Career Academies @ work in Pasco County

May 6, 2013

James Kelly, a student at Zephyrhills High School is proof that industry certifications help get you hired. Did you know? Web Design, Digital Design and IT students at Zephyrhills High School are getting certified in Adobe and Microsoft Office? It's true! James Kelly, used his industry certifications to obtain a job as a certified technician at Staples. Last year, in the website design classes at Zephyrhills High, James acquired certifications in Adobe Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, and Photoshop earning him the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) credential. He also became a certified Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) by passing the exams for various software components through the Introduction to Information Technology course at Zephyrhills High School. His managers at Staples were impressed when he told them about his certifications and were a main factor in their hiring decision. James’s certifications and his experiences in the business program at school influenced his decision on the selection of a career path. He will be attending the University of South Florida in the fall and will be majoring in Management Information Systems at the College of Business. Has your organization taken the step to get involved with a career academy? If not, it is a great opportunity to train the future workforce and find future employees like James Kelley, to work for your company. Contact Rob Aguis Director of the Office for Career and Technical Education for Pasco County Schools: (727) 774-2200 or (813) 794-2200.