Students With Disabilities Get Career Training
Published Sep 15, 2008
The Career and Technology Education for Students with Disabilities program at two Levelland schools teaches food preparation as well as social skills.
Jane Cook may work in a kitchen every day, but the longtime teacher insists that the sweetest part of her job is not the cookies – it’s the students. Cook has worked in the Career and Technology Education for Students with Disabilities program at both Levelland Middle and High schools for 25 years and says she never grows tired of helping young people succeed.
“I just love these kids,” she says. “When they learn something, it’s more of a triumph than with regular students. The ‘Aha!’ moment is bigger for them. They’re so enthusiastic, so happy to be here.”
Cook divides her time between the two schools, training students in food production, management and services.
“The class is set up like a regular restaurant, with the same kinds of equipment. We teach food preparation but also social skills. And as the kids learn how things are prepared, it reinforces their reading, math and science skills.”
The program offers a variety of catering services as well as special orders.
“Teachers can order their lunches from us, and we have catered meals for all of the schools in the Levelland district. We also do a lot of baking. One nearby school ordered 70 dozen cookies for Valentine’s Day. We probably bake about 10,000 cookies each year. These kiddos stay very busy.”
Best of all, students are able to earn a high school diploma and enter the work force with marketable skills.
“A lot of our students go on to work with Great Western Dining Service at South Plains College as well as McDonald’s restaurants,” Cook says. “I’m so proud of what they’re able to do.”
Story by Amy Stumpfl
Photo by Antony Boshier
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