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Wiregrass Ranch students celebrate at ESE Prom

Posted at 4:10 PM, May 04, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-04 18:11:16-04

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Faith Mccretton is known for always smiling, but Friday her happiness was off the charts.

“She has her corsage, her beautiful dress. She’s just glowing,” said her mother Kerri.

Wiregrass Ranch High School has 70 young people in it’s Exceptional Student Education program.

And Friday is their day to feel extra special.

“They want to have friends, and they want respect. And we try to give them the same experience as all other high school students,” said ESE teacher Malisa Gonzalez.

The Oscars themed prom has it all.

From a red carpet with paparazzi. To pictures and dancing.

 

 

The school’s first ESE prom was in a classroom five years ago. 

Now it fills the school’s gym.

“It’s just a beautiful thing for them to be highlighted because they do such hard work here and they make such great strides,” said Mccretton.

Supporting all these exceptional students, volunteers like Avery Dorn.

“They’ve been looking forward to this all year. That”s all we’ve talked about was is everyone ready for the prom. And they just love this day. It’s their favorite day of the year,” said Dorn.

The friendships stick.

“I was just walking to class one day, and Andrew just walked up to me and said hi and we’ve become really good friends. I always see him at lunch,” said student volunteer Joseph Weiss. “It’s just a really nice thing to do because you are helping someone.”

Parents say having a disability doesn’t come with the stigma it once did.

And these teens are proving that the party is open for everyone.