Presidents Report
Welcome
back to another school year! On October 12th, the MnACTE/SNP
organization kicked off the 2006-2007 school year with our annual
membership meeting. Before the meeting, lunch was held in the
gourmet dining room at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn
Park. The lunch featured German Cuisine that everyone
loved. In December, some of us are traveling to Atlanta Georgia
for The ACTE conference. Pat Larson and myself will be presenting
a breakout session on “Job Olympics, Going for Gold Medal Employability
Skills.” Bob Lindgren will be serving as a delegate at Saturday
Nights’ session. At our January meeting, we will have speakers
from the Minnesota Resource Center which is an organization that
provides evaluation, training, employment services and independent
living services to young adults with disabilities. March 1st and
2nd will be our statewide comprehensive conference held at Edinburgh in
Brooklyn Park. A big part or our conferences have been dedicated
to awarding outstanding individuals. Awards go to outstanding
teacher, direct support person, indirect support person and a
student. Many people have found these award ceremonies to be very
touching. I’m sure that this year will be no different. We
look forward to a productive year and welcome new people to attend our
meetings. We are also very proud to congratulate Bob
Lindgren for being named the 2006 Outstanding Educator of theYear for
MnACTE and to Dean Shawbold who was awarded the Vern Vick Champion for
Youth Award from Ramsey County.
Submitted
by:
Lu Ann Tauer
MnACTE/SNP President
Richfield Schools
Preparations
are in Action
For the
2007 MnACTE/SNP
Statewide Comprehensive Conference
March 1 & 2, 2007
The “behind the
scene” plans are continuing to unfold for the upcoming conference being
held at the Edinburgh USA Event and Conference Center in Brooklyn Park
in March. This year’s theme is “Student Centered in 2007.”
Some of the topics anticipated to be covered during the conference
include: Challenges of Change, Health and Safety, Technology, and
Legislation. There will be several breakout sessions for you to
choose from to attend. The keynote speakers selected for this
year’s conference have reputations of inspiring and energizing the
audiences they present to.
Look for more details in the registration brochure arriving soon.
Please be sure to complete the requested information and return to the
registrar as soon as possible. This is a conference you will not
want to miss!
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Your Conference Planning Committee
Networking, Through
MnACTE/SNP Leads to Student Benefits
The second week
of school this fall, I received an email from fellow board member
Bonnie Holt. She wrote that she has had some of her students
employed at Festival Foods near the Anoka Hennepin Transition Plus
Program. She mentioned that she heard from the manager that a new
store was opening near the Richfield Transition Plus Program.
Bonnie very kindly told him about our program and passed along his name
to me. That afternoon, myself and three of my students went over
to the new store and got applications. After following up with
the store managers, two of my students, who were actively searching for
employment, were called in for interviews. These two young men
brushed up on their interviewing skills and put on their nicest clothes
and went to the interviews. As a result, both were hired and are
doing great.
I am so glad that MnACTE/SNP has become such a big part of my
professional life. Because of the friendships and networking
opportunities that I have encountered, my students are able to reap the
benefits. Having a job lead like this is only one example.
At meetings, we’ve also had opportunities to share information on what
is going on in each of our programs and learn from each other.
Again, this increased knowledge ultimately benefits our students.
Additionally, MnACTE/SNP puts a great deal of time and effort into
honoring our students. Each year, several student grants are
given out to well deserving students and every other year, two students
are awarded at our comprehensive statewide conference.
Seeing our students receive these grants and awards has been so
touching and reminds me of why we do what we do.
Submitted by:
Lu Ann Tauer
MnACTE/SNP President
Richfield Schools
Bob Lindgren
MnACTE Teacher of the
Year
November
15th, 2006 Bob Lindgren was recognized as the Minnesota Association for
Career and Technical Education (MnACTE) Teacher of the Year. Bob
applies his craft as a work experience coordinator for youth with
special needs in the community of Park Rapids, Minnesota. He has
been very active in his local district as well as state and national
professional organizations to promote Career and Technical Education.
Bob has been a Work
Experience Coordinator for youth with special needs for 28 years.
He served as president of MnACTE/SNP for three years, and worked hard
to expand our reach beyond the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area to
provide members with professional development opportunities throughout
Minnesota. Recently, Bob began serving as President of MnACTE,
and he also serves on ACTE’s bylaws committee.
Bob has working
relationships with around 60 employers in the Park Rapids area.
They include grocery stores, auto repair shops, recycling centers,
schools, lumberyards, The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,
nursing homes and many others. He enjoys telling stories
about former and current students. The most memorable of which
describes a student with Down’s Syndrome who sought further training
upon high school graduation and presently works as a stock and
carry-out worker in a local grocery store. He describes this
former student as well respected, involved and productive in his
community. On another occasion, Bob recalled a story of when he
received a phone call from a former student who wanted to “say thanks”
and update him on his present job. This student had been working
in Arizona supervising a crew of 24 welders.
Congratulations on
recognition for a job well done, MnACTE Teacher of the year, Bob
Lindgren
Submitted by:
Steve Czech
Anoka-Hennepin District #11
Craft Fair at Wayzata High School
At Wayzata High School we have developed a curriculum with a focus on
Service Learning. Our projects have been a team effort of many,
but primarily have involved the DCD (Developmentally Cognitively
Delayed) and Work Program students.
Our current project is a Craft Fair which is held at Wayzata High
School. It benefits many parties, including; students, staff, and
parents/guardians.
Students have been planning and creating projects to sell at the fair
including home crafts, jewelry, staff directories (which is the product
of another service learning project), Breakfast Nook coupons (a
breakfast service which we offer staff), artwork and more. In
addition, staff and others are invited to sell products they
make. One of the outstanding features of the Craft Fair is
that students not only make the crafts but are involved in the
promotion of the function and the selling of the goods and services.
It is now in its’ fourth year and proceeds have been used for the
following; community outings, additional service learning projects,
emergency needs for individual students.
Submitted by
Cathy Braun and Valerie Mattioli
TRACK (Teaching Responsibility and Character to Kids) Work Program
Wayzata Schools
White Bear Lake Area Schools
Transition Plus Program
Transition Plus
is a post-secondary program for young adults, ages 18 –
21, who have disabilities. The mission of the Transition Plus program
is to prepare young adults with special needs to achieve their maximum
potential through life-long learning, and increased repertoire of
essential skills and self-advocacy. The Transition Plus program is
enhanced by community partners that provide employment opportunities,
service learning and recreational experience for our students. This
2006-07 school year, the Bremer Foundation showed their continuing
support for the needs of young adults with disabilities through the
funding of two Smart Boards for the White Bear Lake Area Transition
Plus program. Smart Boards are interactive white boards that allow
staff and students to quickly access information and practice critical
work and life skills in ways that are highly engaging to students.
Smart Boards allow for maximum participation of all kinds of learners.
The Bremer
Foundation Grant was written specifically to enable Transition Plus
students to have success using sophisticated technology. The funding of
Smart Boards by the Bremer Foundation has allowed students to have
meaningful internet access, research employments options, develop
resumes and even create power point presentations to share their
individual goals and aspirations with others. The Smart Board
Technology is an excellent fit with the Transition Plus Program as it
allows students who do not necessarily read and write, to see their
ideas in action and to become true contributors to the group. The
Bremer’s Foundation willingness to fund the Smart Board technology has
provided the Transition Plus program with a valuable new resource which
is being used daily by staff and students to enhance student
programming.
The Bremer
Foundation is truly a contributing partner to the Transition Plus’s
mission of increasing the independence and community integration of
young adults with disabilities. The Bremer Foundation’s generous gift
of 9,300 dollars will help Transition Plus students exit the Transition
Plus post-secondary program more prepared to move into their
communities, with enhanced social, functional, and work skills.
The Transition Plus Program staff and students are very grateful to the
Bremer Foundation. It is through dedicated community support such as
provided through the Otto Bremer Foundation that individuals and
communities move forward on a shared vision of increased participation
and meaningful lives for all individuals regardless of their
disabilities. Thanks again to the Otto Bremer Foundation for
their leadership and dedication to the entire community.
Submitted by:
Dean Shawbold
Work Coordinator
White Bear Lake
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Announcements/Calendar
ACTE National Convention:
November 30 - Dec. 2, 2006. Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta,
Georgia
MnACTE/SNP Board Meetings: January
11, 2007, February
8, 2007, May
10, 2007. Meetings are held from 12:30-2:30 Hennepin Technical College,
Brooklyn Park
Statewide Comprehensive
Conference: Edinburgh Golf Facility, Brooklyn Park, MN, March 1,2, 2007
Spring 2006 Awards
Minnesota
Association
for Career and Technical Education Special Needs Personnel (MNACTE/SNP)
recognizes achievements of students with vocational special needs
and has awarded $250 grants to seven students this year who have met
and exceeded their vocational goals.
Chelsey
Baumgartener
Chelsey attends
Irondale High School, Mounds View Public Schools, in the Transition
Skills Program. She has been accepted into the Century College
Auto Body Program Fall 2006 and has completed the college
assessment exam and scholarship applications as well as the FAFSA
report. During the Transition Skills program, Chelsey has been
employed at two part time jobs and attending school full time in the
Auto Mechanics Program at White Bear Lake with grades that never fall
below a B-. She has volunteered at a daycare in New Brighton and
provides a safe and nurturing learning environment and has not let her
learning disability and anxiety get in the way of her goals.
Chelsey was nominated for the award by Beth Quest, Work
Coordinator. Congratulations, Chelsey!
Meredith
Hesler
Meredith is a student
at Transition Plus, White Bear Lake #624. Meredith is employed at
a grocery store, is well liked by managers and employees, is a hard
worker, loyal and on time. She rarely misses any work.
Meredith is also a parent of a one year old child. Meredith
struggles with a learning disability, but has learned to cope and
to function independently. School has been a success for
Meredith. She is currently working on her personal portfolio to
apply towards future opportunities. Meredith was nominated for
the award by Cindy Mattson, Special Education Instructor, at Transition
Plus, White Bear Lake Schools. Congratulations, Meredith!
Felicia
Hinsch
Felicia attends
Irondale High School, MoundsView Public Schools, and during this time
she was on early release program employed by Cheetah Precision doing
light office work and shipping and receiving. After completing
career projects, investigating careers, and listening to career
speakers, Felicia has decided she would like to enter the medical
profession as either a licensed practical nurse or a nursing assistant
and plans to attend Anoka Technical College. Felicia
has volunteered as a Sunday School teacher for three years and works
with fourth graders as the main teacher planning lessons and activities
from September through May. Felicia’s attendance is exceptional
and her employee evaluations are excellent. Felicia was nominated
for the award by Beth Quest, Work Coordinator and Ellen Clifford,
Teacher. Congratulations, Felicia!
Donald
Jackson, Jr.
Donald is a student at
The Next Step Transition Program, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale
School District and has been attending the Graphic Design and
Multimedia Program at NE Metro Career and Technical Center in White
Bear Lake. Donald has met with Dunwoody Technical College
and will receive articulation credit for two classes at Dunwoody
because he has maintained an A or B throughout the year. He
is ready to take on the demands of a two year technical program and
plans to be a role model for his young son. Donald has also been
active in extracurricular activities and was the center on his school
basketball team. Donald was nominated for the award by Connie
Baker, Graphic Design/Multimedia Instructor, NE Metro Career and
Technical Center. Congratulations, Donald!
Heather
Norris
Heather is a student
at Wrenshall High School. After graduation Heather plans to
attend the Courage Center Program in Minneapolis to improve her
independent living skills and then enroll at the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater where she would earn a communications degree with
a specialty in radio broadcasting. Currently Heather is employed
at Fond du Lac Community Tribal and Community College. Heather
has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheel chair, but the physical
limitations of her disability do not in any way seem to deter her from
exuberance at being with others and a fierce determination to be in
control of her life. Heather is a person who advocates for herself,
strives for independence, acknowledges her mistakes and learns from
from them and has an excellent work ethic. Heather was nominated
for the award by Mick Seme, WEH Coordinator at Northern Lights Special
Education Cooperative in Cloquet. Congratulations, Heather!
Katie R.
Renollett
Katie R. Renollett is
currently attending Bridges, Anoka Hennepin District #11.
She plans to attend the Community Based Training and Exploration (CBTE)
Program through Rise, Inc., in Spring Lake Park after graduation.
Katie is employed full time at Celestica, a design and builder of
circuit boards. Katie has worked at a variety of work sites
where she gained valuable experience prior to her employment at
Celestica. In addition to her employment, Katie volunteers.
She has been a Girl Scout, has done yard work and spent time
volunteering at a nursing home. Katie has done many other
volunteer activities and is always a cheerful and willing
volunteer. Katie recently traveled with her team to Iowa for the
National Special Olympics Girls Basketball Tournament.
Katie also enjoys bowling. Katie is a dependable and
reliable worker who has been willing to make changes that contribute to
her success and she doesn’t let her disability get in her way of
learning new tasks. Katie was nominated for the award by Mike
Bisbing, WEH Coordinator at Bridges. Congratulations, Katie!
Persa
Saulic
Persa is a
student at Richfield High School and plans to become a licensed
practical nurse by attending Hennepin Technical College in Eden
Prairie after graduation. She would like to work in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit in a hospital. Persa has completed her
placement testing and has been admitted to the program.
Previously Persa completed one semester of the Medical Careers Cluster
at Hennepin Technical College in the high school certificate program as
part of her career plan. Despite her disability in reading, she
is fluent in three languages, Bosnian, English and Greek, and is
currently studying Spanish. Persa has volunteered for Feed My
Starving Children and has completed 25 hours of painting to create a
mural on a building in Richfield. Persa was nominated by Patricia
Larson, Work Experience Coordinator, Richfield Public Schools.
Congratulations, Persa!
Submitted By:
Barb Weldon
Anoka Hennepin District #11
A Day Trip
to the Occupation Skills Program in Willmar, MN
On October 31, 2006 the CTIC (Community Transition Interagency
Committee) of Mankato, MN sponsored a trip to Ridgewater College in
Willmar, MN. Students were from Mankato East High School, Mankato West
High School, St. Peter High School, and New Ulm High School. The
students were generally juniors and seniors (16-18 years old).
Some parents and grandparents attended the day long trip. Teachers,
along with members of Vocational Rehabilitation, plus one Hennepin
County case manager received the grand tour.
The purpose of the outing was to give students and parents a first hand
look at the post secondary program available to these students. The
Occupational Skills Program (OSP) provides an opportunity for
individuals with mild to moderate disabilities to acquire the
vocational/technical training which will maximize their job skill
potential. These individuals may not be able to succeed in a
traditional technical college program but with training, are capable of
entry level or semi-skilled employment beyond a sheltered
workshop. A typical day for these students involves working
on a job site in the community for most of the morning and back to the
Willmar campus for classes in the afternoon, Monday through Thursday.
These jobs are monitored by the school staff.
During the tour, the group had lunch in the Ridgewater dining room, met
with the director of Disability Services, Tammy Becker, and program
director, Mary Gafkjen. After the directors spoke, there was time to
hear from the current students in the OSP course with questions and
answers to many of the concerns and likes and dislikes. Some of
the questions dealt with financial aid, housing, transportation,
homesickness, schoolwork, and of course, on the job training. When it
seemed all of the questions had been answered, the visiting group got a
tour of the campus, including the book store and work out center and
gymnasium.
At the end of the tour, the group got back on the bus and had time to
visit about everything they had seen and heard. Some of the students
liked what they saw and felt good about what OSP has to offer. Some of
the students decided they needed a little longer time to think about
their post secondary options. Many of the parents and grandparents were
impressed with what Ridgewater had to offer and had many more questions
about transitioning their students and other possibilities open to
their students. Transitioning is seldom simple and clear cut, but with
CTIC members ready to answer questions and provide information as well
as tours and resources, hopefully, it will become a smoother process
for the student, family and school.
Submitted by:
Beverly Berger
Work Experience/Transition Coordinator
St. Peter, MN
Transition
Plus White Bear Lake Updates
Transition Plus White Bear Lake is exploring the feasibility of
combining our Transition Program with Mahtomedi schools. We would
bring in a few students who are between the ages of 18 and 21 and
provide Transition Programming, at our site in the White Bear Shopping
Center. We are just in the talking stage now and don’t expect to
have students until next school year.
With the help of our Suburban Ramsey County CTIC, we put on a
Transition Planning Fair on November 2, 2006. Over 50 vendors
participated. We were disappointed that more students and parents
were not in attendance. Dean Shawbold is looking for ideas to
help boost attendance at Transition Fair. Please e-mail Dean at
drshaw@wbl.whitebear.k12.mn.us with your ideas.
Our CTIC is putting on a Career Skills Day February 13, in the White
Bear Area. With the help of a Tech Prep grant we are able to
offer this opportunity to 10 Suburban Ramsey County Schools. Five
students from each school will compete in four areas of work related
activities. In addition, several representatives from the local
colleges will be in attendance to discuss college readiness with the
students. This is our second annual Career Skills Day and we are
looking forward to this exciting event.
Dean Shawbold received the Vern Vick Award early this fall. The
award was presented to Dean by the Ramsey County Youth Council for his
work on the counsel. Vern Vick was a champion for youth in Ramsey
County and passed away over a year ago. This award will be given
every year to someone who works with maximizing the potential of youth.
Submitted by:
Dean Shawbold
Work Coordinator
White Bear Lake
Wayzata High School Planning Annual
Banquet
As we’re sitting here writing this and it is only November (or should
we say already November?) we are beginning to think about our spring
Work Program banquet, to be held in May, 2007. This will be our
seventh year of the annual TRACK Work Program banquet and each year it
proves to be bit larger and a little more successful.
The banquet
is held in Wayzata High School’s cafeteria from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00
a.m. The turnout of attendees approximates 130, which includes;
students, employers, WHS staff, and parents. Thanks to support
from local businesses we are able to serve bagels, Caribou coffee,
fruit, cake, juice, pop, snacks, and last year….Subway
sandwiches. Tables are decorated colorfully with tablecloths,
ribbons, and centerpieces made with the help of work program students
(the centerpieces are then given to various employers as thank you
gifts). Various awards are distributed and plaques are
presented. Most importantly are the guest speakers. Each
year it is more fun to see the number of students that volunteer to
share their stories in front of the crowd (we always invite the seniors
to do this). Typically two employers will also
present. Last but not least is the musical
entertainment. It is typically a performance by none
other than students and staff! We have had students
sing, play their electric guitars, custodians and teachers sing harmony
with the students, and last year one of our building custodian’s bands
performed. Now that truly is a special presentation
for the audience! As much work as the preparation for the banquet
is, it is worth it a million times over.
Submitted by:
Cathy Braun and Valerie
Mattioli
TRACK (Teaching Responsibility and Character to Kids) Work Program
Wayzata Schools
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