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I want to thank our superintendent and school board for believing in this innovative concept of teaching our students with special needs in a real-world setting.”
education courses to receive certificates and also intern at local businesses. Most recently, PSJA ISD held a graduation ceremony for the first two graduates from the program who completed South Texas College’s Continuing Education Courses in employability skills, basic cake decorating and basic photography. The graduates, Noah Veliz and Janie Gonzalez, were also surprised with full-time job offers from local businesses NAFT Federal Credit Union and Irma’s Sweet Shoppe.
Learn more about this and other PSJA programs at www.psjaisd.us.
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Since the program launched in the fall of 2016, partnerships with local employers have been strengthened and have provided students a deeper preparation for gainful employment. Recently, students have been able to take these skills to local businesses including At Home, Best Buy, Dairy Queen, Goodwill, NAFT Federal Credit Union, Regency Hall, Peter Piper Pizza, Pharr Memorial Library, Vany's Flower Shop, On The Grill, Gold’s Gym, El Mana Cuisine, and Quinta Mazatlan. “At PSJA ISD, our focus is helping every student succeed in transitioning to the next level not only to finish high school but to succeed and complete college through post-secondary training for employment,” King said. “The Pathways Toward Independence program is about doing the same for our special needs students.” In addition to learning skills in the home, PTI students take required South Texas College continuing
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Vero nic a Qui nta na , P SJA P TI d i r ec tor