Welcome to the Job Readiness Student Portal

This page is designed to give you all of the information you will need for participating in Jobs Classes.  

You will find forms to fill out, lesson breakdowns, Holiday Schedule, during the school year work experiences, bonus classes, and Summer Work Experience.

The first step is to complete the Student Information Forms 2022-2023.  Click the RED Button Below and enter your information.

The Liability Waiver will be sent out via DocuSign.  If you are unable to sign via DocuSign, there is a link available to access the waiver.

Course Descriptions/Procedures

CLASS DESCRIPTION 

Pre-ETS (Pre-Employment Transition Services) are Job Readiness Classes that focus on 5 content areas: 

Job Exploration Counseling 

  • What kind of jobs are out there?  What kind of job is best for you?  How do you find jobs? 

Workplace Readiness Training 

  • Resumes, interviews, budgets, relationships, effective communication, coping skills, and time management are a few of the topics covered. 

Work-Bases Learning Experience 

  • What is it really like to work?  Practice working in a supported environment

Instruction in Self-Advocacy Training 

  • Learn how and when to talk about your disability and feel comfortable asking for help. 

Counseling on Post-Secondary Training 

  • Is college an option for you?  Learn about training and schooling opportunities after High School. 

Classes will meet one hour weekly in our office or on our Zoom Platform.  You do not have to have a login for Zoom to participate in virtual classes. 

In-Person and Virtual Class Expectations 

Show up or login to class on time.  Active and regular class participation in expected.  We are excited to hope you on your pathway to enter the working world.  We want you to be prepared so we need to work with you weekly to build your skill set. 

Devices: 

Students can use their computer, tablet, or a smartphone to participate in our classes.  If you are participating in-person, The Arc NWMS will supply all the devices needed for class. 

Virtual Only 

Cameras: 

Student are expected to have their cameras on during class unless the signal strength of the internet makes it necessary to turn off the camera.  We want to have some face-to-face interaction with every student each week.  Employers would expect cameras to be on for virtual meetings.  These classes are to help students practice the skills necessary to meet high expectations.  Students should choose to sit in a well lite area near the wireless router to help with internet strength.  Please remind everyone in the house that they camera is on to ensure that no one gets caught on camera that is not a part of class. 

Microphones: 

Microphones should be muted at all times unless you are speaking.  All students will be called on to speak during class. 

CLASS PROCEDURES 

A text reminder will be sent on the day of class to remind students that it is their class day.  The text reminder can go directly to the student, to the parent, or both.  If a student is not able to attend/log into class that day, they/you can reply to the text letting us know. 

Please arrive or log into class 5 minutes early.  This will allow time for the students to talk with their teachers and peers.  

Students will sign a Provision Form that verifies attendance for the class.  If you are attending class in-person, the form will be signed right after class.  

If you are attending class virtually, the day after class, student will receive an email form The Arc Northwest Mississippi.  The email is labeled “Rebecca Treadway via DocuSign”.  Rebecca is the Executive Director of The Arc NWMS, and the account is in her name.  This email can be sent directly to the student or to the parent’s email address.  Clicking through this DocuSign emails verifies the student’s participation in class and this need to be completed within 24 hours of the form being sent. 

Parents and Students may communicate with The Arc Northwest Mississippi by texting or calling 901-907-9038 or emails amanda@thearcnwms.org if there are any questions about the guidelines for virtual and in-person participation. 

*Click the red button below, if you would like to print a PDF copy of the Class Description/Procedures. 

The Liability Waiver will be sent to your email address through DocuSign.  If you are unable to access the Liability Waiver through DocuSign, please click the red button below to print the PDF version. 

Job Readiness Teachers

Rebecca Treadway - Rebecca is a teacher, advocate, and special needs parent.  She has worn many hats during her career working with individuals with learning diversity. She left the education field to become the Executive Director of The Arc NWMS 8 years ago, building the organization to meet the needs of our special needs community. 

Amanda Brown - Amanda is the Job Readiness Program Director for The Arc NWMS.  She is a Licensed Master's Social Worker for the past 4 years.  She has worked with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the past 8 years in many different settings.

Libby Goranson - Libby is a special needs sister who has studied psychology and education. She is a teacher and behavior specialist. She is the curriculum designer and coordinator for The Arc NWMS Pre-ETS Program.

Chelsea Bowen - Chelsea is a middle school inclusion teacher at DeSoto Central Middle School. 

Joy Adams - Joy is a special needs mom.  She is the Community Based teacher at DeSoto Central High School.  

LaShundra Higgenbottm - Lashundra is an Inclusion teacher at Horn Lake Middle School in DeSoto County. She was also a Transition Counselor at Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for 11 years. She has many years of experience teaching Pre-ETS and working with Pre-ETS cases.

Julia Dunn - Julia is an Inclusion teacher at Lewisburg Primary.  She has a Social Work background working at Youth Villages for almost 10 years.  

Taneisha Spearman -  Tenisha is a special needs mom of twins. She also worked for University of Memphis Tiger Life and taught their Pre-ETS Classes.

Katrina VanBuren - Katrina is a special needs mom.  She is the Program Director/Family Advocate for The Arc NWMS.  She previously worked for The Arc of TN.  She worked as a Community Based teacher in Shelby County School for 4 years.

After School Classes

Monday - Teacher, Julia Dunn
Office - 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Teacher, Hanna Arnold
Office - 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Office - 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Teacher - Joy Adams
Virtual - 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Zoom Link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85810487530

Wednesday - Teacher, Chelsea Bowen
Office - 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Office - 5:30-6:30 p.m.

More classes will be added as students are enrolled in the program.

 

 

High School Schedule

Job Readiness Classes during the school day are dedicated for students in the CBC class setting.  Classes for inclusion students are held after school hours.  

Teachers - Libby Goranson, Amanda Brown, Taneisha Spearman, Rebecca Treadway, Katrina VanBuren

DCHS - DeSoto Central High School - 9:00 a.m. - Tuesday

CHHS - Center Hill High School - 10:45 a.m. - Tuesday

LHS - Lewisburg High School - 12:20 p.m. - Tuesday

SHS - Southaven High School - 1:00 p.m. - Tuesday

HHS - Hernando High School - 8:30 a.m. - Wednesday

CHS - Coldwater High School - 11:00 a.m. - Wednesday

OBHS - Olive Branch High School - 8:00 a.m. - Thursday

LCHS - Lake Cormorant High School - 10:30 a.m. - Thursday

HLHS - Horn Lake High School - 12:00 p.m. - Thursday

 

*Classes will not be held on days the students are out of school*

Bonus classes and sign-ups will be added to this page once they are scheduled. 

Lesson Break Downs

Our Job Readiness Classes are being taught on 2 skill levels.  The Be Bold lessons are taught within the CBC classrooms during the school day.  The Accelerate lessons are utilized during our virtual and office classes after school hours.  Please click the red button below to access the lesson break down for the first semester.  The second semester lesson break down will be uploaded during Christmas Break.