APS partners with Acme for career academy

SOUTH AKRON — Akron Public Schools (APS) and Acme Fresh Market have partnered to form the Acme Fresh Market Academy of Innovation and Industry at Kenmore-Garfield High School, located at 2140 13th St. S.W.
The school offers one of the College and Career Academies of Akron, which include a Freshman Academy, FirstEnergy Academy of Emerging Technology and Design and now the Academy of Innovation and Industry.
The APS Board of Education approved the three-year cooperative agreement between APS and Acme Fresh Market at the board’s May 24 meeting.
At that time, then APS Superintendent David James said, “Our students will certainly benefit from the wisdom offered by the resources of a 130-year-old landmark business. I am delighted to hear Acme Fresh Market is joining our impressive list of partners and know this will enhance educational opportunities for Kenmore-Garfield students.”
Kenmore-Garfield Principal Kathryn Rodocker and current APS Superintendent Christine Fowler-Mack joined Acme Fresh Market President Nick Albrecht Oct. 26 at the school to launch the academy, with a group of over 100 students present.
According to Acme Vice President of Marketing Katie Swartz, the academy will offer instructional support and real-world learning opportunities in three career pathways: construction and building technology, culinary arts and nursing and patient care.
“As an Akron native, it’s heartwarming — but not surprising — that Acme stepped up to partner with this wonderful school,” Fowler-Mack said. “For as long as I can remember, if there was an exciting community event or an opportunity to help the community, Acme was involved in it. Acme’s team personifies the very professional skills that we know to be important for students to master, such as grit, flexibility, strategic thinking and creativity, and we are thrilled to welcome Acme to the Akron Public Schools family.”
Swartz said that while Acme and APS announced the partnership in May, COVID-19 prevented any in-person connections with students.
The collaboration between APS and Acme Fresh Market was formed with the help of United Way of Summit & Medina, which serves as a link between the College and Career Academies of Akron and local businesses to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and to strengthen the education to employment pipeline in Summit County, according to APS officials.
“Acme does more than just sell groceries — we take care of people,” Albrecht said. “From customers in our stores, to individuals filling prescriptions in our pharmacies, to our associates and our communities — Acme has been feeding the families of our community for over 130 years. We want to support your hard work and help you achieve your goals.”
Swartz added that as part of the partnership, Acme is volunteering over 2,000 hours of time and talent to work with Kenmore-Garfield students who are in the Academy of Innovation and Industry’s three career pathways.
“We want to establish connections between these students and teachers and our experts in their areas of interest,” Albrecht said. “As a local company, Acme Fresh Market can really make a difference.”
APS was designated a Ford Next Generation Learning Community in May 2017. Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Co., is supporting the transformation of public high schools into career-themed academies to better prepare students for college and professional success in the competitive global economy, according to APS officials. The College and Career Academies of Akron also is supported by the GAR Foundation, ConxusNEO, Summit Education Initiative and Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce.

Read original release here.

Poston, Eric. (2021, October 28) APS partners with Acme for career academy. Akron.com.  Retrieved from https://www.akron.com/articles/aps-partners-with-acme-for-career-academy/