Strategies for Success

August 2025

Welcome back!

The new school year has started and I am excited to welcome back returning High School High Tech programs, as well as four new sites! The new coordinators participated in a training session in June and will be starting the new school year as brand-new or expanded HSHT programs.

We look forward to continuing our goal of expanding HSHT to more students across Florida and we want to welcome the following:

Taylor County School District,
Dixie County Education Foundation,
Martin County School District,
Okeechobee Education Foundation, and
An expansion of HSHT with the Flagler County Education Foundation.

As we begin the new school year, the focus of this issue is to make sure you have important upcoming dates as well as to provide a number of resources you should be aware of.

Coming Soon

As always, we are including a couple of student highlights and I want to encourage you all to send in those stories about what is happening in your HSHT class. To help with this, we are developing a HSHT Photo Card that will list the types of photos we will be looking for throughout the year. Student stories, photos and your thoughts as coordinators on the importance of HSHT help The Able Trust share the great work being done with students with disabilities across Florida.

Learning Communities

Dates have been scheduled for our first Learning Community call, which will focus on financial reports and important information on how to submit them.

Share the Newsletter

Each newsletter will also include activities our HSHT sites are working on that meet the Guidepost requirements; we want you all to be able to learn from other HSHT programs. Please forward the HSHT newsletter to colleagues, parents of HSHT students and others in your community who would like to learn more or to see how HSHT is making a difference in your community. They can use the button in the right-hand panel to sign up so they don't miss any updates, special events and resources.

I know it's going to be a great year and I appreciate your hard work. Each HSHT student benefits from your efforts and leaves high school better prepared for their next steps.

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Coleen Agner

coleen@abletrust.org

Important Upcoming Dates

HSHT Conference

The HSHT Conference is scheduled for December 2-4, 2025 and will take place at the Brownwood Hotel,

3003 Brownwood Blvd, Wildwood, FL 32163.

Additional details will be sent at a later date.

Learning Communities

Our first "Learning Communities" calls will be about Finance reporting.

Finance reports must be submitted to The Able Trust via electronic submission.

- We are making a significant change to financial reporting. Details will be explained in an in-service training September 18, 2025, 9:00-10:00 a.m and September 23, 2025, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Plan for at least one staff member, preferably the staff member associated with the grant’s finances, to attend this virtual in-service.

- As a reminder, please use the budget spreadsheet template when submitting your budget in the contract renewal.

- All grant payments will be sent via electronic payment.

Student Highlights

Zach, Leon HSHT Alumnus

After struggling in school while living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, postsecondary education was just about the last thing on Zach Staubitz’s mind as graduation drew closer.

“I loved school, but I wasn’t really looking at college when I was a senior,” said Staubitz. “I was like ‘let me just graduate and go into the workforce.’ I was just going with the flow.”

Five years later, Staubitz has earned two associate’s degrees and is close to finishing his bachelor’s degree at Florida State University. He credits his years in the Florida High School High Tech program with setting him on his new and improved course by teaching him about possible careers; improving his interview, job etiquette and multitasking skills; and connecting him to leadership opportunities. Read more about Zach's story here.

Paula, Miami-Dade HSHT Alumna

Paula joined our Pre-ETS program with a natural talent for technology and quickly became a leader among her peers. She is extraordinary at self-advocacy, always speaking up for herself and encouraging others to do the same. Paula brings positivity to every session, actively participates, and motivates those around her.

She is passionate about radio broadcasting and is excited to turn that passion into a career. With all her college paperwork complete, Paula is fully prepared to begin her studies in radio broadcasting this fall.

Her dedication, leadership, and uplifting spirit have earned her a nomination for an award at this year’s Breakfast for Champions. Paula’s journey reflects growth, resilience, and the power of using your voice to inspire change.

Paula is more than a success story--she is a source of inspiration to everyone who knows her.

Student Highlights Webpage

Upcoming Opportunities

Manufacturing Camp Grant Application

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.

APPLY NOW

Resiliency Education

Starting in the 2019-20 school year, 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 for Florida schools was launched in February 2021 to emphasize 11 Resiliency characteristics to empower students to persevere and overcome life’s inevitable challenges. Visit the Resiliency Florida website for more information and additional resources.

CLICK HERE

College Night

Whether you’ve hosted ECMC College Nights before or are exploring it for the first time, we invite you to be part of this impactful initiative. Registration is now open to host an event during the 2025–2026 academic year—join ECMC in making college planning more accessible and engaging for your community.

What will students and families learn?

Attendees will walk away with practical tools and insights to help them:

Understand how education can change their lives
Choose their education path
Learn how to pay for college
Identify what steps they can take now to prepare for education beyond high school

Event Support

As a host, you’ll receive a toolkit of resources to support planning, promotion, and presenting with confidence:

$1,000 Scholarship to award live to a high school student in attendance (Available to the first 120 registered events hosted by high schools or postsecondary institutions)
PowerPoint Presentation in English and Spanish (Speaker’s notes available in English)
ECMC’s Opportunities Booklets for students and families
Site Host Guide with step-by-step instructions
Train-the-Trainer Webinar to help you prepare
Customizable Marketing Materials to help promote your event
Presentation Guides and Sign-In Sheet to support your event logistics

To learn more, CLICK HERE or to sign up to host, CLICK HERE.

NDEAM

This year marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). While the annual October celebration is still a couple months away, we wanted to make you aware of a resource that may be helpful.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy has a downloadable poster that is customizable, so you can insert your organization's name or logo and photos of your choosing. Hang it in your classroom to highlight the 2025 NDEAM theme, "Celebrating Value and Talent."

To learn more, CLICK HERE.

This project funded by the Able Trust and the

Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, is a 501(c)(3) public charity established by the Florida Legislature in 1990 as a direct support organization for the

Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The mission of The Able Trust is to advance employment for Floridians with disabilities through engagement, investment, and collaboration.

www.abletrust.org

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