Life Skills students get on-the-job training

KENNEWICK -- Marcus Breshears zipped around the camping department of Wholesale Sports in Kennewick, applying price stickers and restocking shelves.

When the 19-year-old started working at the store, he was nervous about approaching customers to ask if they needed help. But he's grown more confident and now ably guides people to everything from waterproof gear to tents.

"I love it. It's fun and it's a new opportunity to learn," Breshears said.

Which is why he was placed at Wholesale Sports in the first place.

Breshears attends Southridge High in Kennewick and is in the school's Life Skills program, which is for students with a range of physical and developmental disabilities. He also works part time at Canyon Lakes golf course.

All three of Kennewick's traditional high schools have Life Skills programs. What the students are taught in the classes depends partly on their abilities -- for example, some get reading and math lessons while others work more on functional skills such as how to pay for groceries at the store.

The program also includes helping students prepare for life after high school. (Students can stay in the program until they're 21).

That's where the job training comes in. School district staff work with businesses to pair students up with jobs -- from working at a place like Wholesale Sports to busing tables at restaurants or helping seniors at an assisted living facility.

"Our job is to educate and to prepare kids for life after high school. (Life Skills) kids are no different. We have to create opportunities for them," said Doug Christensen, director of special services for the Kennewick School District.

Kennewick's program isn't unique. All districts in Washington are required to provide transitional help for students in special education.

In Kennewick, the district uses money from its special education budget to pay for the vocational program.

Kennewick's Life Skills program serves between 40 and 50 students at Southridge, Kamiakin and Kennewick high schools.

Some students aren't able to work because of the level of their disability, but many are able to get at least some kind of job experience.

Students generally start out doing jobs in their classroom or other parts of their school. Then they go to a place like the Kennewick Food Bank, where tasks are structured and there's lots of help.

The hope is that by the students' final years in the program, they've gained skills to work independently in a job that will continue past high school.

"The goal is to have at least a fulfilling opportunity if not a job after graduation," said Dawn Johnson, who helps match students with employers.

She's now looking for job opportunities for some students in the program. Businesses that are interested should e-mail dawn.johnson@ ksd.org.

This year, Kennewick students are working at businesses such as Bruchi's restaurant, Rite Aid and the Tri-City Country Club. Staff members try to place students according to their interests.

Victoria Reynolds, 20, who attends Southridge High, works at Sandstone Cafe in Kennewick, where she greets customers when they come in, serves drinks and clears tables.

"I like seeing all the customers' smiling faces," she said.

The downtown restaurant is a popular spot, and Reynolds seems to like being in on the action. She was a blur of activity during a recent lunch rush, joking with her co-workers and making sure diners had what they needed.

James Ortega, owner of the cafe, said Reynolds does a good job. She's one of several students to be placed there over the last few years.

"I think of it as an opportunity to help students get job skills," Ortega said. "Over the nine months of the school year we (often) see them go from being timid to doing the job more boldly."

Reynolds also works in the mornings at Life Care Center of Kennewick, a nursing facility.

She said she likes her work and feels proud when she tells people about her jobs.

Breshears also likes his jobs, and was named employee of the month at Wholesale Sports in February. He works at the Kennewick store in the mornings, doing everything from sweeping to labeling to restocking.

"Whatever we ask him to do, he goes after it," said Jim Crook, one of his supervisors.

Breshears buzzed around the store on a recent morning. There was no evidence of that old nervousness about approaching customers. And even though the camping department where he works is the biggest in the store with more than 5,000 items, he knows it like the back of his hand.

Tents. Sleeping bags. Rain gear. He can lead the way.

"I feel like I learn something every day," he said.