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Empowering Abilities

This series shines a light on the abilities of students with physical and mental disabilities and approaches to teaching them.

Students build skills via community coffee cart

Lowell Meghan Gracy

Students from Lowell High School’s transition skills class practice vocational skills when they serve coffee, hot chocolate, snacks and more at Brody’s Be Mobile Café...

Equine therapy builds crucial skills for cognitively impaired students

Thornapple Kellogg Allison Poosawtsee

Students with cognitive impairments in Thornapple-Kellog schools develop skills on horseback...

Friends spell it out with personalized books

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

LINKS relationships often span years and extend well beyond the school day...

First-year program links peers

Byron Center Alexis Stark

Nickels Intermediate gen ed, special ed students pair up to learn from one another...

Washing service offers loads of help

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

These Eastern High students are preparing for life and, for some, gainful employment...

Special needs preschooler thrives in inclusive program

Comstock Park Karen Gentry

Alivia Brewer is a non-verbal, special needs preschooler, who has become an integral part and a calming presence in her preschool class...

Apprentices explore their creative potential

Empowering Abilities Morgan Jarema

This one-year program is one of a handful of visual and performing arts programs with Artists Creating Together for young adult students with special needs...

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Young adult students learn skills for work and life

Empowering Abilities Brett Atwood

Young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn the ins and outs of possible job opportunities after high school...

We can be great friends, even with differences

Godfrey-Lee Alexis Stark

Godfrey Elementary fourth-graders learn about inclusion, acceptance and showing kindness...

Pre-teach, teach, reteach

Byron Center Erin Albanese

Students learn through a “pre-teach and reteach model,” sometimes receiving instruction three different times as additional support...

Learning something new expands life, social skills

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese

Students in an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Moderately Cognitively Impaired program explored many types of art and dance, thanks to a grant...

Trash becomes treasure during bucket art project

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese

Students in teacher Laura Sluys’ special education class and general education students recently worked together on an artistic project in partnership with the program, Artists Creating Together...

It’s a clean sweep

Empowering Abilities Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

An opportunity to work on life skills leads to a group of Kent ISD Community Transition Center students helping one local restaurant during the pandemic...

‘There is something about inclusion’

Sparta Janice Holst

This teacher has made it her mission to help students with mild impairments find their way in school and beyond...

Virtual preschoolers stay on track, connect through activities

Empowering Abilities Erin Albanese

Read-alouds, group songs, fine-motor skills, weekly teacher-parent-child meetings are all happening online...

Expressing their gratitude

Empowering Abilities Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

KTC students have joined forces to help send a message of appreciation to local veterans...

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School News NetworkA Window into Your Public Schools

ABOUT US

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Budding birder brings energy, passion to job tending school’s bird feeders

Their goal: get to know every Ranger

Kent County Cup winner finds new career focus through esports

Student broadcaster pushes for positive coverage in advisory role

Second- & third-graders learn how things work by doing

Marshmallows & math make for a sweet multiplication lesson

Senior makes artistic mark on snowplow

Initiative aims to double enrollment in career & technical education by 2030

What’s in store for federal education dollars?

Student journalists look at what’s next for tech in West Michigan

Eating disorders topic of Jan. 29 community event

High-schoolers share thoughts on school safety, engagement & more

Empowering Abilities

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