Hillsborough County Public Schools Collaborates with Future Career Academy and Local Business Leader

Hillsborough County Public Schools Collaborates with Future Career Academy and Local Business Leaders to Help Solve the Community’s Workforce Crisis
 
Tampa, Fl. (February 21, 2023) – Hillsborough County Public Schools is proud to develop one of the largest talent pipelines in the country each year as our high school seniors graduate with the skills and knowledge to accept in-demand careers right in our own community.

Today, School Board Members and Superintendent Addison Davis, joined with community partners, including leaders from Future Career Academy (FCA), city, county, and state elected officials, local Chambers of Commerce, EDC’s, trade associations, social service organizations, and our post-secondary partners for a Call to Action – connecting the jobs that Tampa-area businesses have to offer with the multitude of committed, driven, and energetic high school seniors who are ready to get to work.  

As part of the Call to Action, Future Career Academy is seeking more local companies, elected officials, and community leaders to take part in the upcoming Future Fair Hiring events to fill their jobs with HCPS graduates. Six Future Fair Hiring events in April are open to all Hillsborough County Public Schools graduating seniors. Businesses interested in working with FCA and its academic partners should contact Yvonne Fry at yfry@workforcedevelopmentpartners.com.

“We are workforce champions here in Hillsborough County Public Schools, and want to join hands with our community partners to make sure we are filling the talent pipeline when our students graduate. District and school leaders are deeply committed to providing meaningful preparation and connections for students to in-demand, living wage, entry-level jobs with long-term career growth and sustainable employment,” said Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Addison Davis.   

Photos, video, and interviews from today’s press conference and recent FCA student events can be found at this Dropbox link https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zubjz8s7hlalee6/AADXIrEAfXFP-EK7bdV0p6wFa?dl=0  

So far this school year, 9,000 students have participated in the FCA program. Future Career Academy expanded their high school workforce program this year to cover all 32 Hillsborough County high schools and career centers. Each week, seniors in English 4 and English 4 Honors classes are immersed in workforce development curriculum. Students have also participated in panel discussions with business executives, field trips visiting local companies, all with the goal of attending the Future Fair Hiring Events and securing jobs with local companies. 

“We want to be part of the holistic lift of opportunity, economic development and creating a better quality of life and better outcomes for everybody in each community,” said Yvonne Fry, CEO and board chair of FCA. “It’s all about helping our students, their families and allowing our businesses to thrive.”

In May, schools will hold Signing Days, where students will be able to sign a Letter of Intent with their new company and their chosen career path before they even graduate high school. 

As a community, we must all work together to fill workforce gaps. This program has amassed an impressive record of matching young workers with full-time jobs that prepare them for long-term employment while boosting local companies’ workforces and giving them the personnel assets to grow. 

Existing FCA partners include TECO, The Mosaic Company, Publix, Patterson Companies, BayCare, Regions, RIPA & Associates, Tri-City Electric, Stingray Chevrolet, Hillsborough County, Hillsborough County School District, City of Plant City, City of Tampa, Star Distribution, Ace Hardware,  QGSDevelopment, 84 Lumber, FitLife Foods, CyraCom International, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough Community College, Lennar Homes, Morgan Auto Group, Ajax, Tampa General Hospital, Bausch & Lomb, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa and many others.