NBHS Academy of Finance Attains Model Academy Status
By Editor at March 25, 2024 | 8:00 am | Print
After a recent review and assessment from the National Academy Foundation, the New Britain High School Academy of Finance has attained Model Academy Status. This assessment is based on four elements – Academy Development and Structure, Advisory Board, Curriculum and Instruction and Work Based Learning.
The Academy is designed as a three to four-year high school experience in which the program design, decision making and professional development activities is done in collaboration with the Academy design team and students. Additionally, community partners and school leaders work together to perform the critical tasks and functions required to support, maintain, and sustain fidelity to the NAF design at the highest level.
The Academy’s Advisory Board is representative of its community and supports teachers and students by increasing awareness of the career field. These leaders collaborate with teachers to inform classroom learning with industry developments, trends and practices, to design and implement student project work, and to provide structured work-based learning compensated opportunities, for students. The advisory board provides financial support and advocacy to develop and sustain the Academy.
The teachers in the Academy of Finance are Tai Cichocki, Jean Carroll, Christine Laudano, Sondra Sanford and Marc Wesoly. The courses they teach include Principles of Finance, Applied Finance, Accounting, Financial Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Computer Applications (Principles of IT), Microsoft Excel and Global Business.
The Academy leverages NAF curriculum, which incorporates project-based learning. Career-themed curriculum is integrated with academic content to help all students achieve the extended benefits of NAF Academy courses.
The Academy develops and offers students a sequenced set of work-based learning experiences that culminate in compensated internships. These standards provide academies with criteria for high quality internships for high school students. Organizations that participate in this internship program include Achieve Financial Credit Union, Hospital for Special Care, HRA New Britain, Hospital of Central Connecticut, The New Britain Herald, Travelers and other local industry partners. The work-based learning activities are coordinated by Dennis Taricani and Angelo D’Alfonso, who work with the students on a daily basis at the school preparing them for career awareness, career exploration and career preparedness learning activities.
Paul Salina, Interim Superintendent, said “the NBHS Academy of Finance has only been in existence for a few years, yet due to the dedicated work of our staff and wonderful cooperation from our community partners, the Academy is not only providing wonderful opportunities for our students, but has also received recognition at the national level.”
