4 days Ago By Leslie Savisky
Spectrum Charter School has been holding its annual talent show since before special education teacher Lori Yurkovich started working there in 2005. Every year, students showcase their skills by singing, dancing, telling jokes or reading poetry. Some students have unique talents, such as spinning balls, while others will use the time to show off their art.
This year, a student used a video to display her welding skills. “Everyone is encouraged to participate,” said Yurkovich, who now organizes the event. “This is, by far, my favorite activity we do all year long.
It allows students to shine and show their talents from their heart.” In its 25th year, Spectrum Charter School is the first autism-specific charter school in the United States. Many of Spectrum’s students come from public schools, where, Yurkovich said, many were bullied or felt they didn’t belong.
“This school is a safe place for them,” Yurkovich said. When Matthew Erickson took over as Spectrum’s principal three years ago, he was immediately interested in the talent show. “When the faculty asked me about the talent show when I first started, I was all about it,” he said.
On April 4, peers, parents, faculty and school board members gathered to watch 19 students show off their abilities. “Our students are very talented. It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their skills in different ways,” Erickson said.
“I’m blown away sometimes by the special skill set our students have.” The talent show also included a dessert table, and all funds raised will go toward the school’s prom, which includes a “gothic” theme this year. The fact that the talent show is held in April — Autism Awareness Month — is no coincidence.
Autism Awareness Month, which began in 1970, is geared toward raising awareness, promoting acceptance and showing support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Spectrum is a tuition-free, public school structured to meet the needs of students who do not learn well in traditional classroom settings due to cognitive, communication and sensory challenges. Each classroom has eight to 10 students, one special education teacher and one paraprofessional.
This makes for individualized attention for each students’ specific needs. Students range in age from 13 to 21, in grades 7-12. The school draws students from 14 district within a 10-mile radius, including Penn Hills, Gateway, Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh Public Schools.
“Parents will work out transportation if they live too far and buses won’t transport,” Erickson said. The school is growing rapidly. When Erickson started three years ago, enrollment was at 30 to 32 students; it’s currently at 62.
According to Erickson, Spectrum has dedicated families, teachers and school board members — the best possible scenario. “Our board is very forward-thinking,” Erickson said. “It means a lot to have supportive parents and committed faculty members.
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