New Student Programming at our Center for Innovation

Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator

Our Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator, only the second program of its kind in the nation, offers students an immersive career exploration experience integrated into the Earth & Space Sciences curriculum. Students begin with classroom lessons that help them identify interests and strengths, then participate in an interactive simulation featuring real-world scenarios, role-play, and decision-making. After the experience, students reflect and set short- and long-term goals back at school. Through this program, every participating student earns a Work-Based Learning credit and an Industry-Recognized Credential, supporting postsecondary readiness and helping students better understand their future career pathways.

Learn more about the Dream Accelerator

Kirkwood Career Academy Classrooms

In partnership with Kirkwood Community College, we are launching two new Health Care career pathways, Patient Care and Pre-Nursing, designed to give students hands-on exposure to the field through a structured sequence of courses. These pathways allow students to earn high school and, in many cases, college credit while gaining access to work-based learning and internships with local health care partners. By offering these academies locally, we’re making postsecondary opportunities more accessible and helping students build real-world skills to inform their future career decisions.

We were excited to welcome our first group of students this week as the Patient Care Exploration Academy officially began. This academy will run through May, and we extend a special thank you to Kelly Joseph for leading the program in addition to her role as school nurse at Tate High School. Looking ahead, additional academies launching in fall 2026 at the Center for Innovation will include Pre-Nursing with Nurse Aide Certification, Education, and Business pathways.

Learn more about the CFI Career Academies