Ten Reasons Why You Should Start a Career Academy in Your High School

Reason number one is that your school has overstrategies that increase teacher job satisfaction
a student population of one thousand students.and effectiveness. Teaching can be a lonely
Students tend to be safer and more engaged ifprofession when a teacher closes the classroom
they are in a smaller group within a big high school.door. Most teachers love being part of a team
Your school wants to connect the rigor ofand sharing ideas and strategies with other
college-prep courses with the relevancy of theteachers.
"real" world is the second reason. If the "real"Reason number seven is that your school wants
world context is embedded in the classroom,to build a sense of belonging and well-being among
students are motivated to learn.its students. Think of the career academy as a
Reason three includes that your school wants togang - except this is a positive gang. Why do
consider high school reform efforts that arestudents join a gang? The answer is to belong
inclusive of all students including high achievers andand be accepted.
those at-risk for failure. Schools should not beYour school wants to find proactive ways to
tracking students. All students are smart in somedecrease discipline problems and prevent violence
way, so teachers need to help students figure outis number eight. Again, students who feel
how they are smart and can succeed with thewelcome and accepted don't need to cause
"smarts" they have.discipline problems to be noticed.
The fourth reason is that your school wants toNine is that your school wants to challenge
find proven methods of increasing attendance andstudents to perform at their full potential. Because
graduation rates. Academies support students andcareer academies are a school within a school,
make them feel welcome and valued. Of course,teachers know each individual student and can
students who feel wanted stay in school.challenge students to a higher level of
Your school wants to build partnerships amongachievement.
educators, employers, parents, and communityNumber ten and lastly is that you want to do all
leaders is number five. Most business leaders don'tthat you can to prepare your students to
know to "get their arms around" a high school,succeed in the workplace and to assume roles of
but, these same leaders know how to connectresponsible citizenship. Teachers in a career
with a health academy or an engineeringacademy generally have more autonomy and can
academy.accomplish more than the regular high school
Sixth is that your school wants to implementteacher or counselor or administrator.