Transition Academy

Last Thursday was another exciting day for me as a Board Member.  I got to attend the Transition Academy and Community Based Instruction, EXPO; sponsored by Exceptional Student Education department and our S.T.A.R.T. group (Citrus County (Student Transition and Resource Team).

Citrus County Schools Transition Academy, located at Withlacoochee Technical Institute, is for students with disabilities ranging in ages from 18 to 21 who have received a special high school graduation diploma.  A Transition Academy student is supported by an ESE teacher who provides instruction in functional academics and employability skills. Students have the opportunity to enroll in career education job classes or participate in off-campus work programs. In addition to providing direct instruction, the ESE teacher provides support to other faculty members and employers participating in the work program.

At the Transition Academy the classroom is more like a lab which has different areas that the student, with the assistance of the teacher, can work on developing work and life skills in order to be more successful in the job place.

Next we traveled to Publix Supermarket in Citrus Hills.  Publix, as a corporation, is special work needs friendly and partnered with not only Citrus County Schools but other school districts and programs around the state and county including our local Key Training Centers.  At Publix of Citrus Hills General Manager Ray Parrish takes great pride in talking about his Transition Academy students.  He especially listed a number of former students who made the next powerful leap of becoming hired and are now his employees.  Mr. Parrish toured us around his store and introduced us to some of those students that are now working at his store and then let them demonstrate some of their job duties and responsibilities while working at the store.  Working side by side with the student that day was Cora Hecht who is an onsite Job Coach Instructor who does a tremendous job helping them identify and find the right skills that they could build on.  I cannot say enough positive about Publix and Mr. Parrish who have a passion for developing successful adults who contribute significantly to our community in the jobs and work they perform.   Publix is by far not the only business where our Transition Academy students work, Bells, Rehab Centers, Key Training Center, fast food restaurants, repair shops, and many more,   open their business and employment doors to our students. Ultimately many of them become future employees.

That is the goal for these students.  They want to be self-sufficient and develop their employment skills to  to be able to get a pay check and  then be able to look another person in the eyes and say, “I work for ___!

Watch the video below about Publix employee and Transition Academy alumni, Richard.

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