NSSEO Governing Board Brief
May 2024
Ellie M. D214
Ellie M. is a transition student from District 214 and is in her first year at Kirk Campus. Ellie embodies leadership and independence in her journey through our vocational continuum. From in-school jobs like kitchen set-up and dishwasher to her community role at Eurofresh, Ellie has showcased versatility and dedication in every task she undertakes. Not only has she established herself as a peer leader, but her collaboration with Eurofresh exemplifies her willingness to embrace new challenges with determination. Ellie has shown remarkable progress at Eurofresh, from starting with a 77% level of independence, meaning she needed staff to give open-ended questions to complete the task and to provide her reassurance, to now averaging an impressive 96%! This is reflective of her unwavering commitment and growth mindset. Ellie is working hard toward her future goal of attending an adult day program with opportunities for vocational and volunteer work. We commend Ellie for her exceptional qualities and contributions, which undoubtedly inspire those around her to strive for excellence.
Matthew B. D214
Matthew B. is a transition student from District 214. Matthew displays dedication and enthusiasm for his community job at eWorks. His dedication and skill at eWorks have truly set him apart. From the onset of the semester, where he averaged 72% independence and needed staff to give gestural reminders, Matthew has shown remarkable growth and determination. With consistent effort and hard work, he has achieved an impressive 93% independence, nearly mastering the process of removing hard drives, covers, fans, and wires from electronic projects independently. All of Matthew’s hard work and dedication to learning the job at eWorks is preparing him for future volunteer handyman work experiences. Matthew's journey is evidence of his resilience and commitment to excellence.
Cody F. D211
Joseph A. D211
In 2020, Jack and Michael graduated from NSSEO, marking the beginning of their post-secondary adventure. Since then, they have embraced a rich and fulfilling life, brimming with meaningful friendships, community involvement, recreational activities, sports, social outings, travel, and work.
One significant step in their journey was their enrollment in the Pursuit Adult Day Program in 2020. PURSUIT, a collaborative effort by Clearbrook and Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA), offers tailored programs for individuals with disabilities aged 21 and older. Michael and Jack found great joy in Pursuit, participating in volunteering activities, community outings, health and wellness programs, self-advocacy sessions, and various social events.
Not content with just participating, Jack and Michael took initiative and started their own microbusiness called Kajami, with their friend Kate. Kajami provided them with valuable work experience in a supported environment, promoting inclusion and independence. They also excelled in sports, participating in Special Olympics Basketball, where their NWSRA Yellow Lightning Team recently achieved a remarkable 3rd place in the Illinois State tournament.
Beyond their accomplishments, Jack and Michael's family plays a crucial role in their lives. They enjoy regular "Weekend Adventures" with their dad to Costco, where they actively help with shelving, earning them official Costco badges and even a feature in the employee magazine. Their family outings extend to places like Ravinia and the Chicago Botanic Garden, and they share cherished moments with their siblings Meghan and Jessica, including karaoke nights. Their travels have taken them to Florida, Hawaii, Italy, France, and most recently, Ireland. In addition, they actively participate in community activities, such as delivering meals, donating to food pantries, and engaging in various events like trivia nights, golf outings, and charity galas. Their involvement in NSSEO events, including Bingo Night, further highlights their commitment to community engagement.
We are proud of Jack and Michael's journey after NSSEO as they continue to make valuable contributions to their communities and achieving personal success.
Carly Cummings
Carly is so hard-working, dedicated, and collaborative; we do not want that to go unnoticed. She is an absolute asset to her teams and the building as a whole. Carly makes it a priority to work with teams proactively to tend to student needs as well as being there to support when students are in crisis. Her expertise, ideas, and support are invaluable to the Kirk community.
Kirk Marketplace
Kirk’s Student Market is the hub for all of the phenomenal Kirk Microbusinesses run by various classrooms throughout the school. Such a wide variety of goodies: Herbs, Veggies, Glasses, Soaps, Magnets & Buttons, Custom Crayons, Sunflower Seeds, Greeting Cards, Cookie Mix, Wildflower Seed Bombs, Coasters, Popcorn, Blankets, and more! These businesses are open during the school year, and this marketplace happens once yearly (hopefully, we can get those numbers up). In addition to having items for purchase, students were working at this event to sell their products and engage with their community members to provide them with a meaningful work experience that extends beyond the classroom. If you missed it this year, we look forward to seeing you again next year, but in the meantime, feel free to visit The Kirk Marketplace Online Store.
