For Alexis Bunch, sophomore, the Special School District (SSD) program has been a part of her life since she attended Ellisville Elementary. 

“I love my teachers, and I have nice friends that I get to see,” Bunch said. “I like my electives because I get to see my friends. I think I have become more independent.” 

At MHS, the Special School District (SSD) works to provide support for approximately 225 students with unique abilities, creating opportunities to foster growth. 

Molly Straumann, SSD teacher, works with 28 students throughout the day. 

Straumann said the students stay with her and a small team of teachers who teach language arts, science, math and history, with the curriculum adapted to their educational level.

“Our goal, for every one of them, is to prepare them to be as independent as possible, and as independent living in a job setting,” Straumann said. 

Straumann said two hours of the school day are given to learning life skills, where they work at Schnucks, the YMCA or stay at school, where they learn cooking and functional “at-home” skills. 

According to Transition Abilities, life skills in special education are vital for growth, social interaction and career development. They help people live independently, make good decisions and handle different situations.

Rita Roussin, family and consumer sciences teacher, instructs the integrated cooking class at MHS, which serves as one of the many elective classes offered by the SSD program. This integration is part of the Best Buddies program.

“In our buddy classes, the buddies run the lessons, and our friends with unique needs are taught in a way that fits them best,” Roussin said. “It might look like chaos, but here everyone is learning at their own pace and style.” 

Buddy classes pair students with special needs and typically developing peers to promote growth, advocacy and inclusion through subjects like Driver’s Education, Art, Theater, Cooking, and Physical Education, Roussin said. 

According to the University of New Hampshire, research studies confirm that inclusive classroom environments have numerous, widespread benefits for all students, as they promote individuality and greater social connections while also providing new learning opportunities.

Ranga Chakravarthula, father of Rachana Charkravarthula, freshman, has enrolled his daughter in the SSD program since she attended Westridge Elementary. 

As Rachana’s needs grew with age, Ranga said he recognized it would be more challenging for her to keep up with subjects like science, math and art. 

Ranga said they were informed a paraprofessional would support Rachana by adapting the curriculum to suit her learning needs, so they ultimately decided to enroll her in the SSD program.

“She has been taking the cooking class at Marquette, and she has become more interested in cooking with her mom and brother,” Ranga said. “The program also takes her to different stores, so now when we are shopping, she is able to ask and select what she wants for herself.”

This story was originally published on Marquette Messenger on March 12, 2025.