School News, December 1, Sag Harbor and East Hampton Town

Pierson Middle School special education students took a field trip to South Fork Bakery on November 15, during which they met with owner Shirley Ruch, and some employees of the establishment.

South Fork Bakery, which operates out of Scoville Hall in Amagansett, provides meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities on the South Fork. Ruch, a speech and language pathologist practicing for over 30 years with a private practice in Sag Harbor, specializes in working with children with autism. When Ruch realized many of her former students after graduating college or aging out of high school were not finding employment, she founded South Fork Bakery in 2016. In 2018, the bakery became a nonprofit.

“The students were incredibly excited for this trip,” explained trip supervisor and Sag Harbor District occupational therapist Tracy Evans. “This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet with and observe other young adults living with special needs and how they’ve found success and happiness working in an environment that supports and celebrates their differences.”

The students had a private tour of the packaging room, kitchen and storage room lead by Ruch. She explained the process of making the baked goods, as well as the mission and purpose of South Fork Bakery. Currently, there are 16 adults with special needs employed at the bakery, including a Pierson alum who has been with the bakery since day one. The bakery provides its products to more than 50 local stores, farm stands, farmers markets, and festivals from Montauk to Syosset.

Students asked questions and took a “snack break” with chocolate brownies, mint brownies and blondies offered by Ruch. “I believe as a result of this trip the students felt a sense of belonging and perhaps a sense of worth,” said Evans.

Sag Harbor UFSD special education teachers Megan Pastier and Justin Clinton, teaching assistants Erin White and Kendell Thommen, and physical therapist Megan Lui all worked with Evans to put together the trip, which offered students a glance into an environment where they could see others feel respected for who they are and valued for their contributions.

Pierson middle and high school students took a trip to Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor to see the play “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” It is tradition for Pierson students to attend Bay Street Theater’s Literature Live Program, which offers education and entertaining for students throughout Long Island.

Michael Guinan, assistant principal at Pierson High School, oversaw this year’s trip to the theater. “The students were engaged and reported that it was a good show. They thought the actor portraying Ruth Bader Ginsburg did a great job,” he said.

Literature Live brings curriculum-based literature to life with professional theater artists. Through the program, insight and understanding are increased for students as they witness the characters from a play or novel telling their stories right before their eyes. Every year, the Literature Live program selects standards-based literature that supports teacher-developed lesson plans and reference materials.

This year, the play focused on Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her story as a straight-thinking, American Justice icon. Pierson students got a sense of Ginsburg’s life and her many trials, including the loss of her mother and her fight for women’s rights. After the play, the students engaged in a Q&A session.

“The content of the play aligns with aspects of our curriculum concerning government function, the role of the judiciary, and women integrating into the highest levels of government,” said Guinan.

Justin Lawrence of East Hampton has earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Lawrence was among approximately 1,660 undergraduate and graduate students who earned degrees during the Summer 2022 semester.