Changing Young Lives—One at a Time
Article By: Debra Wood
Lost in a sea of students at a traditional Orlando-area high school, Alex Beightler found it easy to skip homework assignments and slide by with poor grades. The young man faced a choice—stay the course or change to a more supportive learning environment.
Beightler discovered Workforce Advantage Academy, which offered a business and academic curriculum taught by certified teachers and an opportunity to work part time, earning school credit hours and money. He found the charter school’s small class sizes and personal attention from teachers conducive to learning and brought his grades up, achieving straight A’s at the end of his senior year.
“This school got me back on track,” Alex said. “They helped me focus, and they opened doors for me.”
Workforce Advantage Academy’s business development team provided Beightler a job as a collection clerk with the Orange County Library System. He learned customer service and job skills and became a valued employee.
With his good grades and newly found confidence, Alex started classes this fall at Valencia Community College, with plans to pursue a computer engineering degree from the University of Central Florida.
“Workforce helped me make a giant leap,” Alex concluded, “And without it, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
Students at the career academy learn about responsibility and respect, and the value of patience and persistence. They discover the satisfaction that comes from receiving a paycheck for work well done.
