By Debra Wood
High-schoolers gain hands-on experience while earning educational credit hours in Workforce Advantage Academy Inc.'s innovative career program. The Orange County Public Schools charter school offers a business curriculum taught by certified teachers. Students find the career academy's small class sizes and personal attention from teachers conducive to learning.
WAA's students learn about responsibility, respect and the value of patience and persistence, while discovering the satisfaction that comes from receiving a paycheck for work well-done, achieving one's goals and learning about life.
"No matter where you have come from, people share common goals — to have a job they enjoy, a family, money to live well," said Kenneth Hartsaw Jr., founder and CEO of WAA.
"We help them achieve that. We give them choices and the tools to be successful."
Rising senior Sherise Pagan of Winter Garden processes paperwork, answers the telephone, fields customers' calls and performs other duties at Summer Bay Resorts in Clermont.
"She's always happy to learn," said Kim Duchesne, senior manager of portfolio administration at Summer Bay. "She's beginning to learn the business side and the lingo. It's so helpful to have her here."
Recent graduate Christian Ford of Ocoee learned a few things about cooking, cleaning and the joy of working as part of a team at American Pie Pizza Co. in Winter Garden. When the restaurant closed, his manager, Geoff Gaskin, not wanting to lose the talented young man, quickly offered him a position at T.G.I. Friday's in Lake Buena Vista.
"American Pie Pizza, with its family atmosphere, set the standard for what work should be," Christian said. "My new job is faster paced and different, but good. I'm learning a lot, and it's fun."
Winter Garden resident Sherise Pagan (above) and Ocoee resident Christian Ford (below) gain valuable on-the-job experience while completing their high school educations at Workforce Advantage Academy Inc.
At school, Christian boosted his grades and played on the school's Junior Magic basketball team. He also learned how to balance work and school and enjoy both.
Both Christian and Sherise appreciate the opportunity to work part time while attending school part time. They had the opportunity to earn school credit, as well as money.
WAA began six years ago with about 100 students. It has grown to serve more than 200 juniors and seniors. Its graduates have secured good-paying jobs, enrolled in college and technical schools, and entered the military. In 2009, OCPS recognized the school's accomplishments and leadership and granted WAA a 15-year extension as a charter school.
For more information about Workforce Advantage Academy Inc., call 407-898-7228 or visit www.workforceacademy.com on the Web.
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