DISTINGUISHED KATHERINE BLASIK DISTINGUISHED & NAF MODEL ACADEMIES INSIDE PREPARING FOR COLLEGE BECOMING CAREER READY DEVELOPING STUDENTS AS LEADERS CREATING A CULTURE OF ACCEPTANCE AND MORE COX MILL HIGH SCHOOL 2020 Academies committed to demonstrating exceptional fidelity 2020 directly impacts the success of DISTINGUISHED NAF students. NAF’s annual Academy Assessment At a time of great uncertainty and rapid This brochure is a testament to those measures an academy’s strengths and changes in education, we are privileged academies that have gone above and challenges in implementing NAF’s to celebrate our academies who are doing beyond the guidelines and principles of results-driven educational design that an outstanding job of supporting student quality to implement and sustain improved prepares students for college and success. Thank you to our educators, outcomes for high school students. careers. The highest scores on the advisory board members, and supporters Read on to find out how this year’s assessment are Model academies. for everything you do—we commend you, Distinguished academies have united in A subset of those academies—which today and every day. our shared mission to provide the best achieve additional thresholds—are opportunities for our future leaders, as recognized as Distinguished. Once again, we are proud to call our they prepare to take next steps in college Distinguished academies, the Katherine and careers. In 2019-2020, NAF had nearly 200 Blasik Distinguished Academies, in academies reach Model quality level and honor of Katherine Blasik, NAF’s Vice We hope that you will feel inspired by the 138 reach Distinguished quality level— President of Research and Evaluation, promising practices on the pages ahead 91 of these academies have reached this who passed away last year. Under and that it sparks an “aha moment” quality level more than once and 47 are Katherine’s leadership, NAF’s continuous for you to implement for your work. new to the roster. Their commitment to improvement cycle and academy Congratulations to our 2020 Katherine quality serves as a reminder that with assessment system became what it is Blasik Distinguished and NAF Model hard work and dedication, we can deliver today —an essential measurement tool to Academies—your leadership is an the highest level of quality experiences to help academies become the strongest that inspiration to the entire network benefit our students. they can so that our students get the best and will create a ripple effect of success possible opportunities for success. and innovation. BLANCHE ELY HIGH SCHOOL FORT LEE HIGH SCHOOL Academy of Health Sciences Academy of Finance Pompano Beach, FL Fort Lee, NJ “ KINDNESS AND WORDS BEST PRACTICE: We partner and BEST PRACTICE: We operate as a team MATTER AND HELP participate with several different and have the support of an advisory board building an organizations in order to represent the that assists students with developing BETTER OUR SCHOOL academy in the areas of business and their soft skills, assisting with resume workforce development. For example, we preparation, and participating in mock NAF COMMUNITY.” have direct collaborative partnerships with interviews. Our students have had very the Museum of Discovery and Science, successful paid internships that have AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Broward even led to full-time jobs. Teachers and SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL academy’s brand Education Foundation, Jersey College, and a administration are supportive of various Academy of Engineering plethora of small businesses within Broward fundraising activities throughout the year Dallas, TX County. We also work collaboratively with that are in alignment with our strategic Junior Achievement to provide training and plan. Our enrollment has increased BEST PRACTICE: Building preparation for job employability. each year and we have also been able to relationships and developing retain students in our program longer. sustainable systems for NAF students’ recruitment, course enrollment, and BLANCHE ELY HIGH SCHOOL work-based learning experiences. Academy of Hospitality & Tourism A College/Career Series spans 3 days Pompano Beach, FL and features a college and career fair, mock interviews, and guest BEST PRACTICE: We have partnerships speakers. Our Principal, Dr. Johnson with Marriott, Hilton, Florida Lodging and and Career and Technical Educator, Restaurant Association, Pompano Beach Euranie Patin, also volunteered to Chamber of Commerce, and several local deliver congratulatory yard signs to 19 businesses. We also work collaboratively graduating NAFTrack Certified seniors with Junior Achievement to provide training to celebrate all of their hard work! and preparation for job employability. Both academies have created small groups based on student needs at our high school, and apply several techniques to scaffold their learning. Many students have a 1:1 mentor, as they learn best in a small group “ STRANAHAN HS HAS environment. They also use social media to DEVELOPED AN OUTSTANDING promote the academy and use as a vehicle to communicate with all stakeholders and CULTURE OF FAMILY AND celebrate our journey. DEDICATION TO STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL, WHICH PROVIDES A SOUND FOUNDATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NAF PRINCIPLES.” STRANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL Academy of Engineering Fort Lauderdale, FL BEST PRACTICE: Our program emphasizes the importance of intertwining practical skills, creativity, and knowledge. BLANCHE ELY HIGH SCHOOL STRANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL BARBARA GOLEMAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SUNSET HIGH SCHOOL Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Academy of Health Sciences Miami Lakes, FL Dallas, TX “ EMPOWER YOUR STUDENTS. BEST PRACTICE: Students discussed how BEST PRACTICE: The academy consistently ALLOW THEM TO FAIL, BUT MAKE the academy allows them the opportunity strives to amplify each of our student’s SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE creating a culture to relate to others and work as part of a innate abilities and interests by pushing group. The seniors described their academy them towards any opportunity, such as an LESSON AND HOW TO BE MORE experience as being part of something that internship or volunteer experience, that is real, and yet flexible enough to fit student will allow them to build self-confidence. SUCCESSFUL NEXT TIME.” interests. Common interests help bond We also collaborate with our students academy members and they also take pride to identify their individual areas for COX MILL HIGH SCHOOL of acceptance in mentoring freshmen students. improvement—public speaking is a common Academy of Information Technology one—and provide safe, but challenging Concord, NC opportunities for our students to build H. GRADY SPRUCE HIGH SCHOOL and eventually hone their skills in these BEST PRACTICE: The academy has Academy of Finance areas, developing them into strengths and amazing students and teachers Dallas, TX additional sources of self-assurance. who rise to the challenge! The administration and counselors BEST PRACTICE: Programs are fully support the academy every step of “ STUDENTS REACHING THEIR mapped out and aligned with further ZEBULON B. VANCE HIGH SCHOOL the way, from approval of experiences education and career advancement, and Academy of Engineering beyond the classroom, to making POST-SECONDARY GOALS, assessments are used to identify areas Charlotte, NC sure students are cohorted in all 4 where students need support. Supporting core subjects. The final piece to our WHETHER IT BE ENTERING motivation and consistency is an explicit BEST PRACTICE: At Vance, our students success is our advisory board! If they THE WORKFORCE, SPECIFIC instructional goal across all grade levels. come first. Our academy strives to provide cannot provide the opportunity for our students with opportunities that make them students, they find someone who can! INDUSTRY TRAINING, OR feel supported and celebrated every day! J. CHRISTIAN BOLLWAGE We have an active and dedicated team FURTHER EDUCATION, HAS Academy of Finance that directly boosts our academy work, Elizabeth, NJ including a Career Development Coordinator BECOME THE FOCUS OF OUR and a Pathway Development Coordinator. ENTIRE SYSTEM.” BEST PRACTICE: All students, teachers, Together, we are Vance tough and and staff—from the principal and academy don’t allow any circumstance to hinder “ I CAN’T THANK NAF director to the custodian—live the theme our success! NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL of business and finance in our classes, our ENOUGH FOR THE SUPPORT STEM Academy collaborations, and our work-based learning Greeley, CO opportunities. There is a spirit that comes AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY alive in this school-wide drive to inspire HAVE PROVIDED!” BEST PRACTICE: Consistent students to think beyond high school. conversations with students about their career interests and passions H.D. WOODSON STEM HIGH SCHOOL and how the system can support Academy of Engineering each of them, are keys to success. Washington, DC Our staff is persistent in asking students to continually check their BEST PRACTICE: We believe the choices against their goals. use of data and the development of strong, authentic relationships drives student success and engagement in NAF’s Academy of Engineering at H.D. Woodson. We rely on frequent communication with students and families to share successes, as well as areas for growth, in an effort to prepare our scholars for future opportunities to grow and expand their personal and professional knowledge. NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL SUNSET HIGH SCHOOL EASTERN IDAHO PROFESSIONAL NORTH MIAMI SENIOR