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Students Prep For Real World

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

In The Loop

Published: February 20, 2009

New doors will open next year for students as Certified Career Academies makes its debut in all of Pasco County's high schools.

CCA brings schools and the business community together to give students the tools and skills necessary to graduate and launch careers.

Though some of the county's high schools already have career academies, next year will mark the first time that every upper-level campus in the district will have at least one.

Terry Aunchman, supervisor of community career and technical education, said the changes are a result of the statewide Florida Career and Professional Education Act.

"We have identified areas that there will be a need for workers, such as health care and finance," Aunchman said. "This is a great opportunity for the students and for businesses. We are working with businesspeople to design a rigorous and relevant curriculum to help our students learn the skills they will need. In many cases, our students will come out of school with the proper skills and certifications to go right into the work force or into postsecondary opportunities."

Sunlake High School in Land O' Lakes will have the only finance academy in the school district. Students will have to apply for and interview for the 60 open positions in the academy. The academy will focus on accounting, stock brokering, bookkeeping, banking and other career fields.

"There are only so many positions open, so we will have to pick the best qualified candidates," said Peggy Green, lead teacher for the Sunlake academy. "This will be more then just a simulation. This will be like the real world. The students will be learning about finance and marketing through this academy, which is a great skill set to have in every career."

As part of the finance academy, students will get hands-on learning through a partnership with the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. Students will learn the ropes in the credit union during their lunch breaks as well as in the new campus bookstore.

"We will have students running a credit union branch here," Green said. "Three to four students will volunteer to work shifts at the branch once a week. They will be able to open accounts and take deposits. Students will also be able to run the bookstore, which will carry school supplies and other items."

Through the program, students will have the chance to get certified for programs such as Microsoft Office, Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Quickbooks.

"Students will have the potential to leave here and go right into the work force with nationally recognized certifications," said Kim Davis, the school's assistant principal.

"It is also good for the students who want to continue on to college because we will also have Advanced Placement classes, and we are working on a dual-enrollment program so our students can get college credit," she said. "They will also learn practical skills they will need to have regardless. It will teach them the skills they have to have in order to plan for their futures."

Wesley Chapel High School will have an automotive career academy, and Land O' Lakes High School will have a culinary academy. Wiregrass Ranch High School has started its technology academy.

For information, go online to careers.pasco.k12.fl.us/academies. Businesses interested in partnering with schools can call Aunchman at (813) 794-2211.

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