Bremen HS's TEP Program Hits the Ground Running

First Quarter was a busy time for students in Ms. Meredith Madden’s Transitional Employment Program class, (TEP as the class is habitually called). Students began the quarter by brainstorming careers that they would possibly be interested in and hit the ground running! Once students had an idea of a career field they might want to work in, they became responsible for exploring their own personal traits, skills, and values to see if their chosen field was a good fit. Through goal planning, interest and skill development, teambuilding activities and exploring popular workplace trends, students progressed forward in better understanding the field of work.

TEP students not only worked hard in the classroom throughout the first quarter, but they also gained on-site job training throughout the halls and offices of South Suburban College. Side-by-side with job coaches, Ms. Alisha Simms and Mr. Frank Whittam, students explored and learned the beginning basics of having a maintenance or office job. Students developed proper work arrival and departure procedures, learned how to identify necessary work supplies, properly tracked and recorded work times, and worked on building basic job skills. Over First Quarter, TEP students successfully helped maintain SSC’s Fitness Center, cafeteria, hallways, as well as helped with shredding documents in the Department of Nursing and assisting teachers in the College’s Childcare Center.

With all the hard work students put in during First Quarter self-assessing themselves for careers, it is impressive that students still made time to participate in October’s Bully Awareness Month by creating and presenting posters on how bullying can occur in the workplace and how co-workers can appropriately respond to signs of bullying on the job site. The TEP staff has been impressed with the effort students have put into their work throughout the first quarter and cannot wait to see how much more students achieve during second semester!

TEP is a Bremen High School District 228 district wide program that is available for high school students with an individual education plan. TEP is a course that is intended to further prepare and develop workplace skills by providing training essentials for students to successfully adjust to the world of work. Students are exposed to career awareness, career exploration and career development opportunities and are also matched to departments around South Suburban College where they receive onsite job training.

For more information on Bremen High School District 228’s Transitional Education Program contact TEP teacher Ms. Meredith Madden at Mmadden@bhsd228.com.