My name is Carly Bacha and I am the Upward and Onward teacher at The Academies at South Mountain High School. This is my third year teaching Upward and Onward and my eighth-year teaching in Arizona. I graduated from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania in 2014 with a dual certification in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. I obtained my masters from Slippery Rock University in 2017 with a degree in Special Education: Supervision. The Mission of Upward and Onward is to prepare students for success in all areas. Therefore, my job is to give students learning experiences that will prepare them for a lifetime of success.
Exceptional Student Services
Upward and Onward
Upward and Onward is a transitional program for students (interns) in their final year of high school. The programs goal is to prepare students to be successful in their home, navigating the community and within the workplace. Upward and Onward is a one-year transition program that will help students gain skills in the areas of life skills, daily-living skills, self-advocacy skills and so much more. Throughout the school year, the interns obtain their food handlers card, learn how to ride Valley Metro Public Transportation, complete workplace trainings through Phoenix Public Library at the Ocotillo Branch, register to vote, and obtain their State ID's, just to name a few of their experiences. Upward and Onward also works closely with Special Olympics Arizona to participate in unified experiences within the community.
Classroom Teacher
Miss Bacha
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Classroom Job Developer
Mr. Wooley
Hello, my name is Ty Wooley, and I am the Program Job Developer for the Upward and Onward Program at The Academies at South Mountain High School. This will be my sixth year in education, and I am loving it!
I work alongside the businesses in the community by offering our Interns (students) an opportunity to participate in unpaid internships within the businesses. Our work experiences usually involve going to the business that we have connections with to complete tasks like learning how to properly wipe down tables, how to wash dishes, greeting customers, stocking shelves, etc. These experiences give the interns an opportunity to build the skills for the jobs that they will eventually get after they graduate. This allows the interns to get an idea of the job they would like to obtain and have all the skills that are required for their desired job.