Local News
CACC students training in real world
By Tiffany Green
STAFF WRITER
The work technology program at the Cullman Area Career Center is taking a new approach to teaching their students. The program provides special needs students with the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills and work related skills by hands on participation at a local work site. The instructors supervise the students as they learn and perform a variety of general labor jobs alongside the company employees.
The instructor, Denise Feldner says not all of her students learn by the book.
“These students prefer to be out doing something rather than in the books,” Feldner said.
The program is currently doing work at Ryan’s and Big Lots.
“Ryan’s has been great working with us,” Feldner said. “Culinary arts is just one aspect of the program.”
Brian Long, general manager of Ryan’s said, “All these kids need a little push in the right direction and need to understand what’s expected of them. It can be tough. We just want to teach them responsibility.”
Feldner explained that the opportunity gets the kids excited about working.
“The kids are eager to come and work,” she said. “My students need someone to give them a chance to work so that they can learn to work.”
The program gives the students better experience when transitioning from school to the work force.
“They need to feel successful about what they are doing and see that they too can be productive citizens in their community,” Feldner said.
Long said his employees like interacting with the students.
“The employees take the students under their wing and they do their best to help.”
The program is a new approach to an ongoing problem of preparing students for the world of work, said Feldner. The schools have to follow the No Child Left Behind guidelines, but small populations of students who do struggle can get left behind she explained. These students do not fit into a regular academic environment.
At Ryan’s, students perform a variety of tasks including basic cleaning, to serving customers and helping out the kitchen staff.
“The kids are willing to do whatever we ask of them and they are very respectful,” Long said.
Feldner said that the past few months have been a wonderful learning experience for both students and the employees.
“The interaction between my students and the employees has given me great insight to the acceptance of young people in the work place,” Feldner said. “I will be able to take what I have observed back to the classroom to better prepare my students for work.”
For more information or if any business is interested in helping with the program, contact Denise Feldner at the Cullman Area Career Center at 734-7740.
‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.
- Local News
-
-
Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
Train vs. car, no one injured
Sean Hart, 32, had driven County Road 917 at least a hundred times to reach his Johnson’s Crossing home, but Thursday afternoon was different.
-
Wrong number leads to drug arrest
If you’re calling someone to set up a drug buy, it’s important to make sure you dial the correct number first.
-
Taste of Cullman event raises $8,000
The annual Taste of Cullman event raised approximately $8,000 for the Cullman County United Way Tuesday night.
-
School H1N1 clinics to start Mon.
Local schools will begin hosting free H1N1 swine flu vaccine clinics next week for elementary students.
-
Farm family recognized at annual banquet
Sam and Cynthia Black and family were honored as the 2010 Farm family of the year at the annual Farm-City Banquet Thursday evening at the Cullman Civic Center.
-
Annual Farm-City banquet Thursday at Cullman Civic Center
The Farm-City Banquet will be Thursday at the Cullman Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.
-
Commissioner takes Smith Lake water proposal to town council
County commissioner Wayne Willingham addressed West Point’s town council Monday evening regarding the county’s proposed Smith Lake water project.
-
LePard trial pushed to Dec.
The trial for Derrick LePard, a former Cold Springs teacher accused of extortion and attempting to produce obscene matter of a child, should move forward in early December.
-
County commission not satisfied with city Duck River contract
The Cullman County Commission will not sign onto the city’s Duck River water plan until certain aspects of the project contract are addressed.
- More Local News Headlines
-
