The motto Building Bright Tomorrows speaks to Atlantic County Special Services School District’s (ACSSSD) objective of helping each student work toward their goals. But as is the case for all Joint Council districts, they don’t just talk about this goal, they embody it. ACSSSD staff members’ work goes beyond the district’s mission to provide innovative educational programs and related services to their students, ages 3 to 21. It takes the extra step when offering specialized and individualized instruction that is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards to meet each student’s unique needs. ACSSSD is dedicated to helping students prepare to become contributing members of the communities in which they live.
Serving students from Atlantic County, ACSSSD turns this mission into action, which is apparent by the dedicated staff members who walk the halls. From the moment someone steps into the school, they are greeted by a kind security guard, who is retired from law enforcement and finds his new role incredibly rewarding. One theme is common among every employee at ACSSSD and extends to every Joint Council member district: gratitude.
The thing about gratitude is that it cannot be taught. But at ACSSD it is cultivated every day through the actions of staff and students across the district. Staff members at ACSSSD are thankful for the role they play in the lives of the young men and women who enter their programs and consider it a gift to be able to teach and learn from these individuals daily. In addition to a full child study team, the district also employs Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and related service providers to meet students’ needs. Enrollment at ACSSSD is growing, after some recent changes over the past couple of years, and the staff members are willing to go outside the box to seek ways to meet students where they are in their academic journey.
Goals to Benefit Everyone
Among this year’s goals are strengthening the curriculum and reading instruction. To further support teachers with the curriculum, a reading coach has been brought on board to provide research-based best practices. Part of this includes a co-teaching relationship and working alongside students and staff members to help identify needs and opportunities. Since beginning to work with the reading coach, student growth has already been observed by their teachers.
Other areas of focus for opportunity include enhancing prevocational, transitional, and functional academic skills and helping families navigate the process beyond school. This year, young adults in the 18- to 21-year-old programs are receiving more universal assessments and person-centered planning to provide support in preparing for the future. A partnership with a local provider gives families access to guidance with understanding the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities, completing necessary paperwork, and obtaining guardianship. The district offers this service at no cost to families who need help with this transition.
Initiatives with Purpose
New initiatives for staff this year include keeping the momentum going that has been created with staff morale. The district has been successful with filling open positions. The interview process has been expanded to include building tours, as a way to give prospective staff members a preview of a typical day for students. Another impactful addition to the new staff member onboarding process is the mentoring program. Knowing that new staff members benefit from guidance as they navigate their new role, the administration came up with a process that offers targeted supports, meetings, and structured check-ins to ease the transition.
Another update that benefits ACSSSD staff members is the new coaching model for BCBAs, which assists staff members with implementing behavior plans for students. The BCBAs also serve as go-to resources for staff members as they navigate crisis moments, helping to identify coachable situations, and debrief after a crisis occurs to identify opportunities for improvement.
A large focus this year is ACSSSD’s work to cultivate partnerships with outside organizations such as Atlantic County Community College, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, along with first responders and local police departments. This initiative started in Hamilton Twp. when ACSSSD conducted training with their police force to help learn how to identify and handle situations that involve people with special needs and identifying someone who may be in a mental health crisis. The long-term goal is for this type of training to be mandated in every department to help raise awareness of these situations. During this educator and law enforcement training, real-world applications and techniques were highlighted to offer a captivating and realistic experience. Testimonials from professionals who have woven these applications into their practice were also shown to emphasize the training’s ability to provide valuable tools for use in the field.
Through this partnership, ACSSSD administrators participated in a panel with the prosecutor’s office where they discussed unintended bias in law enforcement against the special needs population and how this can be prevented. This training has the potential to have a widespread impact, and educators offer a different perspective and insight on the issue.
Part of building a relationship with local law enforcement agencies is making ACSSSD buildings available for SWAT training. This helps students become comfortable with having officers in the building, building trust and developing an understanding that they are there to help. Another benefit is that the officers become familiar with the building and understand the students so they can respond accordingly in the event of an emergency.
To also enhance the relationship between law enforcement and students, a mentor program has been introduced at ACSSSD. Middle school students who have been diagnosed with Emotional Regulation Impairment have this character-building opportunity, in a small group setting of about 10 students. This works to build positive experiences with law enforcement through communication and game-based learning and activities. Students in this program have gained confidence and a new perspective on law enforcement.
ACSSSD provides guidance to outside organizations on developing spaces that are welcoming to children and adults with special needs. Recognized as experts in the field, administrators with Atlantic City Airport and Shore Medical Center called upon district leadership for guidance on what to include and how to lay out their sensory-friendly spaces. Staff members from ACSSSD also conducted staff training for de-escalation strategies at Shore Medical Center. ACSSSD participated in an open house event at Seaville Fire Rescue Station 19. The event was hosted by Shore Medical Center and Upper Township EMS and Rescue Squad 21 with the goal of helping individuals with sensory needs become more comfortable with the emergency process and more familiar with uniformed personnel, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles, and equipment in a safe setting.
Enterprise Opportunities
There are several in-house opportunities available to help students develop workplace skills and independence. The on-campus restaurant, called the Forest Cafe, is frequented by local businesses as an eatery and it also has a conference area that is used for business and community meetings. As a farm-to-table opportunity students grow herbs in the greenhouse that are used by the cafe and grow plants that are used in centerpieces created and delivered by the horticulture classes. Students work with the food services staff in the cafeteria by assisting with set up and classroom food deliveries. The greenhouse also helps reinforce job and financial literacy skills by having the students participate in houseplant orders and sales transactions.
Other on-site and work-based learning options for students are the school store and media center, where they are in charge of running the behind-the-scenes operations. There is also an area set up like a food bank where students assemble bags of food for those in need both inside and outside of the district. In the on-campus business center, students prepare everyday school supplies and larger items for delivery and work in the copy center. Other enterprise opportunities are available for students in grades 9 through 12, where they can participate in operating the on-campus media center and caring for our gardens and courtyards.
Wherever possible, the district seeks job placements in the community for the students who are part of the program for 18 to 21 year olds. Students are provided with a job sampling to see what is the best fit for their skills and interests. ACSSSD has partnerships with Shore Medical Center and AtlantiCare as well as a local farm and food pantry where students can go make meals and soup, and the connection with ACIT brings their students together with special services students for various activities. These are specifically designed for 18 to 21 year old young adults.
Recreational Activities
At ACSSD, students can choose to participate in the club that suits their interests every Friday afternoon. The music program is in the process of being revitalized as an extracurricular outlet for growth, expression and creativity. The current music teacher has established a relationship with students and encourages them to explore music as another way to express themselves. Music is available for students as a club choice; there are also other options like pickleball and chess. Clubs are optional activities that are open to all students.
Other options for students to participate in the arts are the two musical shows that ACSSSD hosts annually, in the winter and spring. The winter show consists of group performances, by classroom, and the spring show is open to individual acts. Teachers practice with their classes and the music teacher organizes the acts into a performance. Other events include a talent show for students and an art show, where students have the opportunity to showcase their self-expression. Parents are invited to the school to attend these events, which offer an opportunity for students to build their confidence and pride.
In the art classroom, students are encouraged to use a variety of mediums to create works of art. There is a working kiln, which opens up possibilities for many different expressive activities such as ceramics and painting. Some of the art-related activities that students look forward to most are International Peace Day where they each create a flag to represent their heritage, and a social-emotional learning lesson that incorporates feathers.
There are opportunities for students to participate in physical activities such as the annual Cherry Blossom Trot and Unified Sports in partnership with Atlantic County Institute of Technology, which is starting this year.
“As a district, our goals include helping students reach their next steps,” said Erin Lichtenwalner, Director of Instruction, Programs and Services, ACSSSD. “Our mission includes so much more than that; we want to see our students succeed in their own ways and we work toward that by providing them with an individualized program tailored to their needs and abilities.”
There are great things on the horizon for ACSSSD, and we will continue to share updates on their progress.
For more information on ACSSSD and their programs, please visit the district website at acsssd.net.