District 4 School Board Member Pam Gould met with Workforce Advantage Academy leaders, a teacher and a student while on a fact-finding visit to learn more about the charter school.

“Focused charter schools like this are innovative and fill a specific need,” Gould said. “Educators, elected officials and parents need to continue to work together to develop the right blend of educational options to ensure all children can be successful.”

Junior Jesus Sanchez shared with Gould his experience at the school, how he was able to significantly bring up his grades while working at Premier Cinema at Fashion Square Mall. He explained how he has become more confident. He also told her that he wants to join the military and serve as a medic and in a combat zone. He then asked if she would hire him, and she said that earning his high school diploma would be a critical consideration, but that he would have an advantage over other applicants due to his on-the-job experience working with people.

“Career path programs like this are essential,” Gould said. “If young people do not have a skill set, businesses cannot hire them.”

English teacher Derek Cavilla discussed his business career and switch to education, first at Nap Ford Charter School and now teaching older students. He discussed how he finds creative ways to motivate students so they want to read and learn new things.

Students learned how to assess an injured person and respond appropriately in Mrs. Albright’s First Aid class. They practiced splinting a wrist and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on simulator.

Junior Alia Goodman has taken two courses-English composition and intermediate algebra-this year at Valencia College and plans to take more next semester.

“I decided to get a start on my AA degree at the same time I am in high school,” said Goodman, who plans to become an orthodontist, so she can help people. “I thought it would be a great way to get ahead.”

Goodman added that she enjoyed the experience and found her Valencia classmates stayed busy and were focused. “Everyone is working, and I like that busy environment,” she said. “You have to discipline yourself and have time management skills. You have to believe in yourself and keep up with homework.”

Eduardo Verde, another junior, plans to enroll at Valencia in the fall and take general classes in preparation for a career in international business. He has passed the required tests and has high grades.

“I hope to complete most of my AA by the end of my senior year,” Verde said. “I want to get a head start on my future education.”

Five Workforce Academy students are checking tags and carefully placing tourists’ luggage on the appropriate conveyor belt at Bags, a hospitality and airport services provider offering remote airline check-in and luggage delivery. Bags handles more than 5 million checked bags annually.

“The students ensure the bags progress correctly through the process,” said Steve Mussenden at Bags. “They are doing a good job.”

Senior De Anthony Jordan indicated he has learned a lot while working at Bags and appreciates the mentoring he has received.

“They treat you well and are friendly,” Jordan said. “The bosses will sit with you and help you by giving you tips about money management in the future and about the business and how to get a raise. You can talk about anything and they will give you good advice.”

Two students achieved straight As during the second semester. They are Karla De La Cruz and Eduardo Verde.

The following students earned a place on the Honor Roll for the second quarter:

Shakina Bivins

Lindsey Blair

Dashia Bradley

Ashleigh Burnside

Demistris Bush

Michelle Bush

Lanisha Crutchfield

Karla De La Cruz

Marvin Desrosiers

Gerald Finch

Tyler Frater

Daniel Frazee

Alia Goodman

Shelton Gore

Xavier Harold

Brittany Hill

Javeon Hunt

Samantha James

Marilyn Jarvis

Garidson Jean Denis

Khalil Jenkins

Quran Jenkins

De Anthony Jordan

Elnathan Joseph

Jeaniece Keen

Reynaldo Lopez

Sashjahrae Lorraine

Raymond Martinez

Ryan McDonnell

Jadarius McMillian

Jacquan Mewborn

Kayala Moore

Simone Nembhard

Makeda Norfleet

Halima Omar

Cierra Randolph

Nicholas Rivera

Shawn Roderick

Rodney Romulus

Anite Sergil

Clottymar Serrano

Travis Shelton

Steven St. Forin

Toni Stevens

Alexandra Torres

Jasmin Trubinski

Debarius Turner

Cristina Valentin

Eduardo Verde

Angelic Warner

Jared William

Quaneria Williams

Students and staff from Workforce Advantage Academy departed for Florida’s west coast for a spring break packed with adventure and opportunities to discover new things.

“The school really came together and we had a great time,” said senior Jasmin Trubinski.

Junior Daniel Frazee stays busy with two jobs-both water related. He works at Wet N; Wild as a cashier and server and at Wonder of Water, taking care of plants, cleaning filters and keeping an inventory of supplies for the aquatic pond contractor.

“I work with aquatic life, and that’s what I plan to do in my adult life,” said Frazee, who aspires to become a marine biologist and learn about sharks and discover new species.

At the water theme park, Frazee enjoys the team work environment and that he stays so busy, time flies.

Students enjoyed a brief respite while waiting to take the FCAT. Students across the campus are putting pencil to paper and tapping on computer keyboards in hopes of scoring a passing grade.

Fellow students made a banner and posters lined the corridors, all expressing words of encouragement from their peers and staff.

Durae White, a 2011 graduate, visited campus and talked with Principal Belinda Jones and CEO Ken Hartsaw about his plans for the future. The young man continues working in the hospitality industry while planning to attend firefighting school in the fall.

Kevin Neal, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Workforce Central Florida, and Joyce Hinton, director of programs at the job development organization, visited Workforce Advantage Academy and met with school leaders to learn more about the academy and to explore potential partnership opportunities.

In addition to matching people looking for work with available jobs and helping employers find people with the skills they need, Workforce Central Florida offers a summer youth program and is about to embark on another youth internship program, called Project CoNEXTion. The organization has established a youth committee, which serves as an advisory body to the board of directors.