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The 2025 HSHT Conference was a great success and we hope everyone left with renewed energy and new ideas for their HSHT programs.
Topics covered everything from ideas for school-based businesses to how to prepare students for college.
A special thank you to Franco Frazzetta, Ericka Lee and Clara Muniz who shared their HSHT expertise and innovative programs!
HSHT Conference Presenters:
- Josh Cobbs, Director of Employment Initiatives at Autism Speaks
- Franco Frazzetta, Program Administrator for Orange County Public Schools
- Ericka Lee and Clara Muniz with the School District of DeSoto County
- Michelle Moore with Blooom
- Iris Neil, M.Ed., Program Manager and Outreach Coordinator at the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida
- Kim Thorne, Regional Transition Representative, Project 10
- Jennifer Treadway, Regional Transition Representative, Project 10
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We also want to congratulate the HSHT awardees for their continued commitment to a successful future for all HSHT students.
- 2025 Program of the Year: Broward County High School High Tech with the Center for Independent Living of Broward
- Rookie of the Year: Kodi Linton with Gulf HSHT and CareerSource Gulf Coast
- Donna Mundy Award of Distinction: Julie Hurt with Brevard HSHT and the Brevard Schools Foundation
- School-Based Preparatory Experiences Guidepost Award: Hardee HSHT with the Hardee County School District
- Career Preparatory Experiences Guidepost Award: Polk HSHT with Polk County Public Schools
- Youth Leadership and Development Guidepost Award: Miami-Dade HSHT with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
- Connecting Activities Guidepost Award: Putnam HSHT with the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida
- Family Involvement Guidepost Award: Family Partnerships of Central Florida HSHT
Visit the HSHT Conference webpage to view photos, download conference materials, including a Certificate of Participation and to view conference photos.
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Telling the HSHT Student Story | |
Our appreciation also to our panelists both for their time and effort in coordinating interviews with students and parents, and for sharing their experience during the conference:
- Nathan Flynn, Broward County North
- Kodi Linton, Gulf County
- Christine Von Doersten, Nassau County
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Resiliency Florida Characteristic of the Month - Honesty | |
Starting in 2019-20, every Florida public school was required to annually provide children in grades 6-12 at least five hours of mental health instruction. This mental health instruction is now referred to as Resiliency Education, Civic and Character Education and Life Skills Education.
The Resiliency Florida initiative was launched in February 2021 to emphasize 11 Resiliency characteristics to empower students to persevere and overcome life’s inevitable challenges.
December’s featured characteristic is Honesty, which means telling the truth. CLICK HERE for a parent resource on Honesty. To view a resource on Honesty written for teachers, CLICK HERE.
Visit the Resiliency Florida website for additional resources.
| | | Family Involvement Guidepost | | |
Kudos to Career Academy/Palm Beach for such quick use of the conversation starter discussed at the HSHT Conference!
According to Lisa Richards, "Our students were nervous about the conversation starters, so we did a practice session so they could see how easy it was and now they are very happy to do them next week with their families!"
We look forward to hearing more about the family conversations. And if your program has tried this out, let us know along with any tips that helped make your efforts a success!
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During the HSHT Conference, we also discussed how important student stories are to how we discuss the impact your work is having in the lives of HSHT students.
Thank you to our HSHT panelists Nathan Flynn, Broward County North; Christine Von Doersten, Nassau County; and Kodi Linton, Gulf County for your assistance in helping us learn more about HSHT students and your leadership in sharing your experience with other during the conference.
For the complete story about how HSHT has impacted Zoey, CLICK HERE.
| | | | High School High Tech opened Zoey’s eyes to possibilities beyond graduation. From a successful visit to Tom P. Haney Technical College to exploring and developing work experience in a wide variety of jobs, the program showed the scholar she had many choices for her life after high school. | | |
The Able Trust RISE Scholarship Program
As announced during the HSHT conference, The Able Trust has established the Road to Independence and Success in Education (RISE) Scholarship program to support Florida High School High Tech students in their pursuit of higher education. RISE Scholarships will help cover tuition or credit hour costs for technical or state college enrollment. Student eligibility requirements for RISE Scholarships include active participation in a High School High Tech program and demonstrated intent to enroll at a Florida postsecondary institution. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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The Jan La Belle Scholarship Program
The Jan La Belle Scholarship supports Florida students with disabilities who are pursuing their dreams in higher education. One or more Jan La Belle Scholarship winners are selected annually for a total possible non-renewable award. Award amounts are based on several factors, including available funds and number of eligible applicants. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
| | The Able Trust team wishes all our HSHT Coordinators a happy holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year. Your dedication to students continues to make an extraordinary difference, and we’re grateful for all you do! | | |
FloridaShines
FloridaShines partners with Florida’s public colleges and universities, K-12 school districts, technical colleges, and other educational organizations to develop tools that support students, parents, and educators. FloridaShines provides profiles of Florida's public colleges and universities, information about Career and Technical Centers, courses required for specific programs, admissions requirements and deadlines, information on how to pay for college and more. All resources are provided to students at no cost. CLICK HERE.
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2026 SparkForce Summer Manufacturing Camp Grant Application
Bring a Manufacturing Camp to Your Community - Inspire the next generation of manufacturers by hosting a summer manufacturing camp at your school. Grant funding is available through SparkForce, The FMA Foundation, to help cover the costs of running an engaging, hands-on camp that introduces students to rewarding careers in manufacturing. CLICK HERE.
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CTE Guide for Students with Disabilities
A new resource from the Florida Department of Education’s Get There initiative is now available The Educator’s Guide to Career & Technical Education (CTE) for Students with Disabilities is a toolkit designed to support educators, counselors, and transition coordinators in introducing CTE as a postsecondary option. CLICK HERE to access the toolkit.
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AT&T Achievery
A free and safe online learning platform created by AT&T to provide K-12 students with engaging and entertaining videos paired with educational activities. CLICK HERE.
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NTACT Self Advocacy
Instruction in self-advocacy is one of the five required Pre-Employment Transition Services and supports the Youth Leadership and Development Guidepost. To download resources including Guiding Questions, Activities, Progress and Outcome Indicators, CLICK HERE.
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Project 10: Transition Education Network
Project 10 is Florida’s statewide IDEA-funded state project supporting the secondary transition of youth with disabilities. Project 10 assists school districts in providing transition services and programs to assist youth with disabilities in their transition to adulthood. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities
The Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida serves as the state coordinating center to establish and support quality comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities in collaborating with universities, state and technical colleges, with the goal of increasing independent living and competitive integrated employment. For more information, CLICK HERE.
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