To provide real world advice and help underserved high school students move from the classroom to the office, local AT&T employees recently presented a panel to 200-250 NAF career academy students in Birmingham City Schools.The panel took place at George Washington Carver High School for Health Professions, Engineering, & Technology, and professionals shared insight on their own personal career paths and provided guidance for students to begin developing their own plans, as well as highlighted STEM career opportunities available at AT&T.
AT&T employees addressed the fields of technology, business, finance, and IT project management along with various certifications to engage students and provide them with guidance on becoming college and career ready. A Q&A session followed the panel, and time was also allotted for students and AT&T employees to network and make one-on-one connections.
Dr. Spencer Horn, Director of Academic and Strategic Initiatives at Birmingham City Schools, said, “It has been a true privilege to invite professionals from a company with such prestige and innovation as AT&T to speak to NAF career academy students about planning for their futures. As part of a work-based learning curriculum, it is so important for young people to understand how their coursework can be applied to a professional setting and what job opportunities are available to them, while having access to a network of successful adults who have been in their position. We would like to extend our gratitude to AT&T for their participation in the panel and for preparing the next generation to truly Be Future Ready.”
“AT&T is incredibly fortunate to have participated in the NAF panel, a unique learning opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders,” stated Anje Roney, Senior Specialist-Technical Process/Quality for AT&T Alabama. “Providing our students with information on the variety of STEM careers available at AT&T and the opportunity to provide guidance on developing a career path is key to their continued success and our future.”
This event is part of NAF’s AT&T Aspire grant, the company’s signature education initiative focused on school success and career readiness. The grant is designed to engage students in learning leading to improved graduation rates and a lower drop-out rate. Students in NAF academies in Birmingham will learn from real business professionals who will provide valuable insight into the working world, helping students make connections from the classroom to the office. Career academy themes include students of Architecture/Construction Design;
Engineering; Health Sciences; Information Technology; Urban Educators; Hospitality/Tourism;
and Business/Finance.
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About NAF: NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, work-based learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2015-16 school year nearly 89,000 students attended 716 NAF academies across 36 states, including D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2015, NAF academies reported 98% of seniors graduated with 92% of graduates with post-secondary intentions. For more information, please visit: https://naf.org/