“We are committed to ensuring that every student has the skills they need to leave high school and get a high paying job and contribute to the workforce,” shares Superintendent Diane Kornegay.“In addition, we want to provide a wealth of opportunities for them to explore their interests and decide what they want to do when they leave us.” STARTING EARLY WITH STEM AND CAREER EXPLORATION Lake County is not waiting until high school to introduce students to the skills they will need for the future. This fall Minneola Horizon Academy is opening its doors to bring students an array of bold new learning experiences. “It is a K-8 school that will provide an aerospace program starting in kindergarten,” says Kornegay. “Students will learn to use drones along with a comprehensive coding curriculum, as part of their regular schedule.” The school will feed into the district’s aerospace high school program, building an intentional pathway from early learning to career training. With a total of 78 CTE programs spread across the middle and high schools, career exploration also begins early in Lake County. School counselors, student surveys, and campus tours help students entering middle school match their interests with opportunities and pathways. “All of our middle schools have a variety of career exploration offerings, based on interest and the needs or our local workforce,” Kornegay details. Before entering high school, students visit schools to find the program that fits with their planned pathway. “Much like you do a college tour, they’re looking at the various programs, and talking with current students who are our best ambassadors to help them determine areas of interest,” she explains. CAREER READINESS AT THE CORE Collaboration is a crucial part of Lake County’s educational model, and partnerships with Lake Technical College, Lake-Sumter State College, CareerSource Central Florida , Lake County Government, and Lake Area Economic Development 355 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 LAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS
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