CEVEC, a 35-year-old program, has partnerships with industries that include restaurants, hotels, hospitals, colleges and grocery stores. The program offers transition services to help move students with special needs from a school environment to the workplace. Students can enter the program at age 16 and possibly remain in it until age 22.
Trevor Piszko, 18, a Chardon High School student, represented the four-some and thanked everybody for the opportunity. He gained confidence to join the program several months ago when he passed a forklift operation course - before he even got his temporary license to drive a car.
"No matter what happens to you in life, you can overcome any obstacle that you've gone-through," he said. "CEVEC is the most open-armed school program I have ever seen, and I just can't thank everybody enough for this program."
Jack Schron, CEO of Jergens and a Cuyahoga County councilman, said it's taken nearly a year and a half to develop the partnership, and he's optimistic that the new program will be successful.
"If you're talking about workforce development, businesses need to get engaged. They can not rely on educators to do the job all by themselves," he said. "We need to take an active role in participating with the education community."
Eric Burkland, president of the Ohio Manufacturing Association, praised efforts made for this new program.
"This is a wonderful example of manufacturers strengthening the community, embracing diversity, and supporting families," he said.
George and Donna Malone, parents of program participant, George, 17, called the pilot program a blessing. George joined CEVEC in his sophomore year at Cleveland Heights High School, and they credit CEVEC for helping him get his first job as a cook at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Donna Malone said that while her son is not physically impaired, he has ADHD, which she believes some employers would see as a detriment, instead of a challenge that he's working to deal with. Not only did CEVEC help prepare him for his first job, they prepped him and took him to his first interview.
George Malone is optimistic that his son might consider making a career in manufacturing.
"It gives them a foundation to build on and an idea about what's going on in the world," he said. "We just want him to be independent and be able to take care of himself."