Nassau County School District Opens Tiny House for Teaching Practical Skills

Nassau County School District
Press Release
Submitted by Tia Brown
November 12, 2021

Nassau County Schools is proud to announce that the long awaited “Tiny House” is open and ready for move in! The Tiny House, located in Yulee, was established as part of the district’s curriculum to provide a setting wherein students with disabilities could practice functional living skills in a real-life home environment. As always, the community has come together to support our students, therefore, the joint effort of several groups and individuals have contributed to making the Tiny House a reality. Local church groups and private donors have partnered with the district to provide furniture and household items so that students can learn/refine functional living skills needed to live independently.

Students in Ms. Christine Loomis’s class at Yulee Middle School were the first to take a field trip to the new Tiny House. During this visit, they had the opportunity to set up the house and work together to accomplish tasks just as they would if moving into a new home for the first time. This included unpacking all the donations, wiping down shelves, washing dishes, vacuuming the floors, and finding the right place for all household items and supplies. These are extremely important skills that we want to impart so that every student has the tools to successfully transition to independent living.

To further enhance the experience, Mrs. Loomis and her team, which includes the occupational therapist, Kristin Coleman, are creating lesson plans that support the students’ goals and increase their independence. Future activities include lessons in hospitality and gardening. We are so excited that students have this great A opportunity, and we are thankful for all those who made this possible.

An example of a Tiny House by West Nassau High School Construction Program (Florida)