Acceleration Academies_Spring2023_Pathways Magazine

class notes
Bethel, WA
In the first quarter of 2023, graduation candidates
from Bethel Acceleration Academies
powered up our mentorship program with
Spanaway Elementary School. This year we
have 8 GCs who visit the school weekly and
are paired with 1-4 younger students to talk,
laugh and learn. This has been a great opportunity
for our GCs to build leadership skills and
serve the community.
— Alison Roseboro, Director
Wichita, KS
GCs at Wichita Acceleration Academies now
have regular opportunities to access experts
from the Workforce Alliance of South Central
Kansas. On Workforce Wednesdays, case managers
from the Alliance hold office hours on our
campus to help GCs get connected with employers,
build resumes, and hone other career skills.
These opportunities are a critical component in
preparing our GCs for their life after graduation.
— Chris Turner, Director
Gwinnett County, GA
Educators and learners moved into Gwinnett
County Acceleration Academies’ new, permanent
site during the first quarter. The move
created bigger and better learning spaces, more
opportunity for mentoring by content coaches
and graduation candidate advocates and a more
rewarding GC experience.
— Hashima Carothers, Interim Director
Ector County, TX
Educators and GCs were excited to move into
our new, more spacious permanent site on the
second floor of the Prosperity Bank building
in downtown Odessa, Texas. Graduation
candidates will benefit from a larger learning
space and more places to study quietly or gather
in small groups as they work toward earning
their high school diplomas.
— Jennifer Lawson, Interim Director
Clark County, NV
CCAA is off to a roaring start in 2023 with
enrollment climbing to over 1,400 students
and our graduating class for June expected to
be 182, our biggest ever. GCs have completed
more than 3,400 courses already this year, and
many participate in a monthly CTE speaker
series with experts in cybersecurity and the
tech industry coming to speak to students about
post-secondary opportunities. A cohort of
Clark GCs has earned their Google Analytics
certifications through our partnership with the
Nevada Help Desk. Another group interested
in health careers recently spent a day jobshadowing
at a local hospital.
— Wendy Thompson, Director
Miami-Dade County, FL
In January, we celebrated 51 graduates. All
came from different backgrounds, experiences
and communities throughout Miami-Dade
County — and each had worked diligently
to arrive at this pivotal moment. Having Dr.
Steve Gallon, MDCPS Board Member, as our
commencement speaker put icing on the cake.
Thanks to our partnership with Miami Lakes
Technical College, grads learned first-hand
about their career and technical programs. Several
of our graduates have progressed to community
college, trade schools, military or their
chosen careers. — Marcus Moore, Director