(Back to the index) (Back to the beginning of this issue) © 2010 CORD	Administrators, teachers, business partners, and board members from Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Canada traveled to Palm Beach County to participate in the 2010 Career Academy Showcase on April 20–21. This event showcased the Career Academies of ten Palm Beach County schools that were reviewed by the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) and Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Atlantic Community High School's Criminal Justice Academy; Forest Hill Community High School's Environmental Science Academy; John I. Leonard High School's Computer Science Academy; Lake Worth Community High School's Medical Science Academy; Palm Beach Gardens' Tourism, Hospitality, and Resort Management Academy; West Boca Raton's Culinary Arts Academy; and William T. Dwyer's Academy of Finance earned national recognition as model career academies after meeting and/or exceeding the National Standards of Practice (NSOP). Palm Beach Lakes Community High School's Medical Sciences Academy, Park Vista High School's Medical Sciences and Information Technology Academies, and Seminole Ridge Community High School's Construction Academy earned recognition as certified career academies. The attendees chose academies that were best suited to meet needs in their schools and districts. In the mornings they traveled to the high schools, where they were given the opportunity to ask questions and view the academies in action. The afternoon sessions began with Jan Bray, Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), and Dr. Kathleen Weigel, Principal of Atlantic High School, as the keynote speakers. Breakout sessions were then held covering several areas of interest: Programs of Study, The Importance of Data Reporting, The Reality of Scheduling, Marketing a Model Career Academy, Career Education Community and Business Partners, Building a Successful Middle School Pre-Academy, Turning a CTE Program into an Academy, and Best Practices. A roundtable discussion was held on the last day with career academy coordinators and career education curriculum specialists answering questions and concerns. We are excited about the opportunity to share best practices and network with career and technical education teachers, administrators, and local business leaders from around the nation. For the past four years, the Career Academy Showcase has offered insight to career academies from other states as well as numerous counties within the state of Florida. The dedication that has been shown by educators around the nation is outstanding and helps maintain the importance of supporting career and technical education. Back to the index     © 2010 CORD	Constance Scotchel-Gross is Career Education Manager of the School District of Palm Beach County in Florida. For more information, contact her at scotche@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.