1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000
Hi!

2
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,000
How are you?

3
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,000
How's it feel to be a twin?

4
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,000
I've always wanted to be a twin and have twins.

5
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,000
Yeah.

6
00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,000
Well the best thing about a twin is that you have your own language.

7
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,000
You trust each other more than anybody that you know.

8
00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,000
Another thing is that, you know, in our language,

9
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,000
we can make our each other laugh so hard.

10
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000
We just start crying.

11
00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,000
Oh!

12
00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,000
Is one of you funnier than the other?

13
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,000
Depends on the topic, right?

14
00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,000
Depends on the topic, I love it.

15
00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,000
When you both were glasses, same prescription?

16
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:36,000
No.

17
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,000
He is better eyesight than I do.

18
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,000
Better eyesight.

19
00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,000
But don't worry, I'm the target.

20
00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000
But I look at tiny bit.

21
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,000
So...

22
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,000
[laughs]

23
00:00:49,000 --> 00:01:05,000
Welcome to Inside Hopkins.

24
00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,000
I am your host, Dr. Rhoda Meary-Pury Reed.

25
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:14,000
I am very excited to dive into today's topic with some amazing guests.

26
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:20,000
We will be discussing a transformative program in Hopkins Public Schools, Transition Plus.

27
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,000
This program is operated in collaboration with St. Louis Park Public Schools,

28
00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:33,000
and is designed to support young adults with disabilities as they navigate the path from high school to adulthood.

29
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:38,000
T+ isn't just about academics.

30
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,000
It's about real life readiness.

31
00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:46,000
The program helps students develop essential skills in employment, independent living,

32
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,000
community participation, and post-secondary planning.

33
00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:57,000
Alena Martin has been the Transition Plus Coordinator for St. Louis Park and Hopkins Public Schools for three years now.

34
00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:03,000
Prior to her current role, she worked as a special education teacher in high school, which high school?

35
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,000
Most of my experiences at St. Louis Park High School.

36
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,000
Awesome.

37
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,000
Alena is also the Unified Special Olympics liaison.

38
00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,000
Welcome to Inside Hopkins, Alena.

39
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,000
Thank you.

40
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:23,000
Fonda Contreras has been the Director of Special Services for Hopkins Public Schools since 2018.

41
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:30,000
With a strong background in both general and special education, Fonda holds a master's degree in special education,

42
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:37,000
and an education specialist degree, and is working on her doctorate, future doctor contraris.

43
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,000
Welcome to Inside Hopkins, Fonda.

44
00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000
Thank you. Glad to be here.

45
00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:49,000
James and Jacob Martinez are two of our amazing T+ students.

46
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:55,000
They are both involved in pathways classes at Hennepin Technical College in partnership with the T+ program.

47
00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:01,000
James is interested in the automotive industry, and hopes to become a mechanic.

48
00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:06,000
Jacob is interested in design with hopes of becoming a graphic designer.

49
00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:11,000
Jacob also recently designed a transition plus logo.

50
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,000
Welcome to Inside Hopkins, Jacob and James.

51
00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,000
Thank you. Thank you.

52
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,000
So we'll start with you, Alena.

53
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,000
T+ serves young adults ages 18 to 22.

54
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:30,000
Can you talk about why it's important to have a program that extends up to age 22 within a public school district?

55
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:37,000
Yeah, I think having a program like this is super important, especially for our students with disabilities,

56
00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,000
and figuring out what's the next step into adult life when they're coming out of high school.

57
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000
So many students don't know what they're going to do after high school,

58
00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:53,000
and navigating that question while also having a disability adds another layer of needed support.

59
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:59,000
And so I always like to call T+ as kind of a bridge between high school and adult life.

60
00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:06,000
And so we're kind of the support, the bridge that is going to get our students from high school into the job

61
00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000
or whatever they like to do as adults.

62
00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:18,000
And so I think it's a great program for students to practice those skills that will get them to that next step.

63
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:24,000
And there's a lot of adults that are here to help them along the way.

64
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,000
So it's a really awesome program for 18 to 22-year-olds.

65
00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,000
Yes.

66
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:30,000
Okay.

67
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:37,000
We'll find this program is not only the right thing to do for students, but it is the law.

68
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:43,000
Can you provide us with a little bit of history on special education law in this country

69
00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:53,000
and kind of what are we accountable to providing for students who have individualized education plans?

70
00:04:53,000 --> 00:05:00,000
So her IDEA, which is a federal, the Individual Disability Act,

71
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:11,000
we are held responsible for making sure we provide services from birth to age 22 for students that qualify for services.

72
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,000
And the services look different for different students.

73
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:23,000
We are obligated as a public school district to provide what's called a free and appropriate education or a fate.

74
00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:30,000
And so what that looks like is students qualify for services within our district.

75
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:35,000
It could be private schools, daycare, home schools, all of the above.

76
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:40,000
And we look to the evaluations and then we look at IEPs.

77
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:46,000
And those IEPs cover individual education plans, cover students' needs.

78
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,000
And again, it could look different for everyone.

79
00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:57,000
Here at T-Plus, there's kind of three levels of support from students that are out in the community.

80
00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:02,000
Most of their time, all the way down to students that spend their time in the classroom.

81
00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,000
So kind of in everything in between.

82
00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:11,000
And so students work on those IEP goals as it relates to transition year,

83
00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:18,000
which could include functional skills, as well as vocational, our work pathways,

84
00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:25,000
whatever it is that they need per their plan, that's going to help them be successful at this stage of life.

85
00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:29,000
And so we have wonderful staff that are here to support the students.

86
00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:33,000
And many of our students give input.

87
00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:38,000
This is the stage where they have a lot of input on to what their plan looks like.

88
00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:43,000
So I'm very proud to be here with these special folks today.

89
00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:44,000
Thank you for that, Fonda.

90
00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:50,000
So James and Jacob, can you walk us through a typical day at T-Plus?

91
00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:58,000
So typical, you know, when you come here, there's some breakfast that comes around at like

92
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,000
920. It's really chill in the main room.

93
00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:07,000
And you get to see everyone having breakfast, chilling out.

94
00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:11,000
And then once it gets to 940, everyone goes for their classes.

95
00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,000
And depending on what class you got to go for, you go for it.

96
00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,000
Yeah, and some of you go over to HTC campus, right?

97
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,000
Including both of you.

98
00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,000
Some students go to job sites out in the community.

99
00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,000
Some students will go to class here at T-Plus.

100
00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,000
Can you explain what the HTC is?

101
00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,000
Yeah, yeah. So we partner with District 287.

102
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:37,000
They have a campus site over at Hanupin Technical College in Eden Prairie.

103
00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:45,000
And so they provide some vocational classes for students that are that partner with the consortium of 287.

104
00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:50,000
We have classes that students can take such as culinary arts, automotive technology,

105
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:55,000
CNA, certified nursing assistant, the level two courses.

106
00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,000
So James and Jacob are both in automotive technology, which is a level two course.

107
00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,000
If you get a B or an A in a course like that, you can get articulated college credit.

108
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:12,000
If you, if they continued on at HTC either campus or at Normandale, they'll accept that articulated credit as well.

109
00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:19,000
And so it's a really good opportunity for students to, if they find an area that they're interested and are doing well in.

110
00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:24,000
They can take that and keep going on with that career pathway.

111
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:29,000
Awesome. When you're taking the automotive class at Hanupin Tech,

112
00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:35,000
is this a class where there are students of varying ability levels?

113
00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,000
Like, is it general education students, special education students?

114
00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:45,000
It's both, honestly, because there's some people who are more better with just skills a little bit.

115
00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:51,000
But there's also skills like me or like so on that. There's a half so much, but everyone's in class together.

116
00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,000
So it's a broad range.

117
00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,000
Awesome. So you get to learn with and through each other in the class.

118
00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,000
Schools that are part of the consortium with 287 can send high school students as well,

119
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:06,000
Gen Ed students. And so it's a combination of students at transition programs,

120
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,000
high school, some students at IEPs. That's awesome. All in class together.

121
00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:15,000
So a big age range, big knowledge range, skill range.

122
00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:21,000
So there's lots of opportunities for you all as peers to build each other's skill sets,

123
00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,000
depending on what everybody's good at. That's cool.

124
00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,000
Okay. And James.

125
00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:29,000
Yeah.

126
00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,000
Okay. So we have to explain to our listening audience,

127
00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:37,000
just in case you didn't catch the banter before the interview, we're talking with twins.

128
00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:45,000
And to me, they look very much alike. So Jacob is sitting to my left and James is to my right.

129
00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,000
So, okay, James. So what are you doing at 940?

130
00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:55,000
So I do very similarly to what Jacob does.

131
00:09:55,000 --> 00:10:02,000
I go into the bus that takes everybody to kind of a technical college.

132
00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:11,000
I go to my auto tech class and everybody in the class learns about what the teacher lectures about.

133
00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:19,000
What we do on cars and slip it that so a little bit of some paperwork, some notes sometimes,

134
00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:25,000
sometimes the entire class is mainly just working on cars. So a lot of hands on work.

135
00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:32,000
And then after when class is done, I usually get back on to the bus that takes me back to T plus.

136
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:38,000
And then I usually go home. But if there's a class right after hand with technical college,

137
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:50,000
I usually go to that class. I have a rec and leisure class. So I would go in there and we would go and see what's all about what Tom is planned for the day for us.

138
00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:57,000
The class is always doing something cool and interesting. They went skiing at Highland Hills this year.

139
00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:03,000
They've ended the got three a couple times. Tom gets free tickets for students to go to plays there.

140
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:12,000
That's cool. Go to museums. You guys have fun to practice kind of shopping skills, activities at different malls around the area.

141
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,000
What else have you guys done?

142
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:25,000
Many falls looking on how beautiful it is out there during the season. So like we go there during the fall, you know,

143
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:31,000
everything is starting to get colder. The waterfalls look a little different than it would be like in another season.

144
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:37,000
So throughout the seasons we would go like fall, sometimes winter.

145
00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:44,000
It's a really cool class because a lot of our students and maybe you guys are the exception because you guys do things together.

146
00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,000
It sounds like but it's an opportunity to kind of participate in the community a bit.

147
00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:56,000
Sometimes it's hard for our students to get out and be active members in their community due to things like constraints with being able to get there.

148
00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:01,000
Transprication. It's an opportunity for students to work on social skills that are part of their IEP.

149
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:06,000
Things authentic learning experiences outside of our building.

150
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:25,000
So like what are the hills and valleys here at transition plus like what are the things that bring you the most joy that might be a hill and then what are some of the challenges or barriers or difficulties that you have faced or that other students face and that might be more of a valley.

151
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:39,000
One up I really like is going fishing for like you know the wreck and leisure that's really fun to do and to also teach some people and just like to learn as well of like different things that we go for.

152
00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:47,000
So you like you enjoy the different learning experiences that are afforded kind of out there in the world beyond the walls of T plus.

153
00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,000
Yes. Awesome.

154
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:56,000
My ups for T plus is you know me first coming over here.

155
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,000
It was a new experience.

156
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:13,000
I didn't know how everything was like but I was ready to learn you know I was ready to see what they offer and what I really liked is that they're really outgoing and that they.

157
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:20,000
Really are supportive and help a lot if you're struggling with something in that they teach you things that are very helpful.

158
00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:30,000
So it sounds like you went through a transition period where you had a lot of uncertainty but that evolved into like you feeling really comfortable and supported.

159
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,000
Correct.

160
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,000
Okay that's really cool.

161
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,000
I'm glad to hear that.

162
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,000
What has been challenging for you Jacob?

163
00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:57,000
I think what has been challenging is just with the new classes I've been going for and I'm thankful that you know the teacher I have at T plus Zach has been helping me go through these challenges with you know homework and just like studying for something because you know auto tech is not easy you know.

164
00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:07,000
Right. So I think Jacob I heard you say that the auto class is rigorous like it's there's a lot of complexity it's very technical.

165
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:26,000
There might be a lot of like technical vocabulary you're like probably putting together engines and all these other components of cars that personally I don't understand so like you're kind of speaking my language but you've been grateful for the academic support.

166
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:53,000
So Fonda let's turn it to you when you think about building a very high quality transition plus program what are some of the things you look for in the program features in staff I mean both of these young men are talking about the value add that their instructors have provided during their time here what are what are some of the components of high quality T plus programs.

167
00:14:53,000 --> 00:15:21,000
So I think it's in collaboration with Dr. Constance Robinson was the director for St. Louis Park schools the director special services but I think making sure that staff are dedicated to the work because it's very unique program it's not a school setting per say it's program and then making sure that we can meet the needs of each of the students here and it's varied.

168
00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:50,000
So that requires staff to kind of coalesce 50 plus IEPs between 50 and 60 IEPs all of the goals and objectives and try to like find interest as well and then it's like it's everything like what are those life skills that are going to catapult the students into their adult lives and so it's all of the things some students will end up connecting with the students.

169
00:15:50,000 --> 00:16:03,000
So connecting with additional services through the county as they'll need higher supports once they turn 22 and some students will leap into independence.

170
00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:32,000
Alana I understand that we have some valuable partnerships out there in the community and business world like done brothers Nordic matter and prism can you talk about the partnerships that are in place and how they benefit our students here at T plus absolutely yeah our community partners are super important part of our program they're the businesses that kind of give us that partnership for students to practice job skills.

171
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:47,000
Outside of the building here it's an authentic job experience that it's gives our students an opportunity to practice those skills in a real world setting it's it's things that can go on their resume things they can talk about in a job interview in the future.

172
00:16:47,000 --> 00:17:06,000
You mentioned done brothers so that partnership has been around far longer than I've even worked in this district it goes back quite a while and we've had two students go over to done brothers usually two different students per day go over and work at done brothers as a part of a internship to our students have actually been hired on.

173
00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:35,000
Since since working there as a job site so two of our students now will work there after school a couple days a week which is really awesome we had we hadn't had that happen before last year yeah Ellie Swanson who you met and one of our students been Duncan who's one of our SLP students they're now employed work there without any job coaching after school it's super awesome matter is a nonprofit in St. Louis Park that we it's one of our main jobs sites we take a group over and they're super helpful.

174
00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:53,000
They pack up boxes of different items food items medical supplies things like that in those boxes of those needed items go to places that need them so our students love going to matter they know that what they're doing is helping other people while they're also building those important jobs skills.

175
00:17:53,000 --> 00:18:22,800
Yeah and prism is similar nonprofits of food shelf and I think they might have clothing there too it's in golden valley and then the other one that you mentioned was Nordic where those of you that live in Hopkins or St. Louis Park it's that it's a big business in St. Louis Park that make a cookware bakeware things like that and that is a paid job site so students are actually employees of Nordic where when they do that job site and those shifts they can be some students do them like a few days a week kind of

176
00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:32,800
just depends on the schedule and what's open what's available usually three students go over there at time all of our job sites have a job at least at one job coach I see okay.

177
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:41,800
Well shout out to done brothers and Nordic where and prism and all of our other partners who are supporting T plus students we appreciate you.

178
00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:51,800
I would love to hear from you James and Jacob where do you see yourself in like five years what's your five years.

179
00:18:51,800 --> 00:19:12,800
What's your five year dream or goal Jacob so for me is to live independent and you know something I'm planning as well as to local James you know I hope I can find a really good fun job out there I mean of course I'm working at somewhere right now but I'm looking for something better.

180
00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:20,800
Thank you for sharing that Jacob what's your planner dream James after finishing up with T plus I'm hoping to

181
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:48,800
further advance my knowledge and skills with auto tech so I'm hoping to get a degree in some sort in being an automatic and I'm hoping to be independent by myself living with potentially my brother and that I'm hoping to see what goes on after that.

182
00:19:48,800 --> 00:20:05,800
Awesome. Well this has been a really fun conversation I appreciate it so much getting to know each of you and thank you to Elena Martin for everything you do for transition plus thank you Fonda Contrars for everything you do to support Elena and to support all of our

183
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:15,800
programs and Hopkins in St. Louis Park around what students with IEPs need and deserve and James and Jacob twins together forever.

184
00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,800
It was awesome to meet you and thanks for being part of Inside Hopkins.

185
00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:20,800
Thank you.

186
00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:21,800
Thank you.

187
00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:31,800
[Music]