A simple handshake at the Plant City Career Academy Future Fair marks the beginning of many bright futures. The event connects Plant City High School students to prospective employers in manufacturing, sales, construction and a variety of other industries. It is the culmination of the year-long Plant City Career Academy, which introduces students to dynamic career opportunities that don’t require a college degree.

“There’s so much support available for kids who are going to college,” said Yvonne Fry, founding member of the Plant City Economic Development Commission, which spearheaded the Academy. “The ones who aren’t college bound haven’t had the same help to figure out the next step in their path. Now they do.”

Piloted at Plant City High School during the 2016-2017 academic year, the Career Academy prepares students to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Every month, participants explore a different topic or industry, including manufacturing, agriculture, teaching, logistics, financial and professional services. By the end of the year-long program, students have discovered how to flourish in the future without a college degree. The first year was so successful that the Career Academy expanded to Durant High School and Simmons Career Center in the 2017-2018, with plans to add even more schools in the near future.

“The administrators and teachers are fired up,” Fry said. “This is just what these students need to be pushed in a direction that’s right for them. We’re bringing a new idea of success into the classroom.”

Educators aren’t the only people excited about the new initiative. A number of Plant City business leaders have signed on to serve as advisors and mentors, seizing the opportunity to connect with and cultivate a new generation of workers.

“As we continue to grow, we have a need for skilled employees to join our team who have the capabilities to be successful in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility,” said Steve Bonnell of James Hardie Building Products, which has made a significant investment in the Plant City community. “The Career Academy has been a valuable resource for Plant City employers in a tight labor market, and helps us to offer high-paying jobs with full benefits to new graduates looking for great career opportunities in manufacturing. We are delighted with the pro-business climate here in Plant City and the strong work-ethic of the local population.”

Fry could not agree more.

“The school system, the government and the businesses in our community are all working to help each other and help these students follow an unconventional path of success,” Fry said. “You can see the whole change in students’ attitudes when they realize how much opportunity there really is out there for them.”

Categorized in: Careers, Education, Training