LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — As students head back to school this year some will be heading to new schools.
What You Need To Know
- Brand-new Angeline Academy of Innovation will be opening its doors for the first day of school on Thursday, August 10
- The school is heavily focused on technology learning, teaching subjects ranging from AI to cybersecurity and robotics
- Students at Angeline will be able to put their skills to use in Moffitt and other local business partners to showcase their industry-ready skills
That could not be more true for those attending the brand-new Angeline Academy of Innovation. The school will be opening its doors for the first time this year, offering classes from sixth grade through tenth grade.
Ahead of the new school year, students and families were able to get a sneak peek of the academy. Getting a tour of classrooms and learning about what classes will be available.
Just as its name implies, the school is heavily focused on technology learning. Teaching subjects ranging from AI to cybersecurity and robotics.
“We made the decision as a district to launch artificial intelligence here at Angeline Academy,” says Joanne Glenn, principal at Angeline Academy of Innovation. “We’ve also added a strong leadership program that will allow our students to participate in the decision making here and build our school culture.”
The school is also neighbors with the Speros Project by Moffitt. Students at Angeline will be able to put their skills to use in Moffitt and other local business partners to showcase their industry-ready skills. It’s an exciting prospect for students itching to get into technology-based careers.
“I’m excited about learning how to code more and how to build.”
Aiden Kirkley is part of the first seventh-grade class this semester. He and his classmates are in for a sneak preview, from walking its halls to learning about classes.
“I would really like to learn how to build stuff,” says Aiden. “I currently have coding but schedules are changing so I’ll see how that ends up. I’m excited about that- I took it in my old school and I’m excited because this place has bigger facilities.”
Bigger facilities and classes with an emphasis on technology. A passion Aiden shares with his classmates. And a prospect Aiden’s mom, and other parents, are looking forward to.
“I don’t know a lot about coding and computer science and it’s amazing to watch Aiden do things that I can’t even imagine,” says Lesley Kirkley, Aiden’s mom. “To know that there’s a place where he can come and start learning in middle school- things that I can’t teach him- that’s what was really appealing to me.”
Learning won’t just be happening in the classroom, either. But out in the community as well.
“To give the kids that go here opportunities to practice in industry- that’s huge,” said Lesley. “Not just for our kids to see things in classrooms, but also to connect with folks that are doing this work and learn those career connections to see what this work looks like outside of the school environment.”
Helping mold young minds like Aiden’s toward achieving their dreams.
“I would really like to get into environmental engineering to build stuff that can help the environment and people so that’s what I really see myself going into,” he says. “But time changes things!”
And with a big enough school like Angeline, the opportunities are countless.
