More than 65 faculty, staff, and administrators from around the country recently visited Rockford to get a firsthand look and deeper understanding at what model high school Academies look like.
The event, called Insight Onsite, was hosted by the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC). School districts from North Dakota, Tennessee, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Illinois (Freeport), visited Jefferson and Guilford high schools over two days in March.
Many of the visitors currently run high school academies in their own districts. As you may recall, Guilford’s Health Academy achieved Model Status with Distinction in 2019; Jefferson’s Production Academy received model status in 2019; and Jefferson’s Business Academy received Model Status with Distinction in 2022.
Model status is a designation awarded by NCAC when schools demonstrate to external reviewers that they have mastered all 10 National Standards of Practice for Academies. Model Status with Distinction is awarded when a school earns a near perfect or perfect score on their review.
The College & Career Readiness department and Guilford & Jefferson teams worked together to present the following topics:
Academies overview: how we started, where we are, future state/goals
Business Academy presentation (how to earn model status with distinction)
Student-led tours
Student Q&A panel
Academy Principal and Academy Team Lead roles, Q&A
Work-Based Learning
MTSS / Tier I, II, III supports in an Academy model
Counseling in an Academy model
Smaller Learning Community meeting observation
Creating an Academy Culture
Master Scheduling
Participants were very complimentary of their visit and cited student belonging as one of the most impactful aspects of our academy model. One Academy Principal stated, “Students won’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
Bridget French
Bridget French was born and raised in Rockford and is a graduate of Auburn High School. She is the Rockford Public Schools Executive Director of College and Career Readiness, overseeing high school Academies, career and technical education, and middle and high school counselors. She is the mother of two sons, one in RPS 205, and one at NIU.