The Prevocational Program at Troy A. Howard Middle School in MSAD#34 is a Special Education program that provides hands-on learning in realistic applications of academic skills. Students are recommended for this program through their Individual Education Plan. They participate in a series of classroom companies and prevocational experiences that teach about the world of work and the expectations that employers hold for their employees. These experiences are based on beginning work skills, work perseverance, and good work behaviors.
Community-based learning is a vital part of the program. Students make visits to area businesses and job sites to learn first-hand about workers, from their job prerequisites and application process to the employee evaluation process.
Students apply the behaviors and work skills they are learning to various classroom companies that operate within Troy Howard Middle School. These companies are organized under the umbrella name of On-A-Roll Enterprises and have included:
Students participate fully in the planning and organizing of the companies. Some of the routine student activities of the Prevocational Program include:
Community service is another part of operating any business and has become part of On-A-Roll Enterprises, as well. Students take turns visiting patients in area nursing homes, helping prepare the lunches at Belfast's Stone Soup Kitchen, and participating in the day program for senior citizens at Belfast's Senior Spectrum. Plans are being made to expand the menu of community service to other organizations, which might include nursery schools, park clean-up, Meals-on-Wheel preparation, and more. (We are always looking for ideas; please call if you can give us one.)
Students are not given an hourly pay like real employees. However, each is rewarded with a "mock pay" spent in special activities at the end of each grading term. The amount of "mock pay" that students receive for each trip is individually prorated by both the amount of time they "worked" in the prevocational program, and the evaluations of their performance and work behaviors.
The determination of how much time a student will participate in the prevocational program is determined at the Pupil Evaluation Team (PET) meetings, which generate the Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students participate for 1 or 2 periods per day or approximately 40 - 95 minutes (the period times depend on the daily school schedule that create different period lengths.)
The Prevocational Program is constantly evolving to provide the most realistic experiences for students to learn about the world of work and community services and opportunities. We believe that these experiences will help our students become better citizens and productive members of their community.
The 2000-2001 Prevocational Staff is: Kem Hoffer, Special Education Teacher; Hans Hellstrom, Ed. Tech., Kelley Crowley, Ed. Tech. Troy Howard Middle School's phone number is 338-3320, and the Prevocational Program extension is 109 Our principal is Gary Bosk (Ext. 303); the Assistant Principal is Bruce Mailloux (Ext. 304), and the Special Education Coordinator is Kathy Neill (Ext. 106).