Santa Rosa County dignitaries participated in the August 1 designation presentation at Kennedy Space Center: Pictured standing left to right are Space Florida Vice President of External Affairs Mike Miller, District 5 County Commissioner Colten Wright, Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Mike Thorpe, School Board Chairwoman Linda Sanborn, Director of Workforce Education Charlin Knight and Coordinator of Workforce Education Jennifer Hines; seated are and President and CEO of Space Florida Robert Long and Santa Rosa County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Barber.
Santa Rosa County District Schools is excited to announce its designation from Space Florida as a Space Florida Academy School District, celebrating the existing career and technical training programs provided and specifically the industry certifications earned by Santa Rosa students in the programs.
“We are so proud of our Workforce Education Department for this accomplishment. These certifications help prepare our students for high skill, high wage, and in-demand occupations within the space industry,” stated Superintendent of Santa Rosa County District Schools Dr. Karen Barber.
The Space Florida Academy Program is an effort to celebrate the tremendous work in our district. This recognition was received after completing a rigorous application process. Additionally, this designation indicates to aerospace employers, along with related industries, which school districts are committed to generating qualified talent through career and technical education (CTE) offerings that lead to in-demand careers in the space industry.
The Director of Workforce Education, Charlin Knight, stated, “Workforce education prepares our students with the necessary skills and industry-recognized credentials to be competitive in the space industry. This rapidly evolving field demands a highly skilled workforce and Santa Rosa County District Schools is dedicated to providing the training and education to equip our students to meet the needs of employers, here regionally as well as across the State of Florida. We are so thrilled that Santa Rosa students have this invaluable opportunity, as it not only enhances their career prospects but also contributes to the growth and innovation of the regional economy in the aerospace and related industry sectors.”
A few highlights and accomplishments from our Workforce Education Department include, but are not limited to:
- Increased digital tool industry certification and attainment in middle school and high school. Since 2021-2022, our district has increased industry certifications by 177%.
- Implementation of Xello (secondary) for career planning with all eight grade students during 2023-2024.
- Incorporation of career exploration at all levels. In 2023-2024, Jay Elementary participated in Industry Certifications and a Pre-Teaching pilot.
- Implementing Xello at the elementary level during 2024-2025 to help our youngest learners formulate the building blocks of meaningful life and career development setting them up for a smoother transition to secondary education.
- Establishing Civics Career Academics during the 2024-2025 school year at several district high schools.
In 2024-2025, Santa Rosa Center for Innovation programming will be delivered at local elementary and middle schools. The Center, located in Milton, is being through a $9,000,000 Triumph Gulf Coast grant and a $500,000 allocation from Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature. The Center for Innovation is scheduled to open in the 2025-2026 school year.
The ceremony took place August 1 at Kennedy Space Center where the designation was received.
For additional information or to schedule interviews, please contact Nadia Colin, Public Information and Family and Community Outreach Officer of Santa Rosa County District Schools, at PIO@santarosa.k12.fl.us.
