NEWS & UPDATES
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Signing the Future: How Freshman Commitment Ceremonies Bridge High School and Career Success
The Freshman Commitment to Graduate Ceremony establishes the foundation of a promise for every student in the Academies of Louisville. This pivotal event, held across all high schools implementing the Academy model, formally marks the start of a student’s career journey, serving as a public declaration of their commitment to high school graduation and the pursuit of a successful pathway beyond. The ceremonies at Eastern High School and Shawnee High School recently featured two compelling speakers whose personal stories connected commitment, perseverance, and identity directly to the path that lies ahead for these freshmen.
Innovation Takes the Lead: Ford and the Academies of Louisville Build the Future Workforce
"We don’t have enough skilled trades people. We don’t have enough of the right people for the skills we need for the future," noted Ford Motor Company employee Ed Combs at the recent Ford-JCPS Sprint finale. In an era when industry leaders acknowledge the urgent skills gap, this three-month intensive challenge put Academies of Louisville engineering students in direct consultation with top Ford professionals, proving that the next generation of industrial problem-solvers is already here.
Investing in Local: How Lantech and J-Town Are Keeping Talent in the Community
Lantech, a Louisville-based manufacturing company in Jeffersontown (J-Town), understands the core “why” of Academies partnerships: deep commitment to investment and talent development, not just hiring. Nine years after the partnership’s genesis, Lantech continues to see the dividends of its investment in a work-ready pipeline that is choosing to stay not just in Louisville but in Jeffersontown.
Framing the Future: How Valley High’s BAM Pathway Lays the Foundation for Lucrative Careers
In an era where the demand for skilled trades professionals continues to rise, Valley High School is building a solution. The school's innovative Building and Maintenance (BAM) Pathway offers a launchpad for students to acquire essential, hands-on skills that promise stable, debt-free careers.
From International Athlete to Superintendent: Dr. Yearwood's Trajectory to Education Leadership
For JCPS Superintendent Dr. A. Brian Yearwood, his initial path was clear: becoming a geologist in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago after an impressive run as an international athlete. However, a profound personal connection fundamentally rerouted his future—a pivotal moment he recounted to Seneca High School's Teaching & Learning students on October 28th.
Valley High MSD Students Brew Up Success with the Coffee Cart☕
The Valley High Multiple Disabilities (MSD) Program is successfully bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience, thanks to an innovative, student-run enterprise: the Coffee Cart. This powerful program is more than just a source for teachers' morning caffeine fix; it’s a vital engine for teaching life skills, professional readiness, and building confidence for the students who run it.
Scout Tarquinio: Designing a Future Through Critical Thinking and a Lens for Sports
Scout Tarquinio’s path to a professional career began not just in a classroom, but in a real-world design studio. A graduate of Atherton High School’s Graphic Design pathway, Scout secured a competitive apprenticeship with Sign-a-Rama Downtown, the key business partner for the school’s pathway. Now attending the University of Kentucky, her journey perfectly exemplifies how the Academies of Louisville model connects passionate students with hands-on, career-defining experiences that bridge high school and college.
Erik Maniriho’s Flight Plan: Leadership, Communication, and Transferable Skills
Erik Maniriho just completed his high school journey at Seneca High School, graduating as a model student of the Academies of Louisville. A testament to his growth, his senior year recently culminated in him serving as one of two student emcees at the 2025 Academies of Louisville celebration, where he personally greeted the Louisville mayor.
Investing in Our Own: Mady Searcy Is the First Teaching & Learning Graduate to Complete the Path from PRP Student to JCPS Teacher
In an era when teacher shortages challenge districts nationwide, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is implementing a long-term solution by investing in its own students through the Academies of Louisville. Nowhere is this strategy more evident than in the story of Mady Searcy, a graduate of the Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) High School Teaching and Learning Pathway, who has now returned to her roots to inspire the next generation of learners.
Every Voice Heard: GE Appliances Breaks the Mold for Career Panels and Multilingual Professionals at Doss High School
In the Academies of Louisville, our central mission is to get students out of their seats and into the real world. We believe that true learning happens through active participation, not passive listening. Yet, too often, traditional career panels fall short of this model, turning into one-way lectures that fail to truly engage students. This is why a recent event at Doss High School stood out, serving as a powerful example of what's possible when partners like GE Appliances commit to a hands-on approach.
The Face of Leadership: Student Ambassadors for the Academies of Louisville
The Student Ambassador initiative exemplifies the core mission of the Academies of Louisville by bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world career experiences. By representing their schools to the community, leading tours, and interacting with business leaders, these young leaders showcase the practical skills and confidence gained through the Academies' innovative approach.
Soaring Beyond the Classroom: How a Public-Private Partnership Is Redefining Education at the Academy at Shawnee✈️
In a city defined by its relationship to the skies, from the global logistics hub at UPS to the storied history of Bowman Field, a new educational model is taking flight. The Academy at Shawnee has partnered with Flight Club 502, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to create an innovative, immersive learning environment that takes place not in a traditional classroom, but in a hangar at Bowman Field. This unique collaboration is a bold attempt to address systemic academic challenges by offering 19 JCPS students a compelling, high-value career pathway directly linked to a Private Pilot's License.