East High's special education students shine on prom night
An East High initiative is ensuring the school’s special education students feel welcome to share in the excitement with their peers.
An East High initiative is ensuring the school’s special education students feel welcome to share in the excitement with their peers.
An East High initiative is ensuring the school’s special education students feel welcome to share in the excitement with their peers.
Prom season is bringing joy and sparkle across central Iowa, and an East High initiative is ensuring the school’s special education students feel welcome to share in the excitement with their peers.
“About four years ago, we noticed that a lot of our special ed students weren’t going to the prom,” said Marie St. Claire, special education teacher at East High. The anxiety of the big night prompted questions like, 'Do I go? Do I go with a group?' That’s all just very intimidating,” St. Claire said.
To encourage more of the class to attend, the school began fundraising through its alumni association four years ago. The efforts provide a pre-prom dinner and limo ride, ensuring every student has the option to attend.
“Just for them to be able to go out for a dinner and dance and just do the same things that their peers are doing — it’s just a lot of fun,” St. Claire said.