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Career Academy Coming To SFCC

KATHY WATERS/Highlands Today

Various pieces of machinery are used in the building construction II class at Avon Park High School. Students are taught about the safety features and proper use before they operate each machine.

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: October 14, 2007

SEBRING — The Career Academy at South Florida Community College, opening in August, will be a high school and technical education facility serving 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

The program's students will spend the entire instructional day on the college's Avon Park campus. Half the day will involve the typical high school academics – math, science, language arts, social studies, etc. – with the other half devoted to the students' technical courses.

"We are going to reach out to a part of our student population that wants to get on with things," and work toward a career, said John Rousch, school district coordinator of career and technical education. "They will still be able to participate in school sports and activities. It's not going to be a separate school ... it's going to be an extension of what we are already doing between the college."
Some students are currently spending a half day at their high school and a half day at the college.
At the Career Academy, students will earn a high school diploma and also have the opportunity to earn a certificate or an associate's degree in one of the technical disciplines.

It's not a new concept; it's been done around the country. In fact, Polk County has one for academic dual enrollment, Rousch said. "This is a little different in regards to we are looking at specifically technical opportunities for kids."

The program will have five school district instructors and enrollment is projected at 75-150 students.
The Career Academy's technical and related dual enrollment programs include: administrative secretary, computer networking, air conditioning/refrigeration and heating, computer networking, automotive service technology , medical secretary, cosmetology, computer engineering, culinary arts, electronics, automotive collision repair, drafting and allied health.

"We are giving kids an opportunity to get focused in areas that they are interested in," Rousch said. "I think it's going to keep kids from dropping out." Some students perform better outside of a traditional high school situation.

The students who attend the Career Academy will have to take more responsibility for their learning, he said. There will be no bells ringing to tell them to change classes.

"When we raise the expectations higher for kids they will rise to that level," Rousch said.

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