TAMPA, Fla. — Chamberlain High School is giving students more opportunities to prepare for careers before they graduate through new technical programs focused on high-demand industries.
The Tampa school is now Chamberlain Technical High School of Innovation and Medicine, with programs designed to give students hands-on experience, job skills and industry certifications. The school offers academies in integrated health, building construction and veterinary assisting.
Kelsey Judeth, the magnet lead at Chamberlain High School, said the programs were developed with the surrounding community and local workforce needs in mind.
“Our programs are set up in a way to serve the community around us, and the types of jobs available in the community so students can leave high school with the training and certifications they need to get employment or right into apprenticeships right out of high school,” Judeth said.
School officials say the goal is for students to graduate with skills and certifications that can help them move directly into the workforce or continue their education.
For freshman Reginald Johnson, the building construction program gives him an opportunity to build on an interest he already had at home.
“I’ve always liked helping out my parents build and work on stuff, and then as Chamberlain provided the magnet program, I realized I would like to try it out to see what I can do and what I can get from it,” Johnson said.
School officials say the programs were selected with the local job market in mind, including the need for workers in construction and healthcare.
Sophomore Alonna Jordan said job stability was one reason she was attracted to the integrated health program. She said watching what happened to members of her own family during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced how she views a career in healthcare.
“During COVID, my grandmother is a nurse, everybody lost their job, including my mom, my grandma did not lose her job,” Jordan said. “My grandmother is a nurse, so I always thought it was cool, I grew up around that, and plus it’s something sustainable that you’ll always have.”
The integrated health academy includes pathways in areas such as radiology, cardiovascular assisting, medical assisting, and sports medicine, while the building construction academy focuses on hands-on training and industry certifications.
School officials say they are also working to create pathways with local colleges, including guaranteed admission and transferable credits for students who choose to continue their education after graduation.