Next STEP Transition Program

Mock Interview Day at Next STEP! 💼🎤

Students put their interview skills to the test, practicing professional communication and building confidence for future employment opportunities. Great job representing yourselves and all your hard work this year!

🎉 Congratulations to our May Employees of the Month! 🎉

These students have demonstrated outstanding work ethic, positive attitudes, and dedication both in the classroom and at their worksites. We are proud of the growth and commitment they continue to show each day.

👏 Employees of the Month: Sean C. and Jordin B.

⭐ Honorable Mentions:
• Aroywn H.
• Gabe O.
• Leigh H.
• Mercedes N.
• Robert G.

Keep up the great work! Your efforts are helping build the skills and confidence needed for future success.

All aboard! 🚋

Next STEP students enjoyed a ride on the Port Huron Museums Trolley while exploring our community and learning more about local history. Community-based learning provides students with opportunities to build independence, social skills, and connections to the world around them.

Thank you to the Port Huron Museum for a great experience!

The Next STEP Explorer Classroom had an amazing day visiting the historic Fort Gratiot Lighthouse! 🌊⚓

Students explored local history, toured the lighthouse grounds, and experienced one of the many opportunities available through the Port Huron Museums pass program. These community-based learning experiences help our students build social, communication, and independent living skills while connecting with the world around them.

A huge thank you to Michigan Assoc. of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE) for providing grant funding that allowed us to purchase these museum passes and create meaningful learning opportunities for our students! 💙

Nothing brightens a workday quite like therapy dogs from Blue Water Love on a Leash! 🐾

Our Next STEP students had an amazing time interacting with therapy dogs during their visit to the Meijer worksite. From smiles and laughter to calming support and positive connections, these furry friends made a big impact on everyone’s day.

Experiences like these help build confidence, communication skills, and workplace comfort — all while having a little fun along the way! 💙🐶

Photo dump from our Next STEP Community Exploration adventures! 📸

From pickleball and movie outings to exploring campus life at SC4 and visiting the Port Huron Museum, our students continue building social skills, independence, and community connections through real-world experiences. We love seeing our students learn, grow, and have fun while exploring all our community has to offer!

Working on teamwork, appropriate conversation with coworkers, and communication while we work — and these ladies are rocking all of it today!

Building strong employability and social skills is an important part of preparing for future workplaces, and we are proud of the confidence, collaboration, and positivity our students continue to show each day. Keep up the great work!

Recently, our Next STEP Explorer Class had the opportunity to tour Marcotte Disposal Company for a hands-on job exploration experience! Students learned about careers in waste management and recycling, explored different job responsibilities, and gained insight into the important work that keeps our communities clean and running smoothly.

Thank you to Marcotte Disposal Company for welcoming our students and providing an engaging and informative tour. Experiences like these help students connect classroom learning to real-world career opportunities while building confidence and workplace awareness!

Congratulations to our Next STEP April Employees of the Month — Devon and Arowyn! 🎉

These students have demonstrated outstanding work ethic, positive attitudes, teamwork, and dedication at their job sites and within our program. We are proud of the effort and growth they continue to show each day!

A special shoutout as well to our Honorable Mentions: Hank, Sean, and Ti-ger for their hard work and continued commitment to building strong employability skills. Keep up the great work, everyone!

Our Next STEP students are prepped and ready for Mock Job Interviews in the Employability Skills class! Throughout the year, students have practiced interview skills, worked on communication and professionalism, and built confidence for future employment opportunities.

From handshakes and eye contact to answering interview questions and discussing strengths, students have put in the work and are ready to shine. We are proud of the growth, effort, and confidence they continue to demonstrate as they prepare for life after high school!