Help grow Project SEARCH’s mission in Bulloch County
Project SEARCH, a national program empowering young adult students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve competitive employment in our community, has launched in Bulloch County Schools, and the community is invited to a fundraising gala to help grow its mission in Bulloch County.
Thanks to a partnership between Bulloch County Schools and Georgia Southern University, the program’s initial phase this year was funded by Statesboro High School and serves six of its students. The school district plans to expand the program to Portal and Southeast Bulloch high schools and increase the number of available intern spaces and work sites. The gala will share information and raise funds for the program.
Bulloch County’s Project SEARCH program invites you to attend its Hearts of Gold: Soaring Together Gala on Saturday, March 14, at 5 p.m., in the Statesboro High School Cafeteria, located at 10 Coach Lee Hill Blvd., in Statesboro. Tickets are $60 per person for the semi-formal event which will feature a catered fine dining meal, entertainment, and a commemorative t-shirt. Make reservations here (https://bit.ly/4ayykNg).
Tickets may be purchased online through the reservation link or with cash, check, or invoice via Statesboro High School. Proceeds will help support and expand Project SEARCH in Bulloch County Schools.Project SEARCH is designed as a one-year program that serves special education students, known as interns, who are ages 19 to 22, and in their final year of high school. It equips interns with the essential skills needed for community employment.
The program is currently housed in classroom space provided by Georgia Southern’s College of Education and is led by Jessica Elmore, a well-respected and passionate special education teacher in our district, with assistance from Bernice Joiner, a paraprofessional and skills trainer.
“This is the most fulfilled that I have ever been in my career,” shared Elmore, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education and has served for 22 years as an educator. “I’ve seen these kiddos’ growth every day.”
Program interns must have an individualized education plan and parent permission to participate. The Project SEARCH school year is structured into three 10-week sessions. During these sessions, interns rotate through various work sites, which were initially established on the Georgia Southern campus. Interns work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Interns work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, followed by an additional hour with Mrs. Elmore to discuss job skills and challenges.
Georgia Southern has established a range of work-based learning sites that provide opportunities in clerical, food service, customer service, document scanning, custodial, event set-up and scheduling, library services, and inventory control.
Elmore strategically places interns, coordinating closely with site supervisors to help develop specific skills for each individual. Beyond technical skills, the program heavily focuses on critical “soft skills” for employment, such as communication, physical stamina, time management, and even navigating the university’s campus bus system and mobile app.
Bulloch County Schools plans to expand the program to serve 10 internship spaces and partner with 10 to 15 work sites in the community and on Georgia Southern’s campus, providing more young adults with a path toward competitive employment and community integration.
Come be part of an unforgettable evening and support Project SEARCH.
This is a press release from Bulloch County Schools.
