A Carson High senior in the school’s Alternative Standards Program (ASP) had recently told one of his paraprofessional advisors that he would be interested in working for Lowe’s Home Improvement.

Saying that his family makes occasional trips to the Fairview Drive and South Carson Street store and has found hardware items interesting and store employees helpful, Matthew Brabazon, 18, said he would like to work at the store. He said he liked the way customers would come in looking for hardware and admired the associates who put the merchandise on the store’s enormous rows of shelves. He was interested in doing something like that for a career.

His CHS paraprofessional advisor contacted Lowe’s and asked them if they were interested in meeting Matthew where he could tour the store, ask questions and see if he would be a good fit for the home improvement store.

And so a day was set, Tuesday, Jan. 27, where employees and management welcomed Matthew for an insider’s view, giving him a tour through the various departments and showing him what they do for their customers.

Matthew was particularly interest in two departments, flooring and tools, observing how the associates worked in both departments, which gave him some insight into what he may do if he chooses to pursuit a career at the giant home improvement store.

“I like these, there’s a lot of different kinds,” said Matthew while looking at various items — from drills to hammers — from the tool department while getting an early start to his tour alongside his CHS special education ASP teacher Kim Ballek and paraprofessional Russell Baron.

“Carson High is a great school and really works hard for these students in trying to get them into the community and really, at this this age, (teaching) life skills of being an adult, accessing the community, taking the public bus, going to work and coming home,” said Ballek.

The ASP program is run through Carson High and the Carson City School District. It is a comprehensive life skill program teaching students how to develop life skills to use for employment — by being able to obtain a job, work independently in the community and to be successful, said Ballek.

Students in the program such as Matthew are assigned a paraprofessional, and in his case it is Mr. Russell Baron, who operates as a teacher’s assistant working one-on-one with him in a mentor capacity.

As the paraprofessional, Baron goes into classes with Matthew, including engineering, PE and sign language, helping him along the way as well as coaching him in various life skills and responsibilities, including volunteering at FISH. In fact it was Baron who was asked by Matthew about Lowe’s, expressing an interest in employment.

“We were learning to ride the city bus and so this was one of our stops. We bought a little wooden kit for him to build. On our way out he said ‘I would really like to work here’ and so I thought, let’s get him a tour and see what he can do,” said Baron.

He said working with Matthew has been rewarding, adding “he’s an amazing, great kid turning into a young man. It is very neat to see him develop, becoming an adult,” he said.

When asked if Matthew would be a good fit for Lowe’s, Baron said “absolutely. When he does something he enjoys, he does it 100 percent. I think he would enjoy this.”

Teacher Ballek noted Mr. Baron and Matthew have established a very trusting relationship and friendship, where Matthew is willing to try new things and take risks with the support of the paraprofessional.

Tuesday’s tour at Lowe’s was through the entire store — front end to back end — hitting all the departments including seasonal, appliances, flooring, home decor, paint and lumber. The tour was guided by Brandy Richardson, Lowe’s Front End Department Supervisor, along with associates Cassidee Miller, a sales specialist for appliance and cabinets and Tiffany Deahl, manager for appliances, cabinets, doors and windows.

Matthew and Cassidee Miller hit it off from the start and there was a reason. Miller has a degree in human development and family science from University of Nevada, Reno and has worked at Lowe’s while getting that degree, continuing her pursuit while getting her master’s degree. While getting her earlier degree, she has worked with students, including those with special needs, as part of an internship. She said she would eventually like to work as an elementary school counselor.

“Today is really up my alley and I was really excited to do it,” said Miller.

At the end of the tour, Matthew was presented with a gift bag as well as being designated employee of the day. Carson City Lowe’s Store Manager Shawn Williams said the company does outreach in the community like this and that it was a pleasure to meet with Matthew, learning of his interests in the company and his interest in working for them.

“It’s an incredible opportunity. Lowe’s has so many things it does as far as outreaches for the community,” he said, noting a program called Tracks of the Trade where Lowe’s brings on associates right out of high school where they are given an opportunity to work at the home improvement store while pursuing a career in trade programs along with college reimbursements.

Noting that he started working for Lowe’s right out of high school eight years ago as a part-timer grabbing carts, he has worked himself up the ladder.

“There are tons of things we do to set people up for success,” Williams said. “Whether you want to make this a part-time job while you are in school or a full-time career, Lowe’s has thousands of opportunities, even outside this building like working remote or IT. It is really humbling and warming for us to be able to have an impact.”

Following the tour, Williams said he would absolutely be interested in hiring Matthew as a Lowe’s associate. He noted that at the previous Lowe’s location where he worked, management hired people with special needs where they would come in part time, usually in a 2 to 4 hour shift, letting them get comfortable interacting with customers and also just helping out and learning small things that go a long ways in not only customer service but interacting with community members.

“We’re very grateful for the experience, meeting Matthew and excited that (Carson High) reached out to us,” said Williams.