Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

In Spring Branch ISD (SBISD), high school students in the Special Education program known as Work-Based Learning gain valuable experience and skills they can apply in daily life and future job opportunities.

As part of the program, SBISD transports 35 students from four high schools to the business locations of six community partners: the Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM) Resale Store, Houston’s First Baptist Church, Burlington, Goodwill, Burger King and H-E-B on Kempwood. Another group supports cafeteria operations at Westchester Academy for International Studies. Students spend about two hours per day at their assigned work sites.

“Work-based learning offers significant benefits for students with disabilities by providing them with hands-on training in real-world environments,” said Special Education Coordinator Lindsey Schell.

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Staying Busy at H-E-B: Tyler Hayes

 

Stratford High School senior Tyler Hayes has rotated through multiple job sites during his time in the program, including MAM and Goodwill. This semester, he is working at H-E-B—and he enjoys it. His job coach is SBISD Special Education staff member Harlene Simpson.

“I’ve learned how the company works, how the system operates and how to print price tags,” Hayes said.

His duties at H-E-B include stocking shelves, straightening products (a task known as “facing”), bagging groceries and fulfilling simulated mobile orders. Coach Simpson taught him to read UPC codes and match them with shelf tags to ensure items are correctly placed. One important lesson: always ask questions to clarify expectations.

“Facing was pretty easy for me,” he said. “I’m an organized person. I also really liked bagging—I learned to put the heavy stuff on the bottom.”

He also enjoyed talking to customers and answering their questions about where to find items in the store. Although the pace was fast when he first started, Hayes said it helped him grow.

“It was a little overwhelming at first, but it was good to get out of my comfort zone,” he said. “Coach Simpson helped me get the hang of it, and I respect her a lot.”

Hayes appreciates the program for keeping him active.

“The benefit of being in this class is that I can keep busy instead of just sitting in a classroom,” he said. “I also wanted to build a little muscle—you can’t do that sitting at a desk.”

During the interview, Hayes never stopped moving as he restocked yogurt, carefully rotating containers so older products were at the front.

“Next year, I plan to attend a tech school to become an electrician or learn how to repair computers,” he said.

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Sorting and Organizing: Amal Akbar

 

At Burlington, Northbrook High School senior Amal Akbar enjoys stocking items the most. She says she is “born ready” for graduation and is looking forward to “freedom from school.”

“It’s important to put things on the shelves in order—by size and color,” she said. “Sorting and organizing is critical.”

She often sees items she’d like to buy—sometimes for her parents, sometimes for herself.

Her job coach, Michael Ponton, makes work enjoyable.

“He is kind and so smart,” she said. “He’s also a silly person, which makes the job fun.”

Akbar has also worked at Burger King, MAM and Goodwill as part of the Work-Based Learning program. She hopes to apply for a paid job after graduation and believes her experience will set her apart.

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Backbone of Help: Alexis Torres

 

At MAM, senior Alexis Torres is part of a student team that helps sort donations, organize the resale store and prepare for the day before the store opens. This includes removing empty hangers and putting misplaced items back where they belong.

“Sometimes we clean up the toy area because a lot of kids come through and mess it up,” he said. One of the most unusual donations he’s seen was “a weird, plushy teddy bear.”

His job coach, Irma Grenier, encourages the students to ask questions so they can stay on task and be successful.

“She is very nice and tells us to ask if we need help,” Torres said.

Torres believes their work has real value. “We are like the backbone of helping them keep things organized,” he said.

Throughout high school, Torres also gained experience at Burlington, H-E-B and Westchester Academy. He said H-E-B was the most challenging—but that’s why he liked it.

“I like to challenge myself, so it was good,” he said.

The skills he’s developed have already led to weekend and summer jobs at Taco Cabana and Office Depot. This summer, he’ll also work at Spring Woods High School helping to organize various areas of the building.

“It’s good to make money and save up,” he said.

After graduation, Torres will spend several months in SBISD’s T.O.P.S. (Transitioning Onward Promotes Success) program, which supports students’ postsecondary transition goals. He then plans to attend Houston Community College and pursue a career in advertising after studying digital marketing and communications.

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Enhanced Employability

The SBISD Work-Based Learning program bridges the gap between school and the workforce by providing students with training, experience and support.

By strengthening the school-to-work pipeline, students are better equipped to thrive in competitive employment settings.

“These experiences allow students to engage directly with community partners, helping them better understand employer expectations, develop essential skills and explore potential career paths,” said Schell. “In some cases, this experience has even led to job offers after graduation, enhancing employability and supporting a smoother transition into the workforce.”

We are #SBISDProud of these hardworking students and their Work-Based Learning coaches for positively representing the district in the community. 

Best wishes for your bright futures!