Mr. Sam DeSanto
Life Skills

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I moved to Texas in 1971 and attended high school in Houston. I moved up to Austin to go to the University of Texas and never left. I have been teaching for 24 years, with twenty years at Brooke. My family has been living in East Austin since 1999. I enjoy riding my bike around town.

Green Eco School Initiative
I work on the butterfly and vegetable gardens, the water features, the chicken pens and the bee hives.  I am also one of the lead teachers on the school's Green Team.

Technology In the Classroom
​We use computers for researching and typing papers, iPads and Tech Talks for communication and reading, and picture symbol support through all aspects of the Life Skills program.

Life Skills Program


Introduction to Life Skills

            The Life Skills program focuses on getting our students ready for middle school and eventually life after school. We have a Community Based Instruction program that teaches skills in transportation, money management, recreation and social integration in the natural settings of the community. These skills are beneficial for students to maintain employment and achieve independence after graduating from the school district. At the beginning of each month I will be sending home in the student folder a notice of every community trip our students will be attending along with the method of transportation.

            We also teach PreVocation, to expose the students to a variety of jobs skills they can build upon when they go on to middle school, and to exposed them to various opportunities when deciding which career they would prefer after graduation.

            We also have a strong emphasizes on Reading and Communication, Functional Math, Social Studies and Science. We strive for inclusion with the other students whenever possible to help with socialization, model behavior from peers and access to the general curriculum.