Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Marbury High School’s AAA self-contained special education class will be getting a food truck that can be shared throughout the district with other life skills classes. It will teach children important life skills in school and beyond.
The Alabama Alternate Assessment or AAA program at Marbury High School has embraced Autauga County Schools’ mission of creating pathways designed for success in an environment where every student is known and valued. AAA is an alternative educational approach that focuses on life skills rather than traditional academic standards.
The soon-to-be truck is named in honor of Copeland Spires and his family, and the truck is called inSPIREd treats and eats. Spires is no stranger to anyone on campus or in the local community according to teacher Leisa Lee and Spires’ parents.
“He inspires others by his selflessness. When he was hospitalized for several weeks last year, many community members jumped at the opportunity to give back to him and his family. But in true Copeland Spires fashion, the family used the community’s generosity to give back to the classroom and school they love,” Marbury’s self-contained special education teacher Leisa Lee said.
One of those community members was Hailey Conway, a family friend and local small business owner. She designed a shirt based on Copeland’s favorite song, “Honey in the Rock.” The profits from this fundraiser are helping to purchase necessary items for the new food truck such as a chest freezer, microwave, Blackstone griddle, air fryer and a hot pot kettle.
Courtney Silvey also helped with a fundraiser on Spires’s behalf, and this money was put towards the purchase of food and gas.
Marbury’s Agriculture Department agreed to help with renovations to the truck, which was donated by True Pull Trailer, who donated a brand new, fully enclosed trailer with a concession window, passage door and ramp door. It is the trailer of their dreams, Lee confirmed.
“We want to prepare them to live as independently as they possibly can. We focus on helping them overcome whatever obstacles they have so that they can be an integral part of their community. That is whether they are working full-time, having supported employment or if that’s just being helpful at home. But to be a part of home football games or local Christmas parades or festivals in the community, we wanted to do something that was even bigger than our high school,” Lee said.
There are 11 students in Lee’s self-contained classroom that experience everyday life through the room’s mini city. Once inside, you can visit a salon, hotel, veterinary and doctor’s offices, typical business offices, laundromat, cafe, and more depending on the day’s activities. Lee uses these destinations to teach her students the soft skills needed to live independently as much as the child’s diagnosis allows.
One thing that has prepared these students to be able to open inSPIREd eats and treats is the Bulldog Bistro. That is Marbury’s very own coffee shop that is run by the self-contained class.
For years now, students have been mastering the basics of food prep and service. Gradually moving up in complexity until they can prepare food safely in the school’s thriving coffee shop, the self-contained classroom is equipped with a service window that allows faculty members and students to purchase coffee and cookies with all proceeds going back into the program.
“It’s just a really sweet thing to see our students put on an apron, make deliveries, look just like everyone else and be accepted and respected with a lot of dignity in the exchange between our general population and our self-contained students,” Lee said.
When asked, Spires stated his least favorite thing is cleaning up in the Bulldog Bistro but he is extremely excited to make tea and coffee alongside his peers and friends in the future inSPIREd eats and treats truck.
“The Bulldog-Squad has become a heaven-sent blessing. The dedicated team of professionals have not only loved and cared for Copeland, they have become his extended family. Marbury has created a nurturing and inclusive environment for our son and the compassion and dedication shown by the team for his unique needs have been nothing short of remarkable. We have a deep appreciation and gratitude for the profound impact Marbury has had on our family,” Meg Spires said on behalf of the Spires family.
