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4/20/2009 |
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Career Academy Honored by Ford |
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Local College and Career Academy one of 12 schools nationwide honored by Ford
The Floyd County College and Career Academy is the first school in Georgia, and only one of 12 nationwide, to be designated a Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Next Generation Learning Community, the Ford Motor Co. Fund announced Friday.
The College and Career Academy was chosen because of its commitment to prepare students for the workforce by combining academics with technical training and career exploration, according to Ford.
The honor was announced by Cheryl Carrier, program director for Ford’s 21st Century Education Programs, during Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s Innovation in Education Conference in Atlanta.
“It is an honor for one of our career academies to be among the few in the country recognized with this designation,” said Cagle. “I have always believed that an entire community should take the initiative to make their local education system the best possible. This is a great example of stakeholders coming together to create the educational environment that will enhance students’ skills and prepare them from job opportunities in their community and across Georgia.”
Floyd County Schools Superintendent Lynn Plunkett told the Rome News-Tribune she’s thrilled about the designation.
“This is a tremendous honor for Floyd County Schools and for our entire community,” she said. “Receiving this designation is a testimony to the strength of the community support and partnership.”
Frank Pinson, CEO for the College and Career Academy, said, “This designation recognizes communities that embrace this type of partnership. People talk statewide about our partnership between the business community, Coosa Valley Technical College and Floyd County Schools. It’s such a compliment to our community that we’re the first in the state of Georgia to get this designation.”
And that’s what got Ford’s attention.
“Education is a top priority for Ford Motor Co. Fund, and we invest in education programs because we want to strengthen communities by giving students the skills they need to succeed in a global economy,” she said.
Ford Motor Co. Fund cited that Floyd County will use the Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Community 12-point master plan, which helps align career academies with future workforce and economic development trends. As a part of the recognition, the school will have access to professional development for teachers and networking opportunities to learn from the successes of other communities across the country.
Ford will also offer technical assistance to Floyd County by a team of experts ranging in career academy design to workforce development.
Al Hodge, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, said it’s important to promote a continued interest in automotive technology as the area works to attract new suppliers.
“This is important for future students and employees in their career track,” he said. “I commend Ford, the Floyd County school leaders and leaders at the College and Career Academy.”
Pinson said the program will benefit students because Ford embraces the idea of career academies.
“These modules are all about rigorous project education,” he said. “It has the ability to benefit all students, because in Floyd County we require all students to have a career pathway. That’s why the Ford Motor Co. endorses it and that’s what they’re all about in supporting the career academy model.”
He added the program will not just benefit students in automotive technology programs, but all students at the College and Career Academy who use projects as their main way of learning skills useful to them when they graduate.
“Projects could also be about students building a robot or students working on a project that involves mechatronics. It could be students in a carpentry project.”
Logan Osborne, a student at the College and Career Academy, was on hand in Atlanta for the announcement.
Osborne, an 18-year-old senior, got up to talk about his own experiences in the health program at the academy and his various apprenticeships he’s held since starting.
He said Ford’s partnership would help others with their educations as they move through the programs offered at the academy. “I think its going to be very beneficial. Not necessarily for the class this year, but the classes coming up,” he said. “It’s all about helping the learning experiences of others.”
-Rome News Tribune
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