FORT LEE — Since 2005, Fort Lee High School’s Academy of Finance has offered students classroom and real-world experience in accounting, economics, banking and credit, financial planning, insurance and other facets of the business world.
Staring in 2011, it has given students a chance to mingle with local professionals and entrepreneurs at an annual Career Day.
This year, the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) is recognizing those efforts with its 28th Annual School Leader Award.
The award honors school districts that seek to improve student learning through unique and innovative programs.
A panel of judges evaluated 12 entries this year on the level of innovation, how well the programs addressed the specific needs of students, how they relate to the state’s Common Core standards and program results.
The programs had to be in place at least two full years to qualify.
Fort Lee’s Academy of Finance stood out for its group of volunteers, known as the Advisory Board, who live and work in the borough and regularly lend their business expertise to students, according to the NJSBA.
The volunteers speak in classes, help with resumes and cover letters for summer internships, prepare students for interviews, arrange special programs and act as mentors to supplement the regular curriculum.
Originally designed for juniors and seniors, the program has since expanded into a four-year “school-within-a-school” and grown from 20 students to more than 90. The class of 2014 included 17 graduates from the Academy of Finance.
To join the small learning community, which was developed under the National Academy Foundation umbrella, students must apply in eighth grade.
Those who are accepted enroll in courses like “Business in a Global Economy” and “Advanced Finance” in addition to the regular common core classes and are required to complete a 200-hour summer internship.
The four-year experience readies students for college and provides the necessary foundation for a career in business and beyond, according to the NJSBA.
Advisory Board chairperson Nancy Stern said she and the academy’s former director, Linda Farrell, were “thrilled” the Academy of Finance won the School Leader award, calling it a “great honor” and a first for the district.
“I think it lets everybody know what this program has to offer,” said Stern, adding that the exposure will hopefully motivate more students to apply and inspire other districts.
The Fort Lee school district will be presented with a plaque and recognized for its achievement at the opening day of the NJSBA’s annual conference in Atlantic City on Oct. 28. The Academy of Finance will also be featured in a future issue of NJSBA’s “School Leader,” a magazine highlighting trends in education.
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