One of the
goals of Career and Technical Education is to provide support to schools that
host NAF (National Academy Foundation) programs. These programs follow a
nationally recognized model known as career academies. A career academy is a
small, personalized learning community within the high school setting in which
students learn both academic and technical curricula within the context of an
industry or career area.
The academy involves teachers from different subjects
working together as an academy team, sharing common planning time to
collaborate on the implementation of the academy concept and curriculum
integration. This cohort model for teachers and students establishes a
family-like atmosphere and results in meaningful student-teacher interaction
that supports rigor, relevance, relationships as it relates to careers. The
career academy models include: academies of finance (AOF), hospitality and
tourism (AOHT), information technology (AOIT) and new this year health science
(AOHS).
A NAF academy is required to have an advisory board. As a result, approximately 10 years ago the Central Florida district advisory council was organized to support current NAF academies. An advisory board serves schools in Orange and Seminole Counties through such activities as guest speakers, field trips and internships.
Programs are located at the following schools:
Orange County Public Schools
- Colonial HS – AOIT, AOHT
- Cypress Creek HS – AOIT
- Freedom HS – AOHT
- Evans HS – AOIT
- Timber Creek HS – AOIT, AOF
- Winter Park HS – AOIT
- Boone HS – AOIT, AOF, AOHS
Seminole County Public Schools
- Crooms Academy of IT – AOIT
- Lake Brantley HS - AOF
NAF students are members of Business Professionals of America (BPA). To learn more about how you can become an industry partner, contact Pat Breeding at 407-317-3200, ext. 2690 or patricia.breeding@ocps.net.
