Bridgeport High School Special Education Department Head Marsha Coakley has one goal for the students serviced by her teachers:  to be successful beyond the four walls of her classroom.  After 10 years of teaching elsewhere, she started at BHS 12 years ago. Upon entering the program’s classroom, she saw great potential for teaching even the most profound students life skills that could benefit them once they graduated.

 

What started as a Partners in Education project with WDTV, the life skills lab is designed like an apartment, complete with kitchen, laundry facilities, and hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and on-the-job training.  There are also computer stations and desks where students learn more about practical applications used in everyday life.

 

Recently, Coakley received a copyright for her Independent Living Skills Daily Work Chart that took her years to develop.  The chart allows for consistency in duties students are trained to implement each day in the life skills lab.  

 

“Each student is given a daily job,” said Coakley.  “Jobs includes laundry, making the bed, ironing, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, emptying trash, and helping with the faculty mail room.  We also have a complete kitchen where we prepare meals, wash dishes, learn how to measure ingredients and even feature a Top Chef.”

 

The on-the-job training portion of the classroom has helped prepare the special education students for careers after graduating.  Each day, students deliver newspapers to teachers around the building, refill supplies in the kitchen, sort papers, wrap silverware, and shred papers, all typical tasks performed on the job.

 

“I am currently working on developing procedure manuals that give the students step-by-step instructions for each task assigned,” said Coakley.  “The BHS Special Education Department primarily works with those students who are working toward alternate diplomas and the structure set forth in the Independent Living Skills Lab allows them to prepare for living and working on their own after graduation.”

 

The newly copyrighted chore chart, developed by Coakley, is used for current students in the Special Education classes.  Additionally, they will have special projects that focus on hygiene, life experiences, and developing skills in financial management.  

 

“We truly want the students to be successful and part of that is helping them budget, fill out job applications, and even navigate menus and do mental math,” said Coakley.  “It is a true privilege to watch their progress and to be able to empower students to be independent after graduation.”