STW Summer Work Experiences
Thank you to our local employers for your support and providing opportunities for our students!!
Chesaning High School
Franks Market of St. Charles
Goodwill
Hartley Outdoor Education Center
Heritage High School
Hoyt Park
Leaman's Green Applebarn
Maple Grille Restaurant
Saginaw Children's Zoo
Saginaw City Parks and Recreation
Saginaw YMCA
Shepherd's Farm
Soup Kitchen
SVRC Marketplace
Jaylen Cooper-Student
After he completes his internship, Jaylen wants to pursue a permanent position within Covenant Hospital. Outside of work and school, Jaylen enjoys drawing and socializing with his friends. Keep up the great work Jaylen!
I talked to Acaisha in linen about Jaylen and she had a lot of great things to say about him.
She said “Jaylen is an outstanding kid, so respectful. Covenant staff and supervisors have also commented on this. Jaylen is great and quick, has caught onto the job so fast. I hope he gets a job here at Covenant after the internship. He is so upbeat”
We are all so proud of the work Jaylen is doing at Covenant. He is so flexible and takes initiative in everything he does in the linen department.
Dan Palmer- Teacher
Dan Palmer is a teacher in the SOAR Program at the Saginaw ISD Transitions Center. He teaches money math skills, driver’s training, and some social skills classes. Dan has taught for 18 years, with 15 years in special education. He received his Bachelor’s degree in History from SVSU, and participated in the accelerated education program at SVSU.
Dan sets high standards for his students and loves to see them grow as individuals. He finds that once he is able to establish a relationship and gain trust with students, they will rise to the occasion and flourish. “It is exciting to see students grow into responsible adults who are able to be competitively employed and live independently.”
Dan has been married to his wife Libby for 12 years. He also has a stepdaughter, Corey, and his grandson, Graham. Dan likes to spend time with his family, playing in his band, The Crushtones, and listening to music.
Jennifer Schaller-STW Team
Jennifer Schaller is a vocational consultant with the Saginaw ISD, as well as a blended staff with the State of Michigan through Michigan Rehabilitation Services. She has been an educator with the SISD Transitions Center for sixteen years and has accomplished many roles during her career. She has had the pleasure to work as a paraprofessional, teacher and Work Based Learning/ Covenant Project Coordinator within the SISD Transitions Center. She has also spent three years serving as Assistant Principal of the Millet Learning Center building on vocational opportunities for students. Jennifer graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with an Ed.S. in Central Office Administration and considers herself a lifelong learner. Throughout her journey in education, working with students and supporting them to achieve success in life has been her center of focus to continue learning. She passionately believes in serving as an advocate to build vocational and independent living opportunities for students with disabilities throughout Saginaw County. In her free time she enjoys watching her two sons play sports, she enjoys playing sports, running, reading, and hanging out with my family.
Nicole Rethman- Swan Valley Special Ed. Supervisor
Nicole began her professional career in 2003 as a Physical and Health Education Teacher in the Roger City Area Schools. In 2004, she continued her teaching career as an Adapted Physical Education Teacher in the Saginaw Township Community Schools where she taught for 12 years. She joined the Saginaw ISD in 2016 as the Special Education Supervisor assigned to the Swan Valley School District. She has also served as adjunct faculty at Saginaw Valley State University in the Physical Education Department and College of Education.
The School to Work team has been a huge asset to the students in the Swan Valley School District. They offer a variety of services to the students. It starts with the Sophomore Mapping where students are initially introduced to the STW staff and they meet with students to find out their future plans, as well as gauge interest in services that the team can provide them over the course of their high school career. From participation in the Delta Project to preparing them for college life, assisting to write resumes, practicing interview skills, developing job skills and to finding them employment there are a number of things that the School to Work team does to benefit our students. By their senior IEP where the team is helping them prepare for post high school the growth that we see in the students is phenomenal. It is all thanks to the STW team and their belief and support in our students.
MITTIN Project
Check out the link below to find out more information about this excellent resource!
Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library
The Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) lends audio and braille books to Michigan residents unable to comfortably read standard print materials due to a visual, physical, or reading disability. Apply for service to access thousands of books that can be downloaded directly with BARD, or request one of our digital talking book players and books can be delivered directly to you on cartridge through the regular U.S. postal service. Best of all, this service is FREE, there is not even a charge to mail materials to the library.
Check out the link below for more information about the 100,000 books in audio and braille that can be delivered to your door or be downloaded.
Transition Tennessee Webcast
Envision Success Program
The all-virtual CSP offers a holistic support system that utilizes the knowledge and experience of experts in the blindness field. They help provide guidance to students throughout their journey. Envision’s CSP is the leading partner in helping students who are blind or low vision achieve their limitless potential.
By clicking the link below, you can sign up to access resources to support students who are transitioning from high school to college and also access various resources to use with your current students who have a visual impairment.
Binder Park-Family Fun At the Zoo
Tickets are limited and can be reserved for pick up at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services office at 160 68th St SW Suite 140, Grand Rapids, MI 49548.
Please contact community@deafhhs.org for information on how to collect the tickets.
Zoo tickets are valid for entry during regular zoo hours and must be used by the end of the 2022 season. Tickets cannot be used for special events. Find information about Binder Park Zoo on their website below by clicking on the button link.
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Communications from the Council, including newsletters, information on Council meetings, and educational opportunities, will be distributed from our new system.
We have made it easy for you to stay informed and continue receiving updates from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council.
When you sign-up, you can choose to receive communications from the Council based on topics of interest, so you can be confident the information you receive will be relevant to the issues that matter to you!
Scan the QR code, or click the link below to visit our new sign-up form.
Great Lakes Bay Region Buddy Walk
Camp Fish Tales Fright Night
Before these festivities get started, on Thursday October 20th, there will be a Moonlight 5K Run/Walk. Details for both events can be found in the flyer linked below. Hope to see everyone there!
SISD SCHOOL TO WORK TEAM
Email: mwheatcr@sisd.cc
Website: https://www.sisd.cc/o/saginaw-isd
Location: 3860 Fashion Square Boulevard, Saginaw, MI, USA
Phone: 989-399-7400