Recent Shows Graduates from Career Academies Have More Earning Power

A long-term and rigorous evaluation of nine career academies across the country, released on June 27, 2008, has found that eight years after graduation, participants had significantly higher employment and earnings than similar students in a control group.

Career academies offer students experience in the workplace, and help them get paying jobs while they pursue standard academic coursework. When the study, by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, began 15 years ago, there were fewer than 500 career
academies in the United States. Today there are more than 2,500, and the new findings are likely to spur more growth, several experts said. Click here to read the full article. 

Annual Career Education Breakfast Shines Spotlight on Centers of Excellence

Nearly 150 business leaders, educators and supporters of career education attended the March 20, 2008 event at the Pinellas Education Foundation. Presenting Sponsor Sweetbay Supermarket provided a delicious menu. "Sweetbay is a proud supporter of career education," said Maria Chillura, Manager of Culinary Strategy for Sweetbay.

The event also marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Frances Stavros Career Education Scholarship Fund. Conceived by Mrs. Frances Stavros, the scholarship fund has furthered the technical careers of more than 200 students over the years, funding scholarships to the Pinellas Technical Centers (pTEC) for economically deserving students ages 16 - 24.

Senator Don Gaetz Visits Pinellas County

The Pinellas Education Foundation in partnership with the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, through a generous grant from Progress Energy and TECO, hosted Senator Don Gaetz for a special luncheon on January 30, 2008. The luncheon was covered by several media outlets. Click here to read more about this special event. 

Click here to read the St. Petersburg Times article "Schools must cater to business, senator says: The superintendent-turned-lawmaker says career technical education needs to be a focus." The article, written by Times Staff writer Donna Winchester, appears in the January 31, 2008 issue and focuses on the need for renewed emphasis on industry certification and career education for students.

Senator Gaetz's visit and the topic of career education are also covered in the January 31, 2008 St. Petersburg Times blog, "The Gradebook: A Daily Report on Education," which features and interview with Don Gaetz.

Contact Amy Bodow at BodowA@PinellasEducation.org with questions.