DCAE April Newsletter 2024

STUDENT HIGHLIGHT

Teen is turning heads in machining at Polk State Corporate College

Submitted by Polk State College

Aliza Khan could literally go to the moon. At least that’s what James Gibbons, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Instructor at Polk State Corporate College,

believes. Currently in the CNC Machining Program at Polk State, Khan, 18, has been turning heads since the day she arrived.

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The machines we work with are very large and can be intimidating and she’s not intimidated in the slightest. Her understanding of our cartesian coordinate movement as well as the radials just came instantly. Watching her smile while she does this is really a treat.

James Gibbons

With parents from Guyana, Khan is a firstgeneration American. She first took an interest in engineering and machining as a Polk State dual enrollment student at Lake Wales High School. She already has Engineering Technology Support Specialist, Manufacturing Skills Standard Council (MSSC), and SolidWorks certifications from Polk State.

Polk State’s CNC Machining Program has a proven track record for success with a job-placement rate greater than 90%. It’s not uncommon for graduates to finish on a Friday and begin their new career the following Monday.

During my high school career, I got a passion for CNC courses. Once I got into this program, I learned the mechanical part of it. CNC machining is all about programming and letting the machine do the work. Learning the manual side is so much more hands-on. I love getting to know what’s going on and the logical reason why.

Aliza Khan

Once Khan completes the CNC Machining Program, she plans on enrolling in CNC Programming at Polk State. It allows students to become certified CNC programmers following completion of the eight-week session.

Despite graduating from Lake Wales High School in May of 2023, she is only 13 credits from earning her Associate in Science in Engineering Technology from Polk State and holds a stellar 3.9 gradepoint average.

After earning two CNC certifications and her associate degree from Polk State, Khan plans to enter the workforce before continuing her education. She has her eyes set on Rochester Institute of Technology as a potential destination to complete her bachelor’s degree.

XELLO HIGHLIGHT

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ADULT EDUCATION HIGHLIGHT

Learning English is so important!

Submitted by Chuck Shaw Technical Education Center

Hanane Raiss is an ESOL student at Chuck Shaw Technical Education Center (CSTEC) and had this to say about her experience:

As my family and I settled in America from Morocco, Egypt, it was important to learn English. We realized we were gravitating to people of our own culture and not speaking much English after my husband’s experience with going to the grocery store. My sister-in-law helped my husband to learn and say “eggs.” He was determined to excel at the task of going to the store and purchasing “eggs.” He practiced and practiced saying the word “eggs” over and over. He went to the store with confidence that he would be successful with his task.

Once in the store, his nerves took over and he forgot the word. The store employee noticed the angst upon my husband’s face and asked how she could help. Not able to speak any English, my husband quickly came up with an idea - he would do the motions of a chicken!

Immediately he started to flap his arms and say “cluck.” After the store clerk stopped

laughing, she brought him - chicken and eggs!

We laugh about this all the time, but it is important to learn English, not only to understand but to be understood.

This is why I love being a student at CSTEC. My instructor makes learning fun, and she embraces all of my classmates’ cultures. We have students from Haiti, Venezuela, Italy and the Philippines. It’s our own little culture in the classroom. Thank you to Adult Education for the knowledge, skills and lifelong learning.

Broward County Aviation Day

By Broward County Public Schools

On December 1, 2023, the skies over Miramar were buzzing with excitement as aviation professionals and Broward County Public School students gathered for the Aviation Day Expo. The city of Miramar hosted this event to expose students to the possibilities within the world of aviation.

A total of 41 schools from the region participated, bringing together over 1500 students eager to explore the captivating realm of flight. This event provided a platform for students to interact with seasoned pilots, fostering a bridge between the present and the future of aerospace.

The Aviation Day Expo went beyond theory, offering hands-on experiences through cutting-edge flight simulation booths. Students had the chance to step into the shoes of a pilot, navigating through virtual skies.

We feel optimistic about the future of aviation, knowing that the seeds of passion and curiosity planted at the expo will continue to grow as more schools offer aviation programs across middle and high schools.

CyberFlorida Hosts Statewide Cyber Competition for High Schoolers

Submitted by CyberFlorida

On March 1 Cyber Florida hosted the state’s first, and nation’s largest, statewide high school cyber competition. Approximately 900 students and 130 teachers from 90 schools across 43 Florida school districts attended. The event included an exhibit hall and breakout sessions to introduce students to the potential of a career in cybersecurity. More than 160 industry partners supported the event, including reps from Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Armed Forces, Google, Dell, Intel, Threatlocker, Lenovo, LG, CDW, AT&T, Palo Alto, Splunk, Charter Communications, Siemens and more.

One Google representative in attendance said: “The event was well planned out and delivered quality experiential learnings for nearly 1,000 students across the State of Florida. I was particularly impressed with the hands-on activities and the opportunity for students to interact with industry professionals. I believe that events like CyberLaunch are essential for inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. By providing students with

hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn from industry experts and educators, we can help them develop the skills they need to succeed in this field.”

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This was an incredible event and an exciting way to engage students in hands-on learning in cybersecurity. This highlights the importance of connecting our CTE programs with industry and community partners, and making instruction challenging and relevant.

Jereme Monette CTE Cybersecurity Program Specialist, Cyber Florida

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For support starting or growing a cybersecurity program, or questions about joining CyberLaunch in 2025, email jmonette@usf.edu.

Preparing Florida Students with Disabilities for Brighter Futures

For nearly 30 years, The Able Trust’s High School High Tech program has facilitated opportunities for Florida students with disabilities to reach greater success after high school. From postsecondary education and training pathways to hands-on career exploration experiences, students in High School High Tech have access to outstanding resources that help them achieve personal and economic independence following graduation.

High School High Tech serves students with all types of disabilities, introducing them to in-demand career pathways through a wide range of activities. With 45 sites throughout Florida and more sites in development, High School High Tech seeks to fulfill three key goals:

• Improve students’ participation in education, vocational and employmentrelated activities;

• Increase high school graduation rates; and

• Increase enrollment in postsecondary education & training.

High School High Tech is a vital resource for students like Damian Smith, a senior at Windermere High School who has participated in the program for the past two years. Smith contributed to Orange County’s state championship-winning team in the annual Project Venture entrepreneurship competition for High School High Tech students. Earlier this year, he was named one of three members of the inaugural class of High School High Tech Ambassadors.

Smith’s excellence as a leader in his school’s High School High Tech program has set him up for success well beyond graduation. He earned a CompTIA Information Technology Fundamentals Certificate while completing his high school coursework and maintaining a parttime job. Smith has already been accepted to the Savannah College of Art and Design, and has also applied to Polytechnic University with the intent of studying computer engineering.

Smith credits much of his success to his time in the program: “High School

FLORIDA RECOGNIZES FEBRUARY AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH

Tallahassee, Fla., February 19, 2024 – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. recognize February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, celebrating Florida’s leading role in providing practical education opportunities throughout the state.

As a result of Governor DeSantis’ policies to support workforce education, Florida currently has nearly 800,000 K-12 CTE students, more than 412,000 postsecondary CTE students and over 20,000 registered apprentices, resulting in over 5 million students engaged in CTE coursework since 2018-2019.

Read the press release >>

ICYMI: GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ANNOUNCES $25 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

Tallahassee, Fla., December 13, 2023 – Governor Ron DeSantis announced an investment of nearly $25 million from the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program to either create or expand 19 programs dedicated to strengthening workforce development across Florida. The initiative underscores Florida’s dedication to equipping students statewide with the essential skills required for success in high-demand occupations.

Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant funding provides Florida students with opportunities for hands-on educational experiences in a broad range of career and technical education programs such as automotive maintenance and light repair, digital video and technology, allied health assisting, criminal justice operations, entrepreneurship, emergency medical responder and many more.

Read the press release >>

UPCOMING EVENTS

FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM MONTH IS APRIL 2024

The Florida College System (FCS) is the primary access point to higher education for Floridians, including recent high school graduates and returning adult students.

NATIONAL LINEMAN APPRECIATION DAY IS APRIL 18

National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th honors the men and women who work around the clock to keep the power going.

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY IS APRIL 24

Administrative Professionals Day highlights the important role of administrative professionals in all sectors of the modern economy worldwide.

NATIONAL SKILLED TRADES DAY IS MAY 1

CTE programs are designed to provide a wide range of career pathways and help students develop skillsets that offer a variety of opportunities.

NATIONAL STUDENT NURSE DAY IS MAY 8

National Student Nurse Day takes part in National Nurses Week on May 8th. The day honors student nurses as they pursue a career in medicine.

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY IS MAY 12

International Nurses Day is set aside to honor and note the many contributions nurses make to society.

NATIONAL EMS WEEK IS MAY 19-23

National EMS week honors the contributions of those who work on the medical front line. This year, it’s celebrated from May 19 to May 23.

AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN DAY IS MAY 24

On May 24th, Aviation Maintenance Technician Day honors the men and women who have worked behind the scenes making and keeping aviation possible.