LockerToLife

Welcome to LockerToLife, a resource hub designed for educators preparing students with special needs for success beyond the classroom. As a special education teacher and work training coordinator, I create hands-on, functional materials that help students build independence, confidence, and job-readiness skills. Here you’ll find: Vocational training lessons and printable job task cards Student-Led Business Resources IEP-aligned goals and data tracking templates Functional math, reading, and money skills activities Community-based learning and employability resources Editable classroom visuals and routines for life skills programs Each resource is classroom-tested and built from real experiences in high school and community-based work programs. My goal is to make your job easier — and your students’ futures brighter.

Hi, I’m Shanna Schneider, the creator behind LockerToLife. I’m a special education teacher and vocational coordinator at Lincoln Community High School in Illinois, where I’ve built and managed our student-run business, Lincoln’s Locker. Over the years, I’ve helped students with diverse learning needs develop the real-world skills they need to succeed — from applying for jobs to mastering daily living routines and workplace expectations. My classroom is a blend of academics, hands-on work training, and life-skill practice — because learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. The resources in this store come directly from real experiences in my program. Each lesson, form, and activity has been created, tested, and refined to support both teachers and students in special education and transition programs. I believe in empowering students to discover their potential — one skill, one goal, and one success at a time. Through LockerToLife, I hope to share that same purpose with other educators who are preparing students for life beyond the locker.

Hi, I’m Shanna Schneider, the creator behind LockerToLife — a space dedicated to helping students bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. I hold an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, two Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with learners across the entire developmental spectrum — from preschool and early childhood education to high school transition programs and young adults up to age 22. My career has been built on creating pathways for success at every age. As a special education teacher and vocational coordinator at Lincoln Community High School, I manage our student-run business, Lincoln’s Locker, where students gain authentic work experience and apply the life and job skills we teach in the classroom. Through my work, I’ve developed a deep passion for hands-on learning, community-based instruction, and real-world skill development. Every resource in LockerToLife is designed to make teaching easier and learning more meaningful — because our students deserve materials that prepare them not just for tests, but for life. I believe education is most powerful when it empowers independence, builds confidence, and celebrates progress, no matter how small. My mission is simple: to share practical, purposeful tools that help every learner unlock their potential.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with students across a wide range of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, and multiple disabilities. I specialize in creating structured, supportive, and meaningful learning experiences that focus on building functional academics, independence, communication, social-emotional skills, and job readiness.