Published: March 14, 2008 10:48 pm            

Citizen of the Week: Debbie Rojas

When Dalton High School partnered with Longhorn Steakhouse to allow exceptional students (formerly known as special education students) to work at the restaurant four days a week, Debbie Rojas, a manager at the restaurant, started a program to honor the top workers.

The students were trained to set tables, clean and roll silverware, make tea and portion foods.

“During the 2006-2007 school year she voluntarily came in on her own time four days a week to help the students get started on their jobs,” said Susan King, an exceptional student services teacher at Dalton High. “When it was actually time for her to officially begin work, she still continued to oversee the five to eight students along with their teacher and paraprofessional.”

Rojas, known to students as “Miss Debbie,” started honoring them shortly after the program began in fall of 2006. Rojas asked students for a list of their favorite things. Each week, she shops for a gift to present to the most improved worker of the week.

Restaurant gift cards, drawing pads and colored pencils, posters, bags of candy, matchbook cars, ball caps, lip gloss and other goodies are just a few of the prizes Rojas has given to the Dalton High “Employee of the Week.”

After the success of the restaurant’s partnership with Dalton High School, Dave Zehner, district manager for Longhorn, started several more programs in his district working with the students.

While the students are happy to go to work Monday through Wednesday, Thursday is their favorite day, King said. Thirty minutes before the school bus arrives to take the group back to continue their day at school, Rojas brings out trays of chicken fingers and fries for a weekly feast. The chicken and fries are often accompanied by homemade goodies from Rojas’ own kitchen. While students enjoys their food, she makes the announcement they have been waiting for: “This week’s employee of the week is ...”

For her dedication to helping Dalton High School students, The Daily Citizen names Debbie Rojas as its Citizen of the Week.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.