Ahead of the new school year, the Point/ARC S Zembrrot Education Center is prepared.
COVINGTON, KY At The Point/Arc’s Zembrodt Education Center, the commencement of the school year was marked by a 20.75 percent increase in attendance, an earlier start time, and a new job-training program.
On Wednesday, August 20, the Elevate Job Training Classes will begin. Classes for Career and Exploration begin on August 21st, one day later.Those classes began on September 4th and September 5th of last year, respectively.
As we have expanded, we are expanding our curriculum this year to give instructors more time with their students and to have a greater impact, said Brandon Releford, Executive Director of ZEC, who is starting his fourth year in charge of the entire education division for the 53-year-old nonprofit. “We had 12 students in our Transition Program four years ago,” he continued.
The courses for Career Exploration and Elevate Job Training will begin at 1 p.m.
Additionally, this year we’ve introduced a fourth Elevate Job Training Class, said Associate Director of Education Katie Lanham. Under the guidance of Emily Harper, a first-year educator, it will emphasize life skills.
Designed to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) realize their full educational, social, and professional potential, the Tony and Gerry Zembrodt Education Center opened its doors on March 11, 2020.
The ZEC provides special educational opportunities not found in regular educational institutions. According to Lanham, a graduate of Ohio University, ZEC promotes self-assurance, creativity, job training and placement, social ties, and a sense of belonging.
“We teach students life skills and communication to improve their future,” she added. Our programs aim to bring together individuals with and without differences to share interests, give participants the chance to improve their social skills in a secure setting, and teach them self-confidence-boosting skills to help them make the transition from high school to the workforce.
The Job Training Program at Elevate:
The Elevate Job Training course is available to third-year high school students. In order to develop the abilities needed to thrive in both the workplace and in life, students get creative, engaging training. The curriculum emphasizes self-advocacy, post-secondary opportunities, and training for the job and preparation.
Subjects Discussed:
Observing InstructionsExhibiting zealSolving IssuesBeing proactive
The Program for Career Exploration:
Students can explore a variety of employment experiences in their community through the Career Exploration Program, a high school transfer course. Students do job-specific exercises that help them uncover their strengths and talents as well as their career loves and dislikes. The program’s main objectives include work-based learning opportunities and job exploration counseling.
The two hours of both lessons are from 10 to 3 p.m.
ZEMBRODT EDUCATION CENTER 2025 OPENING MEDIA FACTS
Zembrodt Education Center (ZEC) is the WHO.
WHAT: First Day(s) of School Year 2025
WHEN: Elevate Program, Wednesday, August 20, 1 p.m.Career Program, Thursday, August 21st, 1 p.m.
WHERE: 104 West Pike Street, Covington, The ZEC
This semester, ZEC has six lecturers teaching classes.
The Point/Arc was founded in 1972 by a group of parents fighting for the educational rights of their children, who were diagnosed with an intellectual and developmental (I/DD) disability. The mission to help people with disabilities achieve their highest potential educationally, socially, residentially, and vocationally. More than this, The Point/Arc has been an organization that identifies gaps in services and provides care and support to fill these gaps even when government funding sources are not available.
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