Microsoft Official Academic Course

Dunbar High School Academy for Technology Excellence was selected as 1 of the top 15 programs in the Nation to receive T.H.E. Journal’s 2006 Innovator Award.

Jana Hambruch, of the School District of Lee County, launched the Academy for Technology Excellence (ATE) at Dunbar High School with a $3.3 million Magnet School Assistance Program grant from the US Department of Education. The ATE program includes technology training and experience for high school students leading to professional certifications and IT careers. Hambruch said, “Students are receiving over $20,000 worth of computer training and could have an earning potential ranging from $35,000-$50,000 annually. We are gearing up the 21st century student for a successful future.”

Jana Hambruch is Project Director for the Office of Zone and Attractor Programs and the Academy for Technology Excellence. Hambruch designed the ATE to give an authentic business training experience to students within the structure of a high school program. It is a lab based setting that has been modernized to include LCD projectors, Smart Boards, custom computer desks, ergonomic chairs, high-end computers with removable hard drives, and LCD flat-screen monitors. The academy utilizes Virtual PC virtualization technology and Dell PowerEdge servers. Much of design mimics many of today’s college level labs used for IT instruction.

The ATE program offers 9th-12th grade high school’s students hands-on instruction taught by fully certified instructors. Certified Academy teachers prepare students for the workforce by incorporating a highly technical curriculum with the opportunity to receive a variety of industry standard certifications. Many students are obtaining part-time employment with a starting range from $10-$18/hour. Ian Culp, an 11th grade ATE student who has earned over 6 certifications to date, said, “I am impressed by the awesome teachers. I came to this school to earn the professional certifications because I am interested in a job in networking. Because of the experiences received in the Academy, the world is at my doorstep.” In fact, in the Academy for Technology Excellence, students can acquire up to 12 IT certifications during high school. The certification track includes: A+ Hardware and Operating Systems, Network+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), and the Microsoft Office Specialist certifications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access).

As an important part of the program the Academy for Technology Excellence is working with leaders in the business community. We have established our own Business Advisory Committee. We have established goals and developed a mission statement. The Business Advisory Committee goals are to help analyze the trends in technology and help us make curriculum decisions that will benefit our students by making them a more marketable workforce. The committee’s purpose is to create awareness, facilitate growth and solicit support for the Academy for Technology Excellence program. Plus, it will provide a venue for local businesses to create a common network. Currently, we have over 15 community businesses involved. In fact, many of them have shared their knowledge and experience with our students as quality guest speakers. Dan Schofield, an 11th grade ATE student who has earned over 9 certifications to date, said, “The Academy has changed the way I think about school. The Academy adds real world experiences as opposed to bookwork. I am able to use technology to my advantage and don’t have to call a pro every time my computer dies.” Audria Fischer, a 10th grade ATE student who has earned over 3 certifications to date stated. “The Academy courses definitely, make me feel more grown-up.” Naomi Wiseman, a 10th grader who has 3 certifications to date said, “I never thought that school could offer me a course with something I’m really passionate about. I always thought my interests were outside of school, but because of the Academy I know that isn’t true anymore.”

Seniors in the ATE are given their own laptops to use for their senior year. This enables students to practice the advanced technology skills at home. Plus, its purpose is to allow them to investigate and troubleshoot technology issues ranging from regular desktop issues to the wireless technology integration as a part of the standard Academy curriculum.

The Academy for Technology Excellence offers honors weights and dual enrollment credit and meets the requirements for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship. Danny Bell, a 10th grade ATE student who has earned over 3 certifications to date has determined that between the ATE courses and the Center for Math and Science courses he is taking for dual enrollment credit, he could have his AA college degree by the time he graduates high school . Danny Bell along with Jacob Osterhout were the recipients of the CompTIA IT Merit Scholarship for 2006, which can be used to further their technology education. Marvin Coney a 9th grader who has earned one certification to date said, “The experiences I am receiving in the Academy will give me a good job and allow me to do something with my life. It has changed the way I think about school. It has motivated me even more.” Evan Richardson a 9th grader who has earned over 3 certifications to date said, “I chose the Academy because I have a great amount of interest in computers and how they function. I think that I will have a high paying job and a successful future because of the Academy. I am impressed with the organization and effort put forth by the teachers. It helps me look forward to learning more and having fun doing it.”

Of the 100 students enrolled in the program last year, 59 earned at least one IT certification. 30 of those 59 students earned two or more certifications. The school’s most prolific student, Sam Williams earned six technology certifications in one year.

The ATE continues to grow. Our current enrollment is approximately 110 students. We have almost matched the certification achievements of last year and we are only halfway through the year. This year 77 certifications have been earned in the first semester and over 58 of those students have passed at least one IT certification in one semester. Approximately, 14 have earned two or more IT certifications in one semester. This semester alone, senior Patrick Green has earned over 7 certifications. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator and is working on becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, a certification he hopes to achieve before he graduates. Patrick said, “I chose to stay in the Academy for Technology Excellence for the certifications. Now, I believe I will have a chance for a better job. The technology tools have benefited me by providing experiences with using them. I am interested in an internship with a technology related company.”

The ATE is a member of the Microsoft IT Academy and offers curriculum leading to both Information Worker and IT Professional certifications, specifically Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician, and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator. The Academy utilizes Microsoft Official Academic Curriculum to facilitate student learning the Microsoft curriculum. The Academy instructors plan, with the support of the Microsoft IT Academy, to migrate to Windows Vista and to Office 2007 in the next year’s curriculum. Dunbar High School has a certified testing lab for IT certifications through Pearson Vue. The ATE pays for testing vouchers so that students can have the opportunity to take a certification test without worrying about how they will pay for it. We currently have students take CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft and Certiport industry produced tests for certification.