A Peek Inside the Roswell High School Community Based Instruction Department for Exceptional Children

As the PTSA liaison for the Exceptional Children’s Department at Roswell High School, I have had the good pleasure of getting to know Mr. Elvin Parra, the Department Chair of the Community-Based Instruction Department. Mr. Parra, formerly of Roswell North Elementary, is in his first year of service at Roswell High School.

The adjective that comes to mind when I speak with Mr. Parra about his work with his “kiddos”, as he refers to his students, is “passionate”. Mr. Parra is a teacher who thinks about the well being and betterment of his students every day, whether he is at school or elsewhere. He challenges himself as he challenges his students to learn more, be better, and progress toward excellence every day.

The students in Transition class taught by Mr. Parra are high schoolers who have the opportunity to “graduate” the day before their 22nd birthday. This week alone, all CBI teachers participated in a graduation party for two of their students!

There are five CBI, Community Based Instruction, classrooms on H hall at Roswell High School, where the students are grouped based upon their cognitive skills, physical abilities and grade levels. The goal of the curriculum is to teach and instill as much independence in the students as possible. The students are taught skills such as executive functioning, planning, following a schedule, budgeting money, daily living skills (ie. doing laundry, packing a simple lunch for work) and communication using Assistive Technology devices, verbal/gestural and physical prompts and cues.

The CBI teachers also work in conjunction with several corporations in the community, such as Kimberley Clark, Siemens and Verizon, to help the students learn job skills, have an opportunity to “intern” and possibly be offered a job. All the significant individuals involved in a student’s employment decision-making process, such as the parents, teachers and potential employers, address the cumulative concerns regarding the transition from the classroom to an off campus job site. This is a huge success for all involved when a student can achieve employment and live independently.

One of Mr. Parra’s goals for his department is to open up the goings on of the Exceptional Children’s Department to encourage the student population at RHS to engage and interact with a special needs student. It is a universal goal of his fellow teachers to have their students engage with their typical peers, be admired, and obtain an education that is tailored to meet their individual needs.

While Mr. Parra was teaching at Roswell North Elementary School he helped some of his students’ parents who were experiencing anxiety understanding their child’s new diagnosis and not knowing what the future might look like. Now at Roswell High School, Mr. Parra sees parents who are experiencing similar feelings when considering their child’s transition out into the community. One of his joys is being involved in the progression of the child and his/her family away from that anxious feeling towards “It’s going to be okay”. Mr. Parra believes this is due to the quality of the program that RHS offers and the teachers who work relentlessly to provide unique instruction and care to such wonderful students. Mr. Parra sees his greatest role as advocate for each student. “I’m going to challenge your child, so they can be as prepared as possible. The comfort and routine of school is safe, but that’s not life, so I have to throw them a curve ball by changing up the schedules or activities to help them adapt.”

The four groups of activities in which his department participates include: Leisure, which is usually bowling or an activity which involves social interaction. Dining, which is ordering and eating a meal at a restaurant while exhibiting proper manners and social skills. Community, in which students go to the bank, use the post office services, and participate at local donation centers/charities. Shopping, in which the students head to the supermarket and shopping centers to make purchases for a recipe, and buy something for themselves or a gift for another person.

Additionally, CBI students participate in adaptive physical education classes at RHS, Hoops for Hearts and Special Olympics. This week the class went shopping for prom dresses for the girls! Through the collaboration of the CBI teachers and generous donations, they are hoping to purchase the flowers and rent a limousine for the students who will be attending prom.

Each time, I visit Mr. Parra’s classroom, I always leave with such a sense of gratitude and appreciation for him and his team of caring teachers and staff as they sow seeds of greatness into their special students and counsel the parents of their students toward planning for future success. Mr. Parra is thankful for his School Administration and his team of CBI teachers that include Transition Services, Speech therapists, Adaptive PE, Instructional Support, Special Education nurse, and excellent assistants.

The students of the Exceptional Children’s Department would encourage you today to stretch beyond your comfort zone and engage with someone who is different from you!

The Ollena Center for Early Childhood Assessment, www.ollenacenter.com 678-938-6032