Our Community

Our Mission

Skills Transitioning and Employment Pathways to Success (S.T.E.P.S.) was founded in 2019, but its true inception began years before. Our founder, Traci Johnston, spent nearly two decades working as a special education teacher in our community. She saw the lack of opportunities available to her students following high school and the anxiety this caused her students and their families. With the help of one of her former students, she created an educational and exciting day program in Deer Park, Next Step Transition Center. As the day program grew, so did the feeling she could do more. She felt the calling to create a program where young adults could continue to grow in their independence and skills.

S.T.E.P.S. was created to provide community-based vocational training, volunteer opportunities, and employment opportunities for young adults who would like to explore their unique talents. We are so proud to offer young adults the opportunity to gain confidence and independence through skills!

Our S.T.E.P.S. Community

Each year the number of individuals enrolled in special education increases, with exponential growth over the past four years. The continued increase of individuals with intellectual, physical, and emotional disabilities has created an even greater need for programs for these individuals following high school. Texas has one of the highest populations of individuals with disabilities at 12.9%, most of whom live in Houston and the surrounding gulf coast region.

Our local community, Deer Park, made up of 7.9% of individuals with disabilities while the surrounding communities of Pasadena and La Porte have 8.1% and 11.6% respectively.