By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

The Career Tech Academy is running smoothly and students’ interest is growing.

Students are spreading word to their peers about the program, where they can learn skills to prepare them for a career while also getting their core education.

“We want to get them ready for what their career interests are,” said Dara Norman, Director at LeCroy Career Technical Center. “A lot of our kids are not career ready. We think they’re career ready, but they’re not.”

Norman said that the program is focusing on teaching more than just a core education and trade skills. Some students learn better in a hands-on environment, and the Academy hopes to reach these students and others with a career interest by teaching how to interview, fill out resumes and perform in a work environment.

There are two instructors that lead the Academy’s four classrooms. Each certified teacher goes back and forth between two subjects. Two other assistants ensure that students are working in the teacher’s absence.

The students are on the same block system as the rest of Chilton County’s schools this year. Students are in different core classes each day. They either take their core classes in the morning and trade classes in the afternoon or vice versa.

“I’ve never had a student come to me and say ‘I don’t want to weld anymore, that’s why I’m dropping out,’” said Norman. He said that in the past students would get behind in a core class and have to drop out of their trade classes to stay in school.

Norman said his goal for the program is to have zero dropouts and to have students prepared for their careers with technical skills, a solid education and practical career knowledge.

“We’re going to find that this is going to be something that catches fire,” said Jim Shannon, a member of the Chilton County Board of Education.

Shannon said he worked with Norman and the Board of Education to tour and study similar programs throughout the Academy’s three year planning period. They saw a potential for the programs to succeed in Chilton County, but never expected the first year to elicit the response it has received.

According to Norman, more students are constantly asking to join the program. Sadly, it is too late to join, and the Academy is at full capacity. There are 87 students enrolled in the Academy at present, and there are hopes to expand LeCroy to facilitate more next year.

“We want to reach all these kids,” said Norman.