Seminole’s focus on aviation will fill an industry need
favorite part of each school week is visiting schools and classrooms to watch our students learn. One key takeaway is how much Seminole County students enjoy opportunities to participate in authentic problem-solving and collaboration activities. Whether in elementary computer science and STEM labs or secondary academic courses and career programs, our students perform at their best when engaged in real-world experiences that are linked to future education and career pathways.
We continue to update program offerings and curriculum in response to business leaders’ needs and current career trends.
Over the past two years, we have deepened our relationships with partners in the aviation community, including leadership at the Orlando-Sanford Airport. Through business visits and industry meetings, it has become clear that there is a growing demand and talent gap for a qualified aerospace and aviation work force. Many local employers are recruiting new hires for these positions from other regions. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has designated several aviation-related careers, including aircraft mechanics and service technicians, airline pilots and commercial pilots as high-demand, high-skill, high-wage occupations in Central Florida and statewide. In its Jobs 2030 report, the Florida Chamber of Commerce also identified aerospace and aviation as one of five priority industries for sustaining Florida’s future.
For many years, students at Goldsboro Elementary and Sanford Middle — both located near the Orlando Sanford International Airport — have had the opportunity to explore aviation and aerospace through innovative lessons and lab experiences. SCPS also has a dual-enrollment agreement with Embry-Riddle AeroMy nautical University, allowing students at multiple high schools to earn college credit and industry certifications in aviation courses.
We are excited to implement a new Aviation Maintenance program at Seminole High School for the 2018-19 school year. This four-year academy will empower students to pursue a focused study on air-frame and powerplant systems, providing numerous opportunities for each student to confirm whether aviation is a future education and career pathway. As with all our career programs, our long-term goal is to connect students with local businesses for internship, apprenticeship and employment opportunities. We greatly appreciate our School Board members, our local legislative delegation and our governor for making high-paying, sustainable careers a priority and securing funding to open this program.
The success of any school district’s career programs is dependent on strong partnerships with industry and high interest from students. Recently, leadership from Sanford Airport Authority, Seminole State College and Seminole County Public Schools partnered to implement an Aviation Day at the Orlando Sanford International Airport. The event was open to Seminole students in grades four through 12 and their families. More than 2,500 people attended on a cold Saturday morning last December. This was a clear sign to us that our families are highly interested in learning more about pathways to meaningful, prosperous work in the aviation industry.
We look forward to seeing the results of this expanded focus on aviation careers. We are also interested in dialogue with leaders from all industries in our business community. Together, we can ensure that all graduates of our PreK-12 public-school system are prepared for their futures in Florida’s dynamic economy.