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SUCCESS
of
CAREER
EDUCATION
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The
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ACADEMY
Success
ASHLI
TOMAS
graduated
from Northeast
High School
in 2006 where
she served
as the branch
manager
at Achieva
Credit Union’s
Viking Branch in the school’s Academy
of Finance (AOF). Ashli joined the
academy during her sophomore year
and was matched with mentor Julia
Doran. Ashli and Julia maintained a
close relationship during high school
and beyond, even while Julia relocated
to Boston for five years for work.
While still in high school, Ashli began
working part-time for Achieva in 2005,
eventually transitioning to full time as
assistant branch manager at the Fourth
Street branch in 2012. “I truly enjoyed
the hands-on learning and being able
to apply what I learned in a text book to
real life in the credit union. Everything
I learned in the career academy laid
a strong foundation for my career
in banking and finance.” Following
graduation from Northeast, Ashli
received a two year degree from St.
Petersburg College and then completed
her four year degree at USF St.
Petersburg in 2012. At that time, Julia
returned to Florida and took a job with
Raymond James. Observing Ashli’s
leadership skill development, Julia
recruited Ashli to a supervisor position
at Raymond James. Today, Ashli is a
Project Specialist in Retirement Plan
Services leading process improvement
and regulatory projects. Ashli and Julia
encourage students to take advantage
of the opportunity to work with mentors.
“The mentor/mentee relationship
can be a powerful tool for students
who make the effort. Mentors have
committed the time and are here for the
guidance needed but students need to
drive the relationship to truly gain the
value that is there.” Ashli still remains
involved in the academy today. She
currently serves on the AOF’s advisory
board and mentors three students in
the program.
Dear Community Member,
Did you know that relevant learning increases
graduation rates? Students in Pinellas County
schools are benefiting from career academies
and hands-on learning. The Pinellas Education
Foundation and its Career Education Board
are advocating to increase access to career
education learning for all of our students. These
52 career academies across Pinellas County’s
high schools provide an opportunity for
secondary students to earn industry-recognized
certifications which offer students an edge as
they enter college, technical school, military or
the workforce.
We have seen success in our Academies of
Pinellas. Data shows that Pinellas students in
career academies out-perform their peers who
are not enrolled in them.
APPROXIMATELY 57% of the student
population is now enrolled in our academies
which surpasses the goal of 50% enrollment
by 2017.
STUDENTS IN ACADEMIES have a
graduation rate of 96% compared to the
overall district graduation rate of 78%.
Visit www.Pinellaseducation.org
for more information and to learn about how you
can be involved.
Sincerely,
Brad Kugler and Bob McIntyre
Co-Chairmen,
Pinellas Education Foundation’s
Career Education Board
CAREER ACADEMIES
BOCA CIEGA HIGH SCHOOL
Center for Wellness and Medical Professions
Project Lead the Way
Business and Design Academy
CLEARWATER HIGH SCHOOL
Career Academy for International Culture and Commerce
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Technology
Aerospace Technologies
Electronics Technology
Hospitality and Tourism
COUNTRYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
Center for Computer Technologies
Early Childhood Education
Television Production
DIXIE M. HOLLINS HIGH SCHOOL
Graphic Arts Academy
Center for Culinary Arts
DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of Construction Tech & Architectural Design
Business Programs
EAST LAKE HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of Engineering
Business Tech
GIBBS HIGH SCHOOL
Business, Economics Technology Academy (BETA)
LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT)
Journalism Academy
Academy for Marine Science & Environmental Resources
NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of Finance
Academy of Information Technology
Automotive Academy
Center for Culinary Arts
OSCEOLA FUNDAMENTAL HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of Culinary Arts
Center for Technology, Entertainment and Design
Television Production
Manufacturing
PALM HARBOR UNIVERSITY HIGH
SCHOOL
Center for Wellness and Medical Professions
Center for Academics of Business Administration
and Management
PINELLAS PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of Graphic Design & Business
Auto Collision & Repair
First Responder Academy
CAREER ACADEMIES OF SEMINOLE
Carpentry
Electricity
Veterinary Sciences Program
Commercial Art
Horticulture Science and Services
Game and Simulation
SEMINOLE HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of E-Commerce and Internet Marketing
ST. PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Building Construction Preapprenticeship Program
Business Programs
TARPON SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
Academy of Veterinary Science
Jacobson Culinary Academy
Early Childhood Education
Career Academies and Career
Technical Courses Increase
Engagement and Graduation Rate
PINELLAS GRADUATION RATE
THE OVERALL GRADUATION
RATE in Pinellas County has
increased 13 points in five years
in part due to the addition of the
career academies. The graduation
rate within the academies is
approximately 95%.
76.2%
72.0%
78.3%
Students engaged in Pinellas
County Schools’ career academies
are more successful learners who
71.9%
enter the workforce confident in their
career choices. The district’s career
65.2%
academies and technical programs
help students stay invested in their
education. The impact of the district’s
career academies is significant. Data
from Pinellas County Schools and
2011 2012 2013 20142015
SINCE 2011, Pinellas has more than tripled the number of industry certifications earned by
students.
Students are encouraged to earn certifications that align with job demand. Certifications add
relevance, one of the drivers of a good career education program. Many certifications also
convert to college credit – a cost saving for parents.
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS
0
2,222
3,815
5,104
6,617
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
2011-12
High School
Middle School
2012-13
shows that career academy students
represent all backgrounds and
have higher graduation rates when
compared to all students in district
schools. Participating students have
lower absence rates and their overall
GPAs are higher. Pinellas County
Schools recognizes the important
role our career academies can play
in student achievement and we look
forward to expanding our programs
and increasing student participation.
Thank you,
2013-14
2014-15
1,333
2,722
the Pinellas Education Foundation
2015-16 to date Middle School as of January
Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Pinellas County Schools
On behalf of the
team at Ford Next
Generation Learning,
I want to congratulate
Pinellas County
Schools and the
Pinellas Education
Foundation on
becoming a Ford Next
Generation Learning (Ford NGL) Model
Community and Innovation Center. Ford
NGL is a signature program of Ford Motor
Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of
Ford Motor Company, working to create
innovative approaches to learning that spark
student interest and imagination. As such,
Pinellas has demonstrated their commitment
to improving the outcomes of high school
students through the growth of their career
academy network.
PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS, the PINELLAS EDUCATION FOUNDATION and FORD
NEXT GENERATION LEARNING began a partnership in 2011. Together, a 5 year plan was
written that established the Academies of Pinellas, with an emphasis on promoting higher career
academy enrollment, increasing student-earned industry certifications and expanding wall-towall academies in Pinellas County High Schools.
Today, there are more than 30 Academy of Pinellas programs. Every high school has at least
one academy, while most high schools have multiple academies and some are wall-to-wall
academies. Approximately 57% of Pinellas students are engaged in either academies or magnet
programs. Career academy programs increase the success of all students.
On February 16 - 19, 2016, Pinellas County
will host more than 175 attendees from
across the country and as far as California
to the first Ford NGL of Pinellas Study Visit.
Pinellas County has been a Ford NGL
learning community since March 2013 and is
using the Ford NGL framework and roadmap
as a way to increase the number of students
learning in career academies, thereby better
preparing them for college, career and life.
The Study Visit allows Pinellas County the
opportunity to pay it forward and share their
deep knowledge and successful practices to
support other communities.
The Career Education Board, a standing committee of the Pinellas Education Foundation, chaired
by Bob McIntyre and Brad Kugler oversees the community’s involvement in the Academies of
Pinellas program.
Attendees at the February event will have
an opportunity to learn about the Ford
NGL process for scaling and sustaining
successful career academies. They will
engage in focused conversations on how, as
a community, they can meaningfully engage
in supporting this transformation model,
visit Pinellas County Schools academies
and hear from their students, teachers and
business partners.
Thank You
Congratulations to Pinellas County and
thank you for inspiring others to use this
transformation model to prepare the next
generation for a successful future!
Sincerely,
Cheryl Carrier
Executive Director
In February, more than 175 attendees from 13 states gathered to listen to Career and Technical
Education experts from Pinellas County Schools at a four day Conference hosted at the
Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg.
This Conference in partnership with FORD NGL is a significant milestone. It is validation that
Pinellas is on the right path. Ford remains one of the Top 10 Brands in the U.S. and one of the
Top 50 Brands in the World. The fact that they have designated
The Pinellas Education Foundation to be an Innovation Center is a reflection
of the good work that has been done in partnership with Pinellas County Schools.
Sponsors