Career Academy Toolkit

It has finally arrived! NCAC is proud to announce the Career Academy Toolkit, a 130 page softbound book that pleasantly guides one through the development and operation of a career academy or small learning community.

The book’s rather lengthy, but fun, subtitle aptly describes the text’s format: “A Think It Through, Get It Going, Make It Happen Planning Guide for Career Academies and Other Types of High School Small Learning Communities.” Its utility is not limited to newcomers. In a purposeful manner Sandy and co-author Diane Lindsey Reeves direct their readers through the meaningful assessment and team-building stages before developing an action plan and timeline. The teacher in her stresses the rights and wrongs of integrated curriculum and course sequencing, but it’s her experience with actually starting over 20 academies and working with private business partners that shines through with the chapter that links the reader to the real world. The results of the effort are two-fold: a completed Toolkit Portfolio for your school and “Students who want to come to school, teachers who want to teach, communities, colleges, and employers who reap the benefits of well-prepared graduates ready to take on the world.”

The final section is complete with all the tools one needs to administer and evaluate the program. Included are sample forms, letters, marketing materials and other written items already prepared and ready for use, not to mention a plethora of other resources any career academy team can utilize.

The book is available through Bright Futures Press; 1425 at Chelton Oaks Place; Raleigh, NC 27614 and by calling 919/841-0594 (fax: 919/844-5415) or at www.careerideasforkids.com. Each copy of the Toolkit is $45.00 plus $4.95 for shipping. (Bulk discounts are available). Extra sets of the accompanying Toolkit Portfolio Assignments, essential planning tools for every person on your planning team, are available in bundles of 5 for $15.00.

NCAC is pleased that Sandy and Diane will be offering the Workshop again in several locations throughout the country during the coming months. For further information, contact NCAC at either 215-546-7084 or 661-900-7822.