The Phoenix Coffee House is among the Naperville businesses that employ students through Indian Prairie School District 204's STEPS program.
“We’re grateful of our journey to model behaviors and doing the unthinkable in getting young people to believe they can do what others don’t think is attainable,” Maloney said. “We dream big.” And several large and small businesses have consistently hired STEPS students, including Texas Roadhouse, Meijer, The Home Depot and Jewel-Osco. Some have even become job-training sites for students to learn and develop skills, Maloney and Sepiol said.
Board member Supna Jain said the skills lab was one of her favorite visits during her her year on the board.“I will never forget what I saw occurring in those rooms. I can see why, what with the energy of your staff and students,” Jain said.