The Essential Skills Classroom (ESC) is a recent extension to Liberty North, in its first year. With this, these students are given the chance to engage in real life opportunities, applying their knowledge into real-world situations.

   “This class takes every type of skill you would need to work a job after high school and to live as independently as possible once you leave your parent’s house. We take all those skills, and we break it down into more of a functional base,” ESC teacher Jordan Grantham said.

   This has been done through a multitude of things, including having quarterly internships out in the community. This allows the students to go to locations such as a dog daycare or a farmers market to see what it is like to be on the job. In-school opportunities have also been provided for the students as well.

   “The Convenient Eagle has been a great opportunity that Dr. Kurth helped us set up for our students. It allows our students to take what we teach in the classroom and apply it to real life. It also helps us work on social skills and all the things that we need for after high school,” Grantham said.

   These students work all aspects of the Convenient Eagle. This includes taking inventory, restocking, working the cash register, and more. This opportunity has allowed students to be engaged with Liberty North, blending this program into our school.

   “I love having the ESC classroom at North because it gives our school the awareness of the students and their abilities. We have students in the ESC program who have lots to offer and lots of potential that is ready to be shown,” Special Education teacher Anna Weiner said.

   On top of being involved in the Convenient Eagle, students have even more opportunities to show their skills within the clubs here at North. The full inclusion allows these students to join any clubs they find interesting, being welcomed in by their peers. 

   “I hope that the student body can continue to embrace them and see students that have disabilities through their abilities and how they can contribute to the school, not their disabilities themselves,” Weiner said.