Career focus: East Lee County shows off its success
MEL TOADVINE East Lee County High School is located at 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave South, off of Milwaukee Blvd.
Administrators, teachers and students at East Lee County High School at 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave. South in Lehigh Acres got the opportunity to show off its school, all in an effort to show the community how the school has grown in its 10 years to become one of the best schools in the county.
Members of the business community were invited to take tour of the large school with around 1200 students last week after a brief luncheon put on by those who work in the cafeteria.
Principal Brian Mangan and Assistant Principal Alex Dworzanski welcomed the group and said although East Lee has had some problems over the past decade, the school has grown and learned from those problems, to become the only career focused academy high school in the East Zone where, according to booklets passed out, where students work in an ultra-modern two-story building, equipped with the state-of-the-arts computer labs and special academic facilities. Mangan called the new courses of studies academies and in addition to the regular curriculum, those academies include everything from automotive to a criminal justice academy, a firefighting academy and a journalism academy to a Medical Academy and more. In total, the school provides 16 specialized areas where students can excel with taking on more work to be ready for college or a good job when they graduate.
During one of the tours, as the businessmen and women were split in half due to the number of those attending. Each followed a guide who walked them through the halls of the school and explained the working in the specialized academies.
Before the tours, both Principal Mangan and Assistant Principal
MEL TOADVINE Touring East Lee County High School is this group of business leaders in Lehigh Acres. They are show the many “academies” at the school which offer students additional education opportunities. Shown here is one group and at left is a JROTC student who led the tour. She is JROTC Maj. Castanet.
Dworzanski explained that the school wanted to provide the best education it could and the new academies are a perfect fit in an effort to retain many of the graduates who may live and work in Lehigh in the future.
“These are the students who will be the leaders of tomorrow, maybe when and if we become a city,” Dworzanski said.
JROTC student Maj. Castanet explained that the curriculum is taught in accordance with the U.S. Army ROTC Camden Command Program with courses including character and leadership, development, wellness, fitness and first aid, drug abuse prevention, geography and earth science, citizenship and American history, career opportunities, role of the Armed Forces, technology awareness, command and staff procedures, consumer education and budgeting, unlocking the potential and senior Army instructor designated optional subjects such as martial arts.
Cadets must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA to hold leadership positions and associated rank above platoon sergeant. Many of the students in this program have a remarkable advantage of joining the military with excellent experience once they have finished school. Tour Guide Maj. Castanet said she plans to join the U.S. Marines.
Another interesting academy is the Building Construction Academy here the program focuses on skills and demonstration of technological tools, machines, instruments, materials, processes and systems in the business industry to provide students with a foundation of knowledge in the field of construction technology. In addition, the course offers instruction, planning, management, fianc, technical and production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor issues, community issues, health and safety and environmental issues.
According to the booklets that are available to the public, East Lee County High School has identified two pathways with this cluster, building construction, technology and drafting. When students leave the school, they have invaluable experience if they choose to go into the building construction industry.
Other academies include the Automotive Technology program, a Criminal Justice Academy where cadets who complete the academy studies will have the qualifications needed to serve various communities as members of many respected criminal justice organizations.
There’s the Academy of Digital Design and Information Technology, East Lee Leadership Academy, Engineering and Manufacturing Academy, Medical Academy and more.
Before the tours the principal ask visitors knew the name of their mascot and several shouted out “Jaguars.” That brought smiles to administration officials because their role is to make the community more aware of the school and all that it has to offer.
Principal Mangan said the school has come a long way. If there are other organizations in the community who would to tour East Lee County High School, Mangan can be reached at 239-369-2932.
The tours were well planned with several students on hand to guide students through the building without causing interference with ongoing classes.
If Mangan and Dworzanski wanted to show how happy they were at the school, it was plain enough to see. Dworzanski even said he was raised in Lehigh and after college, returned to teach in Lee County and last year made a request to be assigned to East Lee County High School as an assistant principal because he believes in Lehigh and its future.
-
- MEL TOADVINE Touring East Lee County High School is this group of business leaders in Lehigh Acres. They are show the many “academies” at the school which offer students additional education opportunities. Shown here is one group and at left is a JROTC student who led the tour. She is JROTC Maj. Castanet.
Career focus: East Lee County shows off its success
MEL TOADVINE East Lee County High School is located at 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave South, off of Milwaukee Blvd.
Administrators, teachers and students at East Lee County High School at 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave. South in Lehigh Acres got the opportunity to show off its school, all in an effort to show the community how the school has grown in its 10 years to become one of the best schools in the county.
Members of the business community were invited to take tour of the large school with around 1200 students last week after a brief luncheon put on by those who work in the cafeteria.
Principal Brian Mangan and Assistant Principal Alex Dworzanski welcomed the group and said although East Lee has had some problems over the past decade, the school has grown and learned from those problems, to become the only career focused academy high school in the East Zone where, according to booklets passed out, where students work in an ultra-modern two-story building, equipped with the state-of-the-arts computer labs and special academic facilities. Mangan called the new courses of studies academies and in addition to the regular curriculum, those academies include everything from automotive to a criminal justice academy, a firefighting academy and a journalism academy to a Medical Academy and more. In total, the school provides 16 specialized areas where students can excel with taking on more work to be ready for college or a good job when they graduate.
During one of the tours, as the businessmen and women were split in half due to the number of those attending. Each followed a guide who walked them through the halls of the school and explained the working in the specialized academies.
Before the tours, both Principal Mangan and Assistant Principal
MEL TOADVINE Touring East Lee County High School is this group of business leaders in Lehigh Acres. They are show the many “academies” at the school which offer students additional education opportunities. Shown here is one group and at left is a JROTC student who led the tour. She is JROTC Maj. Castanet.
Dworzanski explained that the school wanted to provide the best education it could and the new academies are a perfect fit in an effort to retain many of the graduates who may live and work in Lehigh in the future.
“These are the students who will be the leaders of tomorrow, maybe when and if we become a city,” Dworzanski said.
JROTC student Maj. Castanet explained that the curriculum is taught in accordance with the U.S. Army ROTC Camden Command Program with courses including character and leadership, development, wellness, fitness and first aid, drug abuse prevention, geography and earth science, citizenship and American history, career opportunities, role of the Armed Forces, technology awareness, command and staff procedures, consumer education and budgeting, unlocking the potential and senior Army instructor designated optional subjects such as martial arts.
Cadets must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA to hold leadership positions and associated rank above platoon sergeant. Many of the students in this program have a remarkable advantage of joining the military with excellent experience once they have finished school. Tour Guide Maj. Castanet said she plans to join the U.S. Marines.
Another interesting academy is the Building Construction Academy here the program focuses on skills and demonstration of technological tools, machines, instruments, materials, processes and systems in the business industry to provide students with a foundation of knowledge in the field of construction technology. In addition, the course offers instruction, planning, management, fianc, technical and production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor issues, community issues, health and safety and environmental issues.
According to the booklets that are available to the public, East Lee County High School has identified two pathways with this cluster, building construction, technology and drafting. When students leave the school, they have invaluable experience if they choose to go into the building construction industry.
Other academies include the Automotive Technology program, a Criminal Justice Academy where cadets who complete the academy studies will have the qualifications needed to serve various communities as members of many respected criminal justice organizations.
There’s the Academy of Digital Design and Information Technology, East Lee Leadership Academy, Engineering and Manufacturing Academy, Medical Academy and more.
Before the tours the principal ask visitors knew the name of their mascot and several shouted out “Jaguars.” That brought smiles to administration officials because their role is to make the community more aware of the school and all that it has to offer.
Principal Mangan said the school has come a long way. If there are other organizations in the community who would to tour East Lee County High School, Mangan can be reached at 239-369-2932.
The tours were well planned with several students on hand to guide students through the building without causing interference with ongoing classes.
If Mangan and Dworzanski wanted to show how happy they were at the school, it was plain enough to see. Dworzanski even said he was raised in Lehigh and after college, returned to teach in Lee County and last year made a request to be assigned to East Lee County High School as an assistant principal because he believes in Lehigh and its future.
-
- MEL TOADVINE Touring East Lee County High School is this group of business leaders in Lehigh Acres. They are show the many “academies” at the school which offer students additional education opportunities. Shown here is one group and at left is a JROTC student who led the tour. She is JROTC Maj. Castanet.
Business
Pine Island residents establish Mary Lou Memorial Scholarship Fund
Fort Myers Brewing Company returns with Grouperfest 2026 | Three weekends of original beers, live music, and Southwest Florida flavor
