FROM THE VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
By Linda Cuthbert , Volusia County School Board Chair
As we focus on health and wellness this month , I want to take this opportunity to tell you about Volusia County Schools ’ health science academies and programs .
As an English teacher at New Smyrna Beach High School in the 1990s , I was part of a team that created programs to connect students to possible future careers through cooperative learning and inter-curricular lessons . Those early initiatives evolved into the high school programs / academies now offered by our Department of Career & Technical Education ( CTE ), which provides rigorous instruction to prepare students for high-wage , high-skill , high-demand careers or postsecondary opportunities .
Seventeen different career clusters offer bridges to secondary and postsecondary curriculum provide students an opportunity to earn industry certification opportunities , reinforce core academics , deliver the skills necessary for cutting-edge , economically viable career options , and offer an opportunity to earn industry certification . These work-based learning options , handson learning opportunities , school-based enterprises , and Career & Technical student organizations are key components of CTE .
Students explore career ideas in middle school , and then a variety of CTE programs / academies are offered at each of Volusia ’ s 10 high schools . A good overview of what ’ s provided is online at www . vcsedu . org / cte .
These specialized programs / academies help students discover what they professionally want to do with their lives , while establishing for students the relevance of their courses to their professional careers and personal lives . It ’ s so important for students to think not only about today but also about tomorrow . CTE is the conduit that makes this occur .
Some of our most popular programs / academies relate to healthcare , a career field which is in high demand . VCS offers health science programs in Allied Health Assisting , Biomedical Sciences and Exercise Science as well as Emergency Medical Responder and Nursing Assistant programs . Many of our graduates go on to college completing successful careers in healthcare .
AdventHealth , our business partner for health science programs , provides equipment , staff , scholarships and other relevant resources , including work-based learning opportunities including field trips , professional healthcare speakers , internships , career fairs and options for employment after graduation .
Students have the opportunity to earn industry certifications relevant to their programs of study , such as Certified Medical Administrative Assistant ( CMAA ), Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam ( BASE ), Certified Nursing Assistant ( CNA ), Certified EKG Technician ( CET ) and Certified Patient Care Technician ( CPCT ). The list is reviewed annually as other industry certifications are added to the Florida Department of Education list . We work closely with AdventHealth to determine which certifications meet local employment needs . Through this five-year , $ 2 million partnership , AdventHealth is the Official Healthcare Champion of Volusia County Schools .
During the first year , AdventHealth provided certified athletic trainers to work with our school trainers , as well as training for coaches and athletic trainers . The following year , AdventHealth introduced VCS athletics to their Concussion Program , which included testing services and training . Last fall , the partnership supplied all ten Volusia high schools with three additional Automated External Defibrillators ( AEDs ) for emergency use . And , this summer , the partnership began offering cardiac screenings for student-athletes as part of their annual free sports physicals , which will be a requirement for all athletes next year . We look forward to what ’ s possible during the next two years of our partnership .
This past spring , AdventHealth was named Volusia County Schools ’ Business Partner of the Year for major partnerships . In addition to being a significant part of our health sciences programs , AdventHealth provides services and resources for student-athlete health and to address chronic student absenteeism .
As we ’ ve all discovered during the pandemic , quality healthcare is essential to living a full , happy and healthy life . We are fortunate to have such an excellent business partner for our health sciences academies / programs , and we will continue to offer our students strong , relevant programs as they prepare for college and careers .
At this mid-point in the summer , I wish everyone continued good health and time for fun and relaxation . School starts Monday , August 16 – we ’ ll see you then !
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