Aug. 09--DeFUNIAK SPRINGS -- Students at Walton High School will have the opportunity to soar to new heights in the upcoming school year.
With less than two weeks until the start of classes, the School Board approved dual enrollment classes with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Students will be able to focus on piloting, unmanned aerial vehicles or maintenance career paths, according to Principal Russell Hughes.
"We will help the students get their feet on the ground by taking these classes in a high school environment," said Dale Dean, who oversees dual enrollment programs for Embry-Riddle.
To see the agreement, click here.
The school has been contemplating this partnership for the last four or five years.
The Daytona-based university will provide an instructor for the first year and then the school plans to put the program under the care of the JROTC instructors.
Rob English, who has taught the program at Crestview High School, will step into the initial teaching role.
"Even though we're pretty short term here before the term starts...I have high confidence he'll be ready on day one," Dean said.
In terms of enrollment, Hughes said he wasn't concerned about filling classes. A hint of the new program on Facebook recently drew responses.
It will be the first time Walton County has offered this particular dual enrollment opportunity.
Neighboring Okaloosa County School District has worked with both the Daytona campus and the Worldwide campus to bring the program to students at Crestview and Choctawhatchee high schools for years.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.
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