Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) Gregory Dural always wanted to be a teacher, but chose his specialization because of his connection to his community. At the high school, he helps students with their day-to-day life skills. When he’s not working at the high school, he loves spending time with his dog, traveling and doing photography.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is your job at the high school?
Currently, I work with one specific student in the Reaching for Independence through Structured Education (RISE) program, and we are working on his pre-vocational skills, his transitioning into adulthood which could be things like completing chores, self-help, which is like showering, getting dressed, getting undressed, following a schedule. The goal is to get him hired at a job so he can follow that work schedule, being more independent with his day-to-day life.
What do you like most about your job?
I’ve been doing this for 12 years, and I’ve worked with students from kindergarten to high school, and what I love the most is seeing the progress, seeing them become young men and women, and seeing them become a part of the community.
What do you think the best part of the high school is?
I would have to say the best thing here is the community. I do enjoy the autonomy and the independence that the high school offers the students. I saw that when I went over to the restaurant for the first time and I felt like I was in a real restaurant out in the town.
What was the best part of your summer?
This summer I traveled to Costa Rica for the first time. It’s a beautiful place. I wished we could have stayed a couple more days. That was the highlight of the summer, it was very relaxing. In Costa Rica, we were in an all-inclusive resort. It was fairly large. We did do some ziplining, we did do some kayaking and mostly hung around the pool and just enjoyed the food.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Well, as a child, there were two things I wanted to be. One of them I achieved, I wanted to be an educator, and a famous singer, but it’s never too late for that.
What led you to become an RBT?
Well, I too am on the autism spectrum. I have dyslexia and ADHD, and so I wanted to be a part of a community that I understand, and a community that understands me. It gave me one leg up on understanding my students and having patience with them, and knowing what they are going through trying to learn.
