Florida Public School Choice Consortium Online Newsletter

This is Eagle Nest - The Construction Education Project at Atlantic Community HS

<< BACK TO NEWSLETTER Submit an Article

This is Eagle Nest - The Construction Education Project at Atlantic Community HS

Article Submitted by Jerry Crocilla

The EAGLE NEST residential construction program at Atlantic High School provides students with sweat equity in a potential construction career.   Crews of student builders left their campus confines, strapped on their tools and built a 3 bedroom, two bath house on a lot donated to the EAGLE NEST program by the city of Delray Beach.  The Community Improvement Agency provided a zero interest loan to fund the project.  Directed by experienced craftsmen, students have designed and built a new home at 46 NW 12th Avenue in Delray Beach, their off campus construction site.

Eagle Nest, named after Atlantic High School’s mascot, fills a need for those students who think they want a building trades career. Eagle Nest Instructors saw the need for a hands-on experience based on real world work experiences.  “Kids often make career decisions sitting in an air conditioned room, checking boxes on paper and pencil tests without ever directly experiencing the career,” said academy coordinator Jerry Crocilla.  “With EAGLE NEST they do the job under the same conditions they would do after graduation.”  In south Florida, that usually means hot and humid.  “We have found that when students sweat, they gain a deeper understanding of their vocational aspirations, for or against a construction career” he said.

After a year in EAGLE NEST most students want to continue in the building trades.  EAGLE NEST provides an easier transition between school and work.  According to George Diaz, Chief Engineer for the city of Delray Beach, “EAGLE NEST students have an advantage over less experienced students because they have actually done extensive work in the building trades before they graduate.  They are familiar with safety practices and proper tool use.  There is a lot of interest in helping programs like EAGLE NEST grow because of the great need for trained workers in the building trades.”

Some EAGLE NEST students learn enough to know that construction is not a valid career choice for them, and they make a conscious and informed choice to look elsewhere.  Other students are inspired to continue their education, either as a professional with a college degree, or with technical certification in a trades-related field.  “Industry professionals provide effective role models for students.  Some kids never get to work with an engineer or an architect,” said instructor Tim Sachse, “and they get inspired to continue their education.”

In a city desperate for affordable housing, EAGLE NEST helped fill the need.  Located in an area undergoing revitalization, the student-designed and student- built house will be a comfortable home to raise a family.

Funded by grants, donations and in-kind services and profits from the sale of their first house, EAGLE NEST can eventually become a fiscally self-sustaining project.

The city of Delray Beach will continue to demonstrate its commitment to education by supporting the Eagle Nest program to make Atlantic High School’s next construction project “as green as green can be.”

Article Submitted by Jerry Crocilla

The EAGLE NEST residential construction program at Atlantic High School provides students with sweat equity in a potential construction career.   Crews of student builders left their campus confines, strapped on their tools and built a 3 bedroom, two bath house on a lot donated to the EAGLE NEST program by the city of Delray Beach.  The Community Improvement Agency provided a zero interest loan to fund the project.  Directed by experienced craftsmen, students have designed and built a new home at 46 NW 12th Avenue in Delray Beach, their off campus construction site.

Eagle Nest, named after Atlantic High School’s mascot, fills a need for those students who think they want a building trades career. Eagle Nest Instructors saw the need for a hands-on experience based on real world work experiences.  “Kids often make career decisions sitting in an air conditioned room, checking boxes on paper and pencil tests without ever directly experiencing the career,” said academy coordinator Jerry Crocilla.  “With EAGLE NEST they do the job under the same conditions they would do after graduation.”  In south Florida, that usually means hot and humid.  “We have found that when students sweat, they gain a deeper understanding of their vocational aspirations, for or against a construction career” he said.

After a year in EAGLE NEST most students want to continue in the building trades.  EAGLE NEST provides an easier transition between school and work.  According to George Diaz, Chief Engineer for the city of Delray Beach, “EAGLE NEST students have an advantage over less experienced students because they have actually done extensive work in the building trades before they graduate.  They are familiar with safety practices and proper tool use.  There is a lot of interest in helping programs like EAGLE NEST grow because of the great need for trained workers in the building trades.”

Some EAGLE NEST students learn enough to know that construction is not a valid career choice for them, and they make a conscious and informed choice to look elsewhere.  Other students are inspired to continue their education, either as a professional with a college degree, or with technical certification in a trades-related field.  “Industry professionals provide effective role models for students.  Some kids never get to work with an engineer or an architect,” said instructor Tim Sachse, “and they get inspired to continue their education.”

In a city desperate for affordable housing, EAGLE NEST helped fill the need.  Located in an area undergoing revitalization, the student-designed and student- built house will be a comfortable home to raise a family.

Funded by grants, donations and in-kind services and profits from the sale of their first house, EAGLE NEST can eventually become a fiscally self-sustaining project.

The city of Delray Beach will continue to demonstrate its commitment to education by supporting the Eagle Nest program to make Atlantic High School’s next construction project “as green as green can be.”