Jamie Morris expected to spend his last summer as a high school student taking classes - the only way he knew how to make up the 10 credits he was behind in school. But through the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District's Workability I program, Morris was able to secure a part-time job at Woolworth's Nursery in Mountain View, where he earns both a salary and school credits. Now a Los Altos High School senior, Morris is ahead 15 credits in his school work.
Morris said since enrolling in the program he's doing better in school, is more confident and has been thinking more about his career choices.
"I had searched around for other jobs, but this is the first one that worked out," Morris said. "They gave me some good help. I know what to do next time."
Morris is one of about 90 students who has participated in the program over the past year, filling positions at more than 50 local companies, including Sun Microsystems, The Gap and the YMCA.
Through the program, local special education students ages 14-22 at Los Altos, Mountain View and Alta Vista high schools are placed in jobs that match their interests. The program provides pre-employment skills training, work-site training and follow-up services.
Karla Sanchez, a junior at Los Altos High, secured a job at Pilgrim Haven in Los Altos nearly two years ago through the program. She said the program's job developers told her how to dress and what to say at the interview. She said with their help, she had a "clear picture of what would happen," which helped her get the job.
"We're basically here to do what it takes to help (students),"
said program coordinator Carol Molina.
That has included everything from driving students to job interviews to negotiating raises for them.
On the day of this interview, a job developer was prepping a student for an interview later that afternoon, telling her how to respond to a quiz she would have to take in order to secure the job.
"They're going to give you a test, but don't panic ... You have to look at the test from the point of view of the store, from what the store would want," the developer said.
Organizers say most students find success in school through the program. Molina said sometimes a student who doesn't do well in the classroom may excel in a job, boosting that person's self esteem and motivation to stay in school.
"We've never had a program for kids that helps them the way this does," Molina said.
She said in addition to keeping students in school, the program helps students train and learn marketable job skills.
Molina said over past three years, she has tracked students in the program and discovered that most of them remain employed after high school, with some being promoted to top company positions.
For more information about the program, call 960-8465.