Graduates in the Workforce

Employment skills training at ESBOCES is not limited to adult or high school Career and Technical Education Programs. The agency’s comprehensive Special Career Education (SCE) Program provides skills training for students with special education needs, and could lead to entry-level employment in select industries.

Under our SCE umbrella is a school-to-work transition program for select students called Project SEARCH. It provides internships, classroom instruction, job coaching, and job placement into stable, competitive jobs for students with disabilities.

Project SEARCH participants must be in their final year of school eligibility and enrolled in an ESBOCES program.

ESBOCES collaborates with Medford Multicare Center, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, which provides one-year, full-time internships for our Project SEARCH students. Each day includes the internship, as well as instruction on the necessary skills students need to transition into the workforce. This consists of resume writing, participating in mock interviews, and discussing the importance of professionalism, punctuality and time management. This instruction is led by an ESBOCES teacher.

Students rotate every 10 to 12 weeks through three separate internships in various departments at the center, such as Recreation and Central Supply. “What makes this program unique is that every student gets placed by the end of the school year,” explained Project SEARCH Teacher Jennifer Farrish. “We assist with the job applications, set up the interviews, and track every graduate’s progress for three years after they exit the program.”

To get a better idea of the success of this program, view the many snapshots of various graduates at their current jobs listed below: