Rick Dunne, Executive Director of the Valley Council of Governments in Derby, looks forward to the days during the school year when Amber Ulatowski, a special education student from Shelton High School, comes to do the document shredding for the office.
“She brightens my day,” Dunne said Friday morning at the annual Work Experience Recognition Ceremony, where 19 special education students including Amber received certificates of recognition for their participation in the work experience program.
The program has been part of special education in Shelton since 1978, and has helped many special education students learn the skills they need to find employment after they graduate, said Edward Kacey, work experience coordinator for the district.
Friday was a day to enjoy breakfast together, in the Shelton High School media center, as parents, students and some members of the business community that participate in the program gathered at the end of the school year.
The students earn high school credits for their supervised work at participating companies, but they are not paid. It is rewarding none the less.
“I like how we get to go out and meet people,” said special education student Jacob Santilli, 19, of Shelton, who has been working as a document shredder through the program. He hopes to get a job soon with a supermarket.
He chatted before breakfast with his friend from the program, Bill Gannon, 18, who has been working at the Highland Golf Course.
“There is a lot to do there,” Gannon said of the golf gorse, where he hopes to soon work part-time.
Sometimes the participating companies are owned by parents of special education students, as in the case of Phil Cavallaro and his company in Derby, Barnum Engineeering Systems. His son, Phil Cavallaro Jr., is a student in the program.
“I wish more businesses would step up to the plate,” PHil Cavallaro said, pointing out how beneficial the program is for all involved.
Speakers at the breakfast ceremony included Mayor Mark Lauretti, Schools Superintendent Freeman Burr, Shelton High School Headmaster Beth Smith and Kathleen Bender, Executive Director of Curriculum and Support Services.
The students were:
Shawn Bagley
Brittany Forlenzo
Phillip Cavallaro
Amber Ulatowski
Lauren Young
Dan Mills
Preston Young
Lisa Durrschmidt
Brian Poppa
Eddie Ayora
Bill Gannon
Jacob Santilli
Ashley Kiss
Robert Sura
Ryan Zenchuk
Chelsea Dolny
Steve Sekelsky
Wilfred Ulerio
