May 20, 2022
Jason Gaston

HTHS -  Three Hewitt-Trussville High School seniors have secured post-high school employment following successful runs at the Academy of Craft Training (ACT).  Cameron Williams (Daniel Iron); Tristan Pearcy (Building & Earth Science); and Tyler Paine (Brasfield & Gorrie) have all been recognized in special ceremonies this month at ACT.

The Academy of Craft Training is a public/private partnership between the commercial construction industry and the State of Alabama’s K-12 Career and Technical Education System. Its mission is to recruit, educate, and guide high school students for educational and employment opportunities in the construction industry. ACT's goal is to help students secure the education and skills needed to be entry-level, skilled workers in the construction industry. Students have the opportunity to learn directly from construction industry professionals in a workplace-style environment, work as interns with local construction companies and receive job offers upon graduation, according to the ACT website.  The space is located in Birmingham's Lakeview District and has a capacity for up to 250 high school juniors and seniors from across metro Birmingham - all accepted via an application process.

Students can work in five different areas: Construction, Electrical, HVAC, Interior and Exterior Finishes, and Welding.  The craft areas utilize The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum for each specific craft area. NCCER was developed with the support of more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders who united to revolutionize training for the construction industry. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created a standardized training and credentialing program for the industry.
 

For the 2022-2023 School Year, Hewitt-Trussville High School had twelve students working on-site at the Academy of Craft Training as part of the high school's CTE Academy Program offerings.