Joyce Roads

Roads’ innovative teaching idea, “Building and Facility Maintenance,” focuses on teaching special education students basic skills for employment within the maintenance field. With the support of the Voya grant, Roads will utilize the skills taught in her classroom to build and sell a “tiny house” which will ultimately reveal her students’ skills. Students will research blueprints, create a materials list, build, prepare for sale, sell, and buy materials for the next house. This project provides Roads an opportunity to teach and be a general contractor while supervising each aspect of the job. She wants her students to experience success and pride in the project’s completion. It is a unique and new project as many schools special education students do not often participate in building trades or electronics classes. Ultimately, students will have an opportunity to expand into the tiny house or sheds and playhouses.