Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy Receive National Education Designation
Ford Motor Company Fund Salutes Commitment to Increase Student Success through Career Academies
ROME, Georgia, April 17, 2009 - Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, announced today its designation of the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy as a Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) Next Generation Learning Community, one in twelve in the country and the first in the state of Georgia. The Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy was chosen for this designation because of its commitment to prepare its students for the 21st century workforce by combining academics with technical training and career exploration. The announcement was made during Lt. Governor Casey Cagle’s Innovation in Education Conference.
Lt. Governor Cagle: "It is an honor for one of our career academies to be among the few in the country recognized with this designation. 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."
In an increasingly competitive world, it is important for students to not only have a challenging academic curriculum, but also the marketable skills that prepare them for their future careers. With that vision in mind, the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy has committed to build a successful career academy network that bridges relationships between the school district and regional businesses and combines traditional academics with hands-on technical training.
"Education is a top priority for Ford Motor Company 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," said Cheryl Carrier, program director, 21st Century Education Programs.
In selecting the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy, Ford Motor Company 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 Academy 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.
"The Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy is proud to work with Ford as we continue to find ways to prepare our youth for their future education and careers," said Dr. Lynn M. Plunkett, superintendent, Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy. "We are proud of our excellent partnership with area businesses and colleges and we look forward to improving opportunities for our students as we learn from communities across the nation participating in the Ford PAS program."
Ford Names St. Johns County Leadership Level
On Thursday, January 29, the Ford Motor Company Fund will designate St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) in northern Florida as a "Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) Next Generation Learning Community (NGL)" at the Leadership Level—one of only six communities nationally to receive this special designation and support.
The district will also receive a $25,000 grant and technical assistant from a team of experts in workforce development, as well as professional development opportunities.
The announcement will be made at a reception scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Ring Power located at 500 World Commerce Parkway, St. Augustine.
This award is the highest education accolade given by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. It is being presented to the school district in recognition of their success in increasing the number of students with access to career academies.
"We are proud to be receiving this national distinction for our career academies," said Dr. Joseph Joyner, Superintendent of Schools. "The Ford PAS NGL designation reinforces the important role that career academies are playing in providing more students with quality education and life building skills."
SJCSD career academies expand life and economic opportunities for students by combining rigorous academics with hands-on technical training.
"Education is a top priority for Ford Motor Company Fund, and we invest in education initiatives that help strengthen communities by giving students the skills they need to be successful in a global economy," said Cheryl Carrier, program director, 21st Century Education Programs, Ford Motor Company Fund. "We look forward to working with the education and business community partners in St. Johns to provide students with real-world learning opportunities through successful career academies."
SJCSD will also have access to Ford Motor Company Fund's education initiative, Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS). This program provides high school students with high quality, interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem solving, critical thinking and communication skills. Ford PAS supports this curriculum by providing professional development for teachers and networking opportunities for communities.
SJCSD teachers will participate in a Ford PAS professional development workshop on February 13, where they will learn how to incorporate entrepreneurship, finance and global economics curricula into their classrooms. Additionally, Baker, Clay, Duval and Nassau counties will benefit by sending teams from their school districts.
According to the Department of Education, it is estimated that nearly 2,500 (about 24 percent) of the nation's high schools have a career academy. SJCSD figures demonstrate that career academy students have higher GPA's, better reading and math skills, better attendance and higher college bound rates.
In addition, student surveys indicate that the number one reason students join an academy is that they feel it will help them get into college. Most St. Johns County career academies have partnerships with colleges, universities and area community colleges, so students can earn college credits while completing high school.
Since the creation of the initiative in 2006, Ford Motor Company Fund has recognized communities across the country for their efforts to create and support successful career academies. Leadership Level designation is provided to a select few communities whose education and business leaders have come together to create an integrated plan for supporting sustainable career academies. Through this designation the SJCSD will provide guidance and leadership to other communities around the nation that are seeking to develop their own career academies.
Media Coverage St Johns Designation-The St Augustine Record
St Johns Designation-The St Augustine Record.pdf
Ford Motor Company Fund Designates Pensacola Area Districts Leadership Level
Pensacola, Florida—Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, will designate Escambia County School District and Santa Rosa County School District in Florida as a Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Next Generation Learning Community (Ford PAS NGL) at the Leadership Level, one of six in the country, on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, at the Woodham Middle School Media Center. The press conference begins at 8:30 a.m.
The Ford PAS NGL Leadership Level is the highest education accolade given to communities by Ford Motor Company Fund. The Escambia and Santa Rosa communities have reached program requirements for developing a successful and sustainable career academy network through the development of a two-county multi-year master plan. Since being designated as a Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Community in 2007, Ford Motor Company Fund worked with both communities to provide technical assistance from a team of experts to help maximize their career academies by using the Ford PAS NGL 12-Point Master Plan, which helps align career academies with future workforce and economic development trends.
The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is working with Escambia and Santa Rosa school districts to strengthen the career academy network for student and workforce readiness. This program ensures that the area has trained students to enter the workforce after high school in entry level positions with the option to continue their education at UWF or PJC.
"This effort has helped our two counties align business, industry and workforce education with economic development targets," stated Evon Emerson, President and CEO of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
In selecting Escambia and Santa Rosa, Ford Motor Company Fund cited their success in increasing the number of students with access to career academies, which teaches academics through the lens of a career. Ford also applauded both districts' strong partnerships with area businesses.
"Education is a top priority for Ford Motor Company Fund and we invest in education programs because we see potential in our youth and want to help strengthen communities by giving students the skills they need to be successful in a global economy," said Cheryl Carrier, program director, 21st Century Education Programs. "We look forward to continuing to work with the education and business community partners in Escambia and Santa Rosa to provide students with real-world learning opportunities through successful career academies."
Escambia County School Superintendent, Malcolm Thomas stated, "We are honored that Ford Motor Company Fund leadership is recognizing the exemplary work of our district's Workforce Education Department and school-based principals and teachers, in our development of over 35 career academies. This initiative is a major contributor toward our school district's journey to excellence."
Santa Rosa County School Superintendent, Tim Wyrosdick stated, "We consider it a mark of distinction that Ford Motor Company Fund is recognizing the exemplary work of this two-county region in preparing a skilled workforce through career academies. Ford's 12-Point Master Plan have provided a roadmap for analyzing elements of our existing academies and led us to work harder to ensure student success in achieving those skills required to be competitive in a global economy. This partnership has expanded networking opportunities with local business and industry and our neighboring district to help guarantee that career academy graduates are meeting rigorous industry employment standards."
As a Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Community at the Leadership Level, the Escambia and Santa Rosa communities will receive a grant for $30,000. In addition, they will provide guidance and leadership for other communities around the nation who are looking to develop their career academies.
Career academies combine academics with technical training and result in industry certifications. Partners of this effort include: Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, TEAM Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa County Chamber, UWF, PJC, Workforce Escarosa, Gulf Power, Locklin Tech, George Stone and West Florida High School of Advanced Technology.
As a part of this recognition, Escambia and Santa Rosa will have access to professional development for teachers and networking opportunities through Ford Motor Company Fund's education initiative, Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS). Created in partnership with the Education Development Center, Inc., Ford PAS provides high-school students with high-quality, interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. It enhances this curriculum by providing professional development for teachers and networking opportunities between communities using Ford PAS.
Sixty teachers from Escambia School District and Santa Rosa School District received Ford PAS professional development training in November. In addition, twenty Chamber businesses participated in a "Coordinated Learning Experience" session where they shared the training, education and skills needed by students for future success in their companies with these teachers.
Ford Motor Company Fund is dedicated to creating and enriching educational opportunities, especially in the areas of science, engineering, math and business. Since its inception, Ford Motor Company Fund has supported a wide-range of education initiatives such as Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies and the Ford PAS Next Generation Learning Community recognition program. The Ford PAS NGL recognition program supports communities interested in increasing the number of students who receive academic and technical training at successful career academies and to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Media Coverage Pensacola Designation-Pensacola New Journal
Pensacola Designation-Pensacola New Journal.pdf
Video Clip from Fox 10: Career Academies Help Students Get Jobs
SAN ANTONIO TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING ON TEACHING STUDENTS IMPORTANT WORKPLACE SKILLS
Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) Regional Mini-Institute Jan. 22-23rd
San Antonio, Texas—Sixty-five educators from San Antonio and other school districts in Texas will participate in a professional development session focused on the skills students will need to succeed in the future workplace. This Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) Regional Mini-Institute, hosted by Alamo Community College District (ACCD), will be held at the Advanced Technology Center. Attendees will learn how to incorporate Ford PAS into their teaching and also hear from leading San Antonio business leaders from sectors ranging from health care to manufacturing and engineering about the top skills they look for in their employees.
"Preparing our students for life and work in a highly technological and global society is a challenge which faces all educators. One of the ways that SAISD is addressing this need is through partnerships with organizations that focus on project-based learning. Through project-based learning, our students are able to practice new skills and deepen their understanding of new information, as well as design questions that generate and test hypotheses about their learning. Ford PAS engages students in activities that enhance their knowledge of academic content," said Mary "Betty" Burks, Deputy Superintendent, San Antonio Independent School District.
Ford PAS is a dynamic high school curriculum currently being used in San Antonio schools. It encourages students to work together to solve real-world problems and identify opportunities in fields such as business, engineering, technology, alternative energy, global economics and other challenging fields. The curriculum is enhanced through professional development for teachers and networking opportunities between business partners, educators and students. It was developed by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of the company, in partnership with Education Development Center, Inc.
"We have a long history of supporting education initiatives in San Antonio and are excited to play a role in bringing together educators and business leaders to benefit our youth," said Cheryl Carrier, Program Director, 21st Century Education Programs, Ford Motor Company Fund.
On Friday, students from San Antonio will share their Ford PAS experiences with the teachers. In addition, representatives from leading San Antonio companies such as University Health Systems, HEB, McCombs Ford, San Antonio Manufacturing Association, Instruments Technology Machines (ITM), RJRivera Engineering and the San Antonio Police Department will participate in a discussion with the teachers. In order to help teachers connect the Ford PAS curriculum with how it relates to the real world, these business leaders will share what skills are needed to thrive in today's work environment such as teamwork, problem-solving and communicating.
"My goal as a teacher is to incorporate the most effective tools in the classroom so that my students are ready and qualified to be productive in tomorrow's job market," said Aleida Villarreal. "Through this training, I'm excited to learn more about how I can achieve that goal."
Teachers will also participate in a series of activities taken from the Ford PAS curriculum in order to learn how the curriculum is taught. One example is an activity called Inventive Thinking, where students develop a new product that fills the need for a consumer group and then describes the impact this product will have on society.
The Ford PAS Regional Mini-Institute is being organized through the collaborative efforts of Ford Motor Company Fund; the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Alamo Community College District.
Media Coverage Fox 29 San Antonio Designation Video Clip
Video Clip