Port Hudson Career Academy Helps Open the Diploma Door

Port Hudson Career Academy

Helps Open the Diploma Door

By Sarah Forman

“Those who can, we push,” said Patrick Jenkins, the principal of Port Hudson Career Academy.

Port Hudson Career Academy offers an alternative way of learning for students who do not thrive in a traditional school setting. It serves students who are at risk of dropping out of high school, whether they have been expelled, are under a long term suspension or simply do not perform well in a regular high school.

Port Hudson Career Academy is located on Florida Road and was formerly Port Hudson Elementary.

The career academy gives these students an opportunity to do well academically and helps them earn credentials that make it possible for them to receive their GED.

Core Classes

“Not all students survive in a normal high school setting, so this is a great option. The maximum number of students per classroom is 15, so each student gets sufficient attention from the teacher,” explained Jenkins. “The students take all of the core classes that a typical high school teaches, but it is in a setting more suited to their learning needs.”

Along with offering a personalized education plan that addresses each student’s unique learning style, PHCA promotes the building of character. The school also allows students to reach their full potential as independent thinkers. In the end, the career academy’s ultimate goal is for their students to be prepared to enter a post-secondary institution and/or the work force.

Principal Patrick Jenkins

“ Port Hudson Career Academy offers a comprehensive learning environment where we work on literacy, numeric skills and social skills that help our students build a good base for their future,” said Jenkins. Along with core classes, PHCA teaches a life skills course, which is a career education course teaching necessary lessons to students such as work etiquette and how to budget funds.

Pre-GED/ Options Program

Once a student is enrolled in Port Hudson Career Academy’s Pre-GED/ Options Program, they will work to earn credentials that will make it possible for them to graduate from high school with a Louisiana High School Equivalency Diploma and/or Skills Certificate. They will also have the opportunity to earn an Industry Based Certificate.

At PHCA, students participate in dual enrollment with Louisiana Technical College to ready themselves for a career.

The students at PHCA are also offered an opportunity to attend the technical college in Baton Rouge and Jackson/ Folkes for preparatory career classes. “Not all people plan on going to college,” said Jenkins. By sending some of our students to the technical college, we are giving them training to be ready for the work force and to have a real career.”

Students take Louisiana Technical College courses at PHCA as well as on the Baton Rouge and Jackson/ Folkes campuses. On the Baton Rouge Technical College campus, students can take courses in graphics, child development, automotive and welding. On the Jackson/ Folkes Technical College campus, students are able to take courses in carpentry and earn credits to become a certified nursing assistant. Since there are students taking courses off campus, PHCA only has three classes in session at any one time.

Bright Future

“We opened the school in only eight weeks,” said Jenkins. “In that time we had to do major renovations, clean the floors, order all of the furniture for the offices and classrooms, create the curriculum and schedule and recruit students. But we were successful and we opened this past August.”

As the principal, Jenkins is able to see daily improvements in his students. “I can see changes in them both socially and academically,” he said. “It has been really challenging but rewarding.”

“We still have quite a long way to go. Not everyone who enters our program will end up with their GED but our goal is to help as many of our students succeed as possible,” said Jenkins. “Currently we have six students on track to take and pass the GED. We started with only 32 students and now we are up to 56, plus we have at least two inquiries each week. We also have a lot of help and support from the Technical College.”

Lesa Cannon is the first Teacher of the Year at the school. She is a science teacher, but she also teaches all different core subjects for different grades at the alternative school.

Port Hudson Career Academy has 13 staff members, made up of the principal, a counselor, administrative support staff, a special education teacher, 3.5 content teachers and options teachers. "The half teacher count represents teachers who split their time between our school and the Zachary High School," said Jenkins.

Port Hudson Career Academy is an important asset to the community. It will reduce the number of high school drop outs in the Zachary community and help graduates join the thriving Zachary workforce.