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Perspective Newsletters
Spring 2002
JOB PLACEMENT
Page 4
One of the programs that is offered to selected students at both Leary School of
Virginia and Leary School, Prince George's County, is a job placement program. Although
both schools have had this program in place for a few years now, this year has been
the most successful one yet and has seen a dramatic increase in student workers!
Through many part time employment positions, students have a chance to work on basic
job "getting" and job "keeping" skills. Many jobs are not designed to be permanent
careers but more of a learning opportunity. Helping students understand the importance
of coming to work every day, coming prepared to work, accepting supervision, finding
ways to discuss concerns with bosses respectfully, and following directions may be
the most important lessons jobs teach and it is a lesson that can be learned - and
mastered - before the young person finishes school and ventures out into the "real
world".
Both Cynthia Petty at Leary School, Prince George's County, and Annette Colon at
Leary School of Virginia have made great strides in going out into the community
near to their respective campuses and working with local employers who are willing
to work with students. Both Ms. Petty and Ms. Colon have found that those employers
with whom they meet with and talk to about Leary School students are generally willing
to give them a chance. Ms. Colon has also found that taking potential employees with
her when she introduces herself to these merchants helps them to see the students'
strengths and ability to do the job.
Ms. Petty currently has four students working and another two who will be interviewing
for positions soon. These four young people are working in such diverse work places
as a barber shop, a restaurant, a local park, and a boat-building organization. In
addition, she has been in contact with Career Connections in Prince George's County
and is hoping to help place ten to fifteen students in summer positions. She has
also begun looking at students who would be good candidates for next year in order
to get a "jump start" on employment for these young people.
Ms. Colon has 14 students in part time positions in the area around the Virginia
campus, including a day care center, Giant Foods, Burger King, a nursing home, retail
outlets, the area Food Bank, and Windows Plus.
This is the second year that Leary School of Virginia students have been placed at
Windows Plus and it has proved to be a mutually beneficial partnership. Last year,
the students who were placed there worked on a volunteer basis, passing out flyers
in the community. Windows Plus hoped that more coverage in the area would result
in increased business - and it did! As a result of phone calls from potential customers
who learned of Windows Plus through the flyers, this year Windows Plus offered students
paying jobs and increased the number of students they were willing to employ. Three
to four students go out into the community twice a week, for two and a half to three
hours each time. Representatives from Windows Plus have told Ms. Colon this year
that they are still seeing increases in their business that directly relate to the
flyers these students are distributing.
Ms. Petty believes that the employers with whom she has met on employment opportunities
for the students have been a bonus - these merchants and supervisors have expressed
a willingness to work with at-risk youth and to extend themselves when concerns arise.
Ms. Petty regularly meets with all the employers to discuss the students' progress
and to get a feel for the areas in which they may need some guidance. At the same
time, she also talks with the students who are currently working to help them see
how employers often view workers. For instance, if a student is having a conflict
with a supervisor, Ms. Petty will work with that student on recognizing what the
expectations are - not just of the job but of any work situation and then help the
student look at the situation from the employer's point of view.
Ms. Colon has also expressed her appreciation for the employers. She has found that
most keep an extra eye on the students and make certain that she knows each student's
progress. Like Ms. Petty, Ms. Colon stops in to meet with these employers regularly
and to help the students to know that adults from both school and work are working
together to help them succeed. She frequents the grocery store where one student
works and finds that whenever she goes there, even on weekends, someone from their
staff will ask about the student.
Another program that Ms. Petty has initiated at the Prince George's County campus
is a Job Club that meets on Mondays. During their meetings, students who are currently
employed, all graduating seniors and students who may be good candidates for next
year's positions work on interviewing skills, filling out an application, dressing
for a job interview, and resume writing. These students have even participated in
mock interviews with staff at the school to help them understand the process of interviewing
and to practice responding to questions that might be asked of them. Ms. Petty has
enlisted other staff to help in these mock interviews so that students have an opportunity
to interact with other "employers". She believes that these sessions as well as all
the other activities the students work on in the Job Club help them become more self
assured when they actually go out looking for employment.
From a Student's Point of View...
 Tony
Funderburk, a student at Leary School, Prince George's County, recently
began working through the job placement program at a local barber shop. Here is what
he has to say about his experiences:
"I began the barbering apprenticeship program two months ago. Since I began, I have
learned a lot about the barbering business. I am learning how to cut hair in many
different styles. I am receiving hands on experience and learning a trade to help
me in the future. My instructor is also helping me work on my social skills and professional
appearance. I am learning how to interact with the public. I am learning how to be
patient and use appropriate language in the work place. I am happy that I have this
opportunity to get this valuable experience. I would like to thank Ms. Bonham and
Ms. Petty and Leary School for helping me get into this program. I hope that future
students will be able to have this same opportunity."
Several of the students in Ms. Mullins' classroom at the Virginia campus participate
in the job placement program. As part of their journal assignments recently, they
wrote about their feelings about their work experiences:
Richard Robertson wrote: "I work at the Food Bank. I sweep, I mop.
I put food away and I eat. I learned to take responsibilities for putting my hands
on other peoples' food, making sure the place is clean and having a good attitude
and sharing clean-up tools. I feel good about my job".
 Darrell
Derby wrote: "My job is to pass out flyers for Windows Plus. And I have
learned how to control myself in the community. And I have learned how to be more
responsible by going to work every time I supposed to. I enjoy the job because it's
fun walking around and meeting new people."
Zakat Norris wrote: "My job is working at a nursing home. I help
old people, push them around to where they want to go, to their rooms or just around
the hallways and stuff. I help them bowl. Some of the elderly people are nice. Some
of the elderly people have sharp memories. Elderly people want to be talked to respectfully.
I have learned to be responsible at my job because if they ask you to do something,
they expect you to do it. I enjoy working at the nursing home."
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