CAREER CENTER
The career center is where our students learn and develop entry-level work skills and behaviors. Statistics have shown that learning disabled students have little difficulty getting a job, but great difficulty keeping jobs because of their difficulties in these areas. These general work skills are work habits that are required of employees, no matter where they work. Some of these skills include: appropriate dress and hygiene, meeting work quality standards, managing time, following supervisors' directions, checking work for accuracy, following routines, seeking new tasks upon completion of assigned tasks, accepting criticism, self-advocacy for their needs, learning to interact with peers and supervisors appropriately and working independently and with a group.
While the Baltimore Career Center is incorporated in the school building, our Annapolis Career Center is located about 5 miles from the school building. All high school students spend at least one semester per year training at the Career Center. The Career Center works together with the transition team to provide students with general work skills, as well as specific skills training for volunteer and paid positions that students acquire.
Specific skills training is worked on in the following areas: Landscape and Horticulture, Building Maintenance, Food Prep and Office Practice. Some of the tasks students work on in Office Practice are: answering telephones and greeting visitors, clerical duties; such as typing, copying, collating materials, putting together mass mailings, doing inventory and stocking supplies. In Building Maintenance, students are involved in painting, drywall repair, light electrical work, light plumbing, floor work, and exposure to the operation of electric and manual tools and equipment. The Landscape and Horticulture program exposes students to a variety of gardening jobs, such as pruning, mowing, mulching, fertilizing, maintaining flower beds and working with indoor plants. The Food Prep students provide catering for special events and provide lunch to the main campus one day each week.
