Gadsden County schools set to open technology academy
The Gadsden County School District is creating a new career academy that will help students meet the demand for technology-based jobs.The information-technology career academy will begin with 25 ninth-graders. It's provided through a $110,000 grant from the WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative Governance Council.
"(We) have the possibility of helping to make a generation change if we can keep this going," School Superintendent Reginald James said.
This is the second career academy for Gadsden County. In 2006, the district created the corrections officers' academy, which allows students at East Gadsden High School to train to become certified corrections officers.
The IT academy will begin in the fall at West Gadsden High School in Greensboro, but the goal is to expand it to East Gadsden High School in Havana by the 2009-10 school year.
The students will start off learning the basics of information technology. The courses will progress and branch out into different areas depending on the field. Students also will be able to intern with Comcast.
The academy will help those who may not be college bound to get an industry certification in a career after graduation.
Upon completing the program, students can earn a full scholarship from Keiser University, said Debra Rackley, director of career and technical education for Gadsden County Schools. "We're not just training for Gadsden County," Rackley said. "We're training for the global economy."