Students were introduced to career pathways and industries.
Future Career Academy brought students from four area high schools into Plant City workplaces on Friday, kicking off its annual Business Tours, a program designed to introduce high school seniors to career pathways and industries across Hillsborough County. Eight buses transported students from Plant City High School, Durant High School, Strawberry Crest High School, and Simmons Career Center to 24 business sites representing 16 different industries. Each bus visited three workplaces, giving students the opportunity to observe operations, meet employees, and learn about job roles directly within the community. This was the first of eight business tours the organization will provide for high school students in communities throughout Hillsborough County.
The Business Tours are one component of Future Career Academy’s broader workforce readiness structure, which is used across all public high schools in Hillsborough County. The program provides weekly, career-focused curriculum to students in grades 9 through 12. The lessons were developed over a ten-year period with input from employers who identified key knowledge and workplace skills students need after graduation. The curriculum covers employment expectations, career navigation, post-secondary training options, and practical steps associated with entering the workforce.
For seniors, the program includes additional hands-on experiences during what Future Career Academy refers to as the “Year of Activation.” In addition to classroom instruction, seniors participate in events throughout the school year designed to support transitions into employment, enlisted service, training programs, or further education.
In Plant City, the midday portion of Friday’s event was hosted by the City of Plant City. Seventy-three municipal employees participated by demonstrating equipment, explaining job functions, and providing information about public sector career paths. The lunch program also included a segment called “Citizenship 101,” which outlined the responsibilities of local government and its role in public infrastructure and services. Several presenters were former seniors who had participated in earlier years of Future Career Academy and were later hired by employers through the program. City leadership, including the mayor, city commissioners, and the city manager, attended the event. The program also included the performance of an original song, Plant City Strong, written and performed by the city’s Director of Planning and Zoning, Robin Baker. The song is scheduled to be produced as a music video with student involvement.
Training organizations and workforce partners were present to provide information on apprenticeships, certification programs, and tuition-supported career pathways. A significant number of local employers, including the City of Plant City, offer paid training or tuition assistance to employees pursuing additional credentials, technical certifications, or college coursework.
Future Career Academy’s spring calendar continues with a countywide series of hiring events in April. The Plant City Hiring Event is scheduled for April 23 at the Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center, where students will be able to apply for jobs, military enlistment opportunities, and training or apprenticeship programs.
Future Career Academy is operated by Workforce Development Partners, a nonprofit workforce organization founded by Yvonne Fry in Plant City. The roots of the program date to 2015, when local employers and community leaders identified the need to provide seniors with earlier exposure to career options. The first event, a job fair held at Plant City High School, served as the foundation for what later developed into the countywide model now in place. Workforce Development Partners was formed to expand and formalize the initiative, and Future Career Academy became its signature in-school program.
The organization also oversees Best Florida Jobs, a companion initiative that provides career resources for adult job seekers. Workforce Development Partners continues to coordinate employer collaboration, curriculum development, and career-readiness programming throughout Hillsborough County.
