Career Academies
- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Academy
- Business Management and Administration Academy
- Government and Public Administration Academy
- Human Services Academy
- Work Based Learning- Co-Op
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Academy
General Agriscience Pathway
This program is designed to deliver a variety of agricultural disciplines which will provide students a general understanding of the scope of agriculture as it relates to the following areas: animal science, plant science, food science, forestry and wildlife sciences, agricultural construction and agricultural mechanics.
Program Courses
- Fundamentals of Agriscience
- Intermediate Agriscience
- Advanced Agriscience
- Applied Agricultural Mechanics
- CTE Lab in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Industry Recognized Credentials
Students enrolled in the General Agriscience program may earn one or more of the following industry credentials:
- Forestry Worker
- Landscape Design & Plant Materials
- Turfgrass Management
- Specialty Crops
- Landscape Management
- Beef Quality Assurance
Career Technical Student Organizations
Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Horticulture students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national FFA. FFA was established in 1928 and currently has 653,359 members throughout the U.S.
Students who join FFA will have the opportunity to participate in various competitive events at local, state, and national levels, as well as, participate in leadership development conferences, and service learning projects.
The FFA mission is to: make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
The FFA motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
Contact Us
Brandon Broughton
Agriscience Instructor
bbroughton@mcssk12.org
256.851.3270
Business Management and Administration Academy
Business Management Pathway
The Business Management and Administration Career Cluster focuses on careers in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.
Program Courses
- Advanced Business Technology Applications
- Multimedia Publications
- Multimedia Design
- Law in Society
- CTE Lab in Business Management
Industry Recognized Credentials
Students enrolled in the Business Management program may earn one or more of the following industry credentials:
- A*S*K Institute Fundamentals of Business Concepts
- A*S*K Institute Concepts of Entrepreneurship and Management
- Adobe Certified Associate - Photoshop
- Microsoft Office - Excel Expert
- Microsoft Office - Word Expert
- Microsoft Office - Specialist
Career Technical Student Organizations
Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Horticulture students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national FBLA. FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.
FBLA-PBL’s programs focus on:
- Leadership Development—members develop essential soft skills by holding chapter officer positions at the local, state, and national levels; by networking with accomplished business professionals; and by participating in business-focused workshops, seminars, and academic competitions.
- Academic Competitions—members demonstrate their business expertise at high-profile regional, state, and national competitive events. The top students are recognized with trophies and cash awards. Learn more about FBLA competitive events.
- Educational Programs—members create career portfolios, enhance their knowledge with world-recognized skills certifications, and have access to select college scholarships.
- Membership Benefits—members receive exclusive discounts and enhanced benefits for travel, education, and more.
- Community Service—members work with the March of Dimes to help end premature births by participating in awareness campaigns and the March for Babies fundraiser.
- Awards & Recognition—members build a portfolio of accomplishments with a wide range of awards programs.
- FBLA
Contact Us
Greg Martin
Business Instructor
Email: gsmartin@mcssk12.org
Phone: 256.851.3270
Government and Public Administration Academy
Army JROTC Pathway
The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. In 1964, Congress expanded the program to all military services and changed from active duty to shared support from the services and schools. As congressionally mandated by Title 10 United States Code, Section 2031, each military service must have a JROTC program to "instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment." JROTC’s mission, "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens", is the guide post for the program’s success.
Curriculum
The JROTC curriculum, which fully or partially addresses a number of national academic standards - to include Common Core State Standards (CCSS) - includes coursework on leadership, civics, geography and global awareness, health, and wellness, language arts, life skills, and U.S. history. The curriculum is based on the principles of performance-based, learner-centered education and promotes the development of core abilities: capacity for life-long learning, communication, responsibility for actions and choices, good citizenship, respectful treatment of others, and critical thinking techniques.
More important than "what" is learned in JROTC is "how" it is learned. Every classroom is equipped with leading edge technologies to teach, assess, and report student progress. Teachers are trained to utilize a range of technologies and develop social/emotional skills, support academic content through gaming and simulations, and promote the role of social media. Thus, students engage in meaningful, purposeful activities that lead them to demonstrate success through a portfolio of accomplishments.
Credentials
- Students have the opportunity to earn an Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Leadership Certificate.
- Cadets accepted for enlistment, who provide evidence of successful completion of at least 3 years of Army JROTC are entitled to advanced promotion to pay grade E-2 upon initial enlistment in an active or reserve component of the United States Army.
Contact Us
Brian Maijala
Commanding Officer
bmaijala@mcssk12.org
256.851.3370
Human Services Academy
Food, Wellness, and Dietetics Pathway
This program is for students who are interested in pursuing careers in nutrition, wellness, and health and disease prevention. Courses provide students with knowledge in event planning; photographic styling applications; social media and digital design techniques; developing and adapting food products for marketing and specific nutrition needs; meal planning; food safety; and the scientific investigation of production, processing, preparation, evaluation, and utilization of food.
Program Courses
- Family & Consumer Sciences
- Event Planning
- Food and Nutrition
- Sports Nutrition
- Parenting
- Child Development
- CTE Lab in Human Services
Industry Recognized Credentials
Students enrolled in the Food, Wellness, & Dietetics program may earn the following industry credentials:
ServSafe - Manager
Career Technical Student Organizations
Career Technical Student Organizations are a critical component of all career technical education programs. Hospitality students will be afforded the opportunity to join local, state, and national FCCLA.
The mission of FCCLA is to promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through: character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.
Students who join FCCLA will have the opportunity to participate in various competitive events at local, state, and national levels, as well as, participate in leadership development conferences, and service learning projects.
Contact Us
Shirley Wharton
Wellness & Dietetics Instructor
Email: swharton@mcssk12.org
Phone: 256.851.3270
Work Based Learning- Co-Op
Cooperative Education / Internships
Work-Based Learning (WBL)is a major component of career and technical education. Students are afforded an opportunity to earn high school credit while participating in a work-based learning experience. Students may participate in WBL in the 11th and 12th grades and may earn up to eight high school credits.
Types of Work Based Learning
- Cooperative Education – Paid Work Experience
- Internships – Unpaid Work Experience
Benefits
Students benefit from work-based learning through:
- application of classroom learning (both academic and technical) in real-world setting
- establishment of a clear connection between school and work
- assessment of their interests, aptitudes, and abilities while learning about the career possibilities available to them
- improvement of their post graduation employment opportunities
- development and practice of positive work-related habits and attitudes including the ability to think critically, solve problems, work in teams, and resolve issues
- assessment and understanding of the expectations of the workplace
- establishment of professional contacts for future employment
- expansion and refinement of their technical skills
- participation in authentic, job-related tasks
- observation of the demeanor and procedures of workplace professionals
- awareness of postsecondary education opportunities
Contact Us
Demaris Jenkins-Hale
WBL Coordinator
djenkinshale@mcssk12.org
256-509-8235