Academies

Career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a high school that select a subset of students and teachers. Students enter the academy through a voluntary process; they must apply and be accepted with parental knowledge and support.

A career academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as a team. Staff teams, who often share common planning time, work together to implement the key features of the academy and provide students with training in the career field. Students may be grouped together for several periods every day with a core group of teachers. This promotes a family-like atmosphere and results in close student-teacher ties.

For more information, admission requirements, a current list of all career academies or to apply online, please visit the official career academy website at www.PolkAcademies.com.

Academy of Automotive Technology

Lead Teacher: Christopher Holt

Phone: (863) 499-2215Fax: (863) 499-2766

1100 Red Devil Way,Lakeland, Fl 33815

Areas of Interest: Automotive

This program enables students to jumpstart a career in the automotive industry. The Automotive Academy provides students with hands-on training in Automotive Service Technology. The academy features a full range of automotive maintenance and repair topics including:

Engine Repair
Air Conditioning Service and Repair
Tire Mounting, Rotation and Balancing
Wheel Alignment

Upon completion, students will have completed their ASE Certification tests to earn their Entry-Level Certification. This certification last for two years. Students will also complete the Florida Automobile Dealer’s Association’s certification exam. Allowing students to be prepared to enter the workforce, seek more advanced training, or go on to college to earn a degree.

Academy of Natural Resources

Lead Teacher: Daniel Cornelius and Andrea Childress

Phone: (863) 499-2215Fax: (863) 499-2766

1100 Red Devil Way,Lakeland, Fl 33815

Areas of Interest: Agriscience

Agriculture courses provide students with skills for the workplace in many different areas; including agricultural communications, agriculture mechanics, aquaculture, animal science, forestry and horticulture. Students will understand that leadership, teamwork and responsibility are all components to success. Students learn from hands-on activities, work in the classroom and also through the largest student run organization in the world, the FFA.

Central Florida Aerospace Academy

Lead Teacher: Tammy Epperson

Phone: (863) 413-3620Fax: (863) 647-4764

4141 Medulla RoadLakeland, Fl 33811

Areas of Interest: Aeronautics, Engineering

The Central Florida Aerospace Academy exists to provide a meaningful and content rich education that will inspire and motivate students at all levels. Students are challenged to reach high levels of achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in preparation for high-tech careers in the fields of aviation and aerospace. The academy will respond to the needs of industry by placing emphasis on teamwork, individual achievement, skill development, creativity, and innovation, as well as critical thinking. As students are prepared to be productive and responsible members of the workforce, the academy will instill in them an appreciation for professionalism, ethical behavior, and an awareness of global opportunities, while developing self-worth, high expectations, and a great respect among a diverse population of students and staff. Students attend high school every day at the Lakeland Regional Airport and yet have access to all of the benefits of high school (sports, clubs, etc.).

Lakeland Power Academy

Lead Teacher: Terry Thorton

Phone: (863) 499-2655Fax: (863) 499-2726

1100 Red Devil WayLakeland, FL 33815

Areas of Interest: Industrial Electric

Learn relevant skills that will prepare you for a successful career, as an Electrician, Line Worker, System Control Operator, Meter Technician, Power Plant Operator, or Engineer. Students will gain a solid understand of industrial electricity and entry-level positions through out the utility industry. Students will experience extensive job shadowing with the City of Lakeland, Lakeland Electric, and other local energy companies.

Lakeland Electric anticipates many career opportunities becoming available for students graduating from high school during the next several years due to employee retirements.

This program will help students develop the necessary technical and people skills required for employment at Lakeland Electric or for any company in the world. In addition, this Academy will provide students with an excellent foundation to compete for a variety of careers in other trades and industries, such as construction and manufacturing.

This program will also be very beneficial for students planning to move on to a four-year college or a trade school by providing technical knowledge and dual college credit enrollment while still in high school.

Distrotek

Lead Teacher: Malinda Pough

Phone: (863) 499-2215Fax: (863) 499-2766

1100 Red Devil WayLakeland, FL 33815

Areas of Interest: Distribution/Supply Chain Management, Business

Distrotek is a career academy located at Kathleen High School and sponsored by Rooms-To-Go. The program inspires students to seek positions in Management and Supervision. Rooms-To-Go is part of the warehousing & distribution industry which occupies over 22 million square feet of space in Polk County and is one of the county’s fastest growing industries. Distrotek is a step toward meeting the industry’s need for well-focused, well-qualified and well-trained supervisors and managers. Distrotek students will be challenged to reach high levels of achievement in English, writing, business computing, science and math. Students will also take a solid core of Business Management and Supervision courses which will introduce students to the activities in a distribution center and train them to build and maintain effective relationships, implement effective recycling techniques, maintain quality and safety standards, manage employees in a warehouse, set successful goals, and enforce policy.

Sports Medicine Academy

Lead Teacher: Sarah Lara

Phone: (863) 499-2655Fax: (863) 499-2726

1100 Red Devil WayLakeland, FL 33815

Areas of Interest: Medical

Athletic Training

Students will study the field of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, and will function as student assistant trainers working with interscholastic athletics. Coursework will provide a basic foundation in athletic training that will prepare students for entry into college athletic training programs.

Strength & Conditioning

Students will study the field of strength and conditioning. They will learn nutrition for athletes, how to design appropriate workouts for specific purposes, physiology and biomechanics of strength training, and strength coaching techniques. Not only will the students learn in the classroom about the professions of personal training, physical education, and strength and conditioning specialists, but our students will also have the opportunity to shadow and intern with different professionals with in the community.

Sports Management

Students will study the principles of sports management including: marketing, budgeting, sports law, and administrative principles. Coursework will provide a basic foundation to enable the students to understand the workings of the entire sports industry.