Paola’s Cookbook: A Recipe for Success in Life

In a quiet kitchen one February afternoon in 2021, Paola and her mom baked their weekly dessert — a tradition they had shared for years. That day, a new ingredient entered the mix: her multilingual learner teacher, Dana Paz, suggested Paola start a cookbook. 

The idea, meant to strengthen her writing and language skills, has since blossomed into a nearly 600-page treasure trove filled with hundreds of recipes, baker’s notes, and heartfelt joy. “It makes me happy,” Paola says. “I like baking and I’m good at typing.”

Paola’s mother, Julissa, was also overjoyed to see how this cookbook was able to accelerate her learning. “Paola is autistic, and she has unique needs that require a lot of patience. This project helped her with technology, typing, and communication. The cookbook has helped her with talking, thinking, and writing.”

Paola began the cookbook as an eighth grader at Liberty Middle School. By the time she was a senior at Centreville High School, she was updating it weekly, independently transcribing complex recipes and adding her own reflections.

The project became a powerful tool for academic growth. “The cookbook gave me an opportunity to teach Paola how to use verb tenses and descriptive vocabulary, vary her sentence structure, and organize paragraphs using content that was engaging, authentic, and significant to her,” explains Paz.

At Centreville, Paola also increased her soft skills, such as listening, following directions, cooperating with her peers, and self-advocating. She became active in Theatre Arts, Best Buddies, FanQuest, and Student Government Association/Leadership. She wowed classmates with a stunning strawberry mousse cake in the school’s first-ever Cake Off baking competition.

Celebrating Success

For Paola, every page of her cookbook was a triumph. At a Centreville High School awards ceremony, staff surprised her with a printed version of her cookbook and an award celebrating her perseverance and skill development.  Paz has been there every step of the way, cheering Paola on in all her successes. “When we find creative ways for students to explore and share their interests, their products and their progress can amaze us.”

Ready for Real Life

That success was just the beginning. The foundational skills Paola developed — from communication and self-advocacy to the practical skills from her cookbook — prepared her for her next chapter: extending her passion and learning into career development and transition readiness at the Davis Career Center.

Today, Paola is beaming. Dressed in her professional uniform at a local Hyatt hotel, she is happy, confident, and thriving. This is her new classroom, a bustling hotel where she is expanding her understanding of the hospitality industry and food service as she works in a busy professional kitchen each day. This real-world experience is a key ingredient in her education at the Davis Career Center, an FCPS transition program that prepares students for life after high school.

Within days of starting her internship, her special education case manager reported that Paola was doing a “fantastic” job. That success is no surprise to her family. For years, baking has been a way to practice life skills, from writing and communication to budgeting and shopping.

For Paola’s mother, seeing her daughter thrive is a moment she has worked toward for over a decade. “It feels for us like a dream come true,” Julissa says, her voice filled with emotion. “I had to work hard to prepare her for the future because for kids with different abilities, it is not easy. To see our dream come true, it blew my mind.”

This dream come true is the result of a powerful partnership between her, her family, and her school. This parent-school partnership is the heart of a larger FCPS strategy focused on preparing students for the future. 

Principal Chad Clayton of the Davis Career Center, a 25-year veteran of special education, emphasizes the idea that "transition starts in kindergarten." Throughout the entirety of a K-12 education, the goal is to help every student become an adult who is a successful, contributing member of their community. This involves teaching more and more crucial soft skills, which can include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and time management.

Paz adds, “In FCPS, teachers, administrators, and families all work together to tailor instruction to each student’s unique strengths, talents, and goals to prepare them for life. It has been very inspiring for me to see how Paola's parents have patiently guided her toward an independent, fulfilling adulthood from an early age."

To help students navigate this path, FCPS has Employment and Transition Representatives (ETRs) in every high school.  For Paola, that was Marcus Dunton. "It's our job to give students the opportunities and let them explore what they are good at," Dunton explains. "The best advice I ever got is to let the kid decide." This principle, known as self-determination in the field of special education, is about empowering students to make their own choices.

"Fairfax has a tremendous amount of resources," says Dunton.  This is thanks to deep community connections between schools and businesses, which have been built over generations. At the Davis Center, this translates into real-world experience.

Life after high school can be complex, but with collaborative support and a community that nurtured her strengths, Paola was able to thrive. It’s a process that takes the partnership of a parent, the guidance of dedicated teachers, the support of an outside community, and structured, supported opportunities to help every student find their success. 

Today, Paola is not just following recipes; she is creating her own future. She is a shining example of how, with the right support system, every student can find their voice, their passion, and their place in the world.

▶️ Explore Paola’s creations on YouTube:  Paola & Adriana’s Café .

When it comes to preparing students for success in life, there can never be too many cooks in the kitchen.  Discover how FCPS prepares all students for success after graduation. Learn more about  Career and Transition Services .

Moving on to Life in the Community

Each fall, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) sponsor a resource fair to help students with disabilities and their families plan for life after high school. This year, the event will take place  Thursday, November 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.,at Robinson Secondary School, cafeteria. 

Families can speak to adult agency and vendor representatives to gather information about available services for adults in need of ongoing support. Agency representatives provide information on adult service providers, employment and training programs, Medicaid, Social Security, residential options, and The Arc of Northern Virginia.

Register to attend and learn about supported employment options, day support programs, recreation/leisure activities, residential living options, travel training supports, advocacy, funding, and more!