This November, the Mount Olive School District celebrates gratitude for the strong partnerships and dedicated staff that make the Mount Olive High School special education Work-Based Learning Program thrive. Under the leadership of Transition Coordinator Abby Boele, the program provides students ages 16 to 21 with authentic opportunities to gain work experience, develop independence, and build confidence as they prepare for life after high school.

The Work-Based Learning Program is part of the district’s continuum of special education services. It helps students with disabilities develop vocational, social, and communication skills in real-world environments. Before stepping into the community, students receive targeted instruction and preparation in the classroom. The multidisciplinary team at MOHS collaborates to build practical and functional skills, such as practicing appropriate conversation skills, and learning how to navigate job-related routines safely and confidently.

Each student is supported by a job coach who models workplace expectations, reinforces positive behavior, and provides on-the-job feedback to promote independence. Over time, many students learn to perform their tasks with less prompting, gaining confidence in their abilities and pride in their contributions.

Through partnerships with local businesses, students gain experience in a variety of industries and settings. At the Mount Olive Public Library and the Mount Olive Middle School Library, they assist with shelving and organizing materials. In the cafeterias at Mount Olive Middle and High Schools, managed by Maschio’s Food Services, they help prepare food for cooking and serving and practice safe food handling and routine cleaning tasks. At Outback Steakhouse in Ledgewood and Applebee’s in Flanders, students learn hospitality and teamwork through bussing and portioning foods. Other students gain retail and stockroom experience at Ashley Farms in Flanders, Kuiken Brothers in Ledgewood, Trinity Thrift Store in Hackettstown, Best Buy in Rockaway, Home Depot in Dover, Weis and Tractor Supply in Flanders, and ShopRite in Succasunna.

These placements are important because they give students meaningful responsibilities, build employability skills, and help students find work roles that match their strengths. At the same time, local employers benefit from reliable help, fresh perspectives, and the satisfaction of contributing to student growth.

“Each student’s experience is individualized,” said Transition Coordinator Abby Boele. “Our team focuses on what each student needs to be successful in a job setting. We are thankful for the collaboration between our educators, therapists, and job coaches, and for the community partners who open their doors and hearts to our students every day.”

The Mount Olive Work-Based Learning Program highlights what is possible when schools and communities come together to support students with special needs. This season, the district extends its thanks to the businesses and staff that create meaningful, inclusive opportunities for learning.

We are grateful to our community partners for their continued support and dedication to our students’ success:
Applebee’s, Flanders
Ashley Farms, Flanders
Best Buy, Rockaway
Home Depot, Dover
Kuiken Brothers, Ledgewood
Maschio’s Food Services, Mount Olive Middle and High School cafeterias
Mount Olive Public Library
Outback Steakhouse, Ledgewood
ShopRite, Succasunna
Tractor Supply, Flanders
Trinity Thrift Store, Hackettstown
Weis, Flanders

If your business is interested in partnering with the program to provide hands-on training and work experience for students, please contact Transition Coordinator Abby Boele at abigail.boele@motsd.org.

Thank you to our staff and community partners for creating inclusive pathways to success.