-
Pictured are students in Cynthia Vaughn's class.
White County High School has received $8,000 for vocational training curriculum for students with disabilities.
WCHS special education teacher Cynthia Vaughn applied for the grant through the Georgia Department of Education, to better assist her students. She said the high school likes to focus on getting students ready for life after high school, and the funds would help with that.
“One of the things we do is get them ready for their life choices, whether it’s college or vocational or jobs,” Vaughn said. “Being that I teach the small group classes, the functional, we focus more on the vocational settings and community-based jobs.”
With the grant, Vaughn said the funds will help purchase activities and items used to teach pre-vocational skills, which range from basics such as wrapping silverware to more advanced skills. The skills students learn here can be used after they finish school.
“When we do our community-based instruction, [the students] will be ready to go and work in the community,” Vaughn said. “So it’s more in-house, hands-on learning so we can go to the businesses in the area and say, ‘OK, our kids know how to do A,B, and C,’ and then that way we can show the community these are the skills we’re teaching them at the school and how they can help you in the community.”
WCHS Principal Mary Anne Collier said she is thankful for Vaughn and the work she did to find the grant.
“We are grateful that WCHS has teachers like Mrs. Vaughan who continuously look for ways to provide our students not only with an excellent education while in high school, but also prepare them for life beyond high school,” Collier said. “The Rural Education Fund Grant will help provide curriculum for our students with intellectual disabilities to learn essential job-readiness skills. White County High School’s Vision Statement is “Equipping Warriors for Success” and I cannot think of a better example of putting this vision statement into action by helping to prepare these students for success after high school.”
Vaughn said she applied for the grant at the end of July, and received the money on Friday, Sept. 3.
The grant comes from the Georgia Foundation for Public Education Rural Education Fund, which awarded grants to 12 schools and districts on Aug. 31 for a total of $115,003, according to the Georgia Department of Education.