Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Mark Williams- Akron Public Schools (APS) announced today its partnership between Firestone Community Learning Center (CLC) and Kent State University. The partnership is part of the growing community of businesses engaging in the new College & Career Academies of Akron for APS high schools.
APS Superintendent David W. James said at today's announcement, "Akron Public Schools is transforming high school education to provide all students with the opportunity to explore their world in greater depth. We know this will afford them better preparation for what comes after graduation." James added, "This can only be accomplished through the power of community partnerships. We are grateful to Kent State University for being one of our first partners to come forward and say, 'we want to help.'"
Kent State will offer instructional support and real-world learning opportunities in areas of visual and performing arts, interior design, fashion, film, aeronautics, visual and communications design, and architecture and environmental design.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to integrate the high school experience with expertise of a college," said Rachel Tecca, director of College & Career Academies of Akron. "The strengths of Kent State University align perfectly with the pathways the Firestone community designed and chose for its students."
"We knew immediately that these areas aligned with the top programs and expertise that we are putting into action every day on our Kent Campus," Kent State President Beverly J. Warren said. "This is truly a perfect pairing. I know it will be a fruitful partnership, not only because of what we can provide Firestone students but also for what our students and staff will gain from collaborating with this state-of-the-art learning center."
Last May, APS was designated a Ford Next Generation Learning Community, joining a national network supported by the Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company that is transforming public high schools into career-themed academies to better prepare students for college and professional success in today's competitive global economy.
Districts in the Ford NGL network have been shown to increase student achievement and engagement both at the high school and post-secondary levels and develop more robust ties between local educators and employers, generating a stronger talent-development pipeline for high-demand jobs and overall community prosperity.
"This is an ambitious project that will strengthen our schools, families and the very future of our students for generations to come," James said. "We are grateful for the commitment from Kent State University to be part of College & Career Academies of Akron."
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Mark Williamson
Director
Marketing Communications
[email protected]