The Hertz Corporation recently donated $10,000 to the School District of Lee County for its high school teaching academies, providing funding for such things as teacher resources, curriculum, exam vouchers and industry certification preparation materials.

“The generous donation made by The Hertz Corporation will bring much needed resources to our high school teaching academies,” Adult and Career Education Director Rita Davis said in a prepared statement. “These academies nurture a passion for education as they help to prepare future educators for the classroom. We continue to be grateful for business partners such as The Hertz Corporation who see the tremendous value in investing in high school career and technical education programs.”

There are six high schools that offer the Education and Training Career Academy, four of which offer Principals of Teaching — Ida S. Baker High School, Riverdale High School, Lehigh Senior High School and East Lee County High School. The other two high schools, Estero High School and Fort Myers High School, offer Early Childhood Education through the Education and Training Career Academy.

The program, according to the district, offers students educational opportunities, training services, as well as related learning support with an emphasis on improving public education services. Those are offered in three pathways, including administrative and administrative support, professional support services and teaching and training.

Graduates from the teaching academy are given a Talent Reservation with the School District of Lee County Recruitment Department, which recognizes them as entering the education field, and leaves an open door for future employment. The future teachers are given post-secondary and scholarship opportunities with local colleges and universities.

Career specialist Kelly Thawley said they are a Future Makers partner with Hertz. They started discussing becoming a Future Makers Coalition partner and a conversation about goals and the hope to help with work force development began.

“They wanted to get more involved in the community,” Thawley said. “They noticed they didn’t have a whole lot of local impact and were looking for ways to get more involved in the community. Because of that they really had a passion for education.”

That led to supporting high school students through the donation.

Thawley said a lot of the funding for the academy comes from federal grants, which includes a process.

“Locally that career academy has to be supplying the workforce on high skills, high wages and high demand. Because education is not a high wage area it cannot use the funding,” she said.

The donation from Hertz is super beneficial and will fill some of the funding gaps, Thawley said.

Nicole Bailey, teacher on assignment who oversees Education Career Academies, said without a lot of funds coming in the donated funds will be used for textbooks, which are either outdated, or additional courses have been added.

In addition, it will help fund teacher certifications. Bailey said it will help with funding ServeSafe Food Handling Manager License, as teachers work with kids and food in classrooms and the need to understand safety is important.

“If any student earns that, funds will come back into their program. Then they can use it on curriculum and other things,” she said.

The $10,000 donation will set up those education academies to be more self sustaining.

“In their spare time, they have to go out into the community and solicit on sponsorships. This definitely helps them,” Thawley said.

There are currently 555 students enrolled in the education academies at the six schools, reaching freshman to senior students. Some of the programs offer senior students with the opportunity to set up an internship at a neighboring elementary and middle school to get on-the-job training of working with students.

At Fort Myers High School it offers “Little Wave,” which the community can apply for the 3-and 4-year-old daycare. Students prepare the lessons and snacks for the daycare. Bonita High School offers a similar program.

Businesses that are interested in donating to any of the district’s career academies, can do so by visiting www.leeschools.net/cte.