Whether organizing a donation drive to help families or providing support to Capital Region BOCES administrative teams, students in the Skills for Employment, Life and Functional Independence (SELFI) Program gain more than just experiences for their resumes; they also gain a community of supporters and mentors they can trust.
“I like being here at school—I just want to be with my friends and teachers, because they are nice and I trust them,” said Elizabeth Lorini, a SELFI Program student from Albany City School District.
Offered through the Special Education Division, SELFI Program teachers work carefully to help students set goals, pair them with opportunities that match their aspirations and learn the skills needed to be successful in them. Young adults ages 18 through 21 benefit from a work-based learning curriculum that allows them to divide their time between job sites and classroom instruction.
The SELFI Program is known for its community and business partnerships that offer meaningful workplace exploration with a focus on strengthening students’ life and decision-making skills.
“If they make a mistake at a work site, we can come back and talk about it and learn and grow from it. And that’s what our classroom does,” said Special Education Teacher Brent Pierce, who leads the program. “The SELFI Program is important because it gives students a chance to get different experiences, life skills, job skills so they can be successful in the future, whatever that looks like.”
Former SELFI Program student Michael Sirigiano prides himself on being the first person from the Watervliet City School District to graduate from the program and credits his teachers with helping him to manage his behavioral and emotional health.
“It was beneficial for me, because I felt more free and independent,” he said, adding that the work he did at BOCES helped him secure a recommendation for the job he currently has.
“The Capital Region BOCES Shared Food Services program manager gave me the highest recommendation,” said Sirigiano.
Students who are accepted into the program benefit not only from mentorship and professional development, but also participate in community service projects.
This year alone, SELFI students collected, sorted and distributed hundreds of toys, coats, clothing and food to support Capital Region families. From hosting a winter coat drive for the Schenectady City Mission to sorting donated clothing for the Bethel Full Gospel Church in Rotterdam, SELFI students are equally invested in making a positive impact.
Thank you to our business and community partners, including:
- Burlington Coat Factory
- Capital Region BOCES Adult Education (WAHA and South Pearl Campus)
- Career and Technical Education Center’s (CTE) Kitchen and Food Services
- Metro Ford
- Plato’s Closet
- Price Chopper supermarkets
- Regional Food Bank
- Schenectady City Mission