Two Tavares High School seniors are getting a head start on careers in information technology through a new Career and Technical Education program designed to give students real-world experience before graduation.

Tavares High was selected as the pilot school for the CTE Practicum Clinic, a hands-on program developed by the Lake County Schools IT department. Seniors Sydney Walsh and Jamir Dukes were chosen through an application and interview process to participate.

The students attend the program during first and second periods each school day at an off-campus location, where they split their time between classroom instruction and hands-on work.

The curriculum follows a structured approach. Students spend about 20 to 25 minutes reading from a textbook before watching instructional videos that reinforce the material. They then put what they have learned into practice by working directly with Chromebooks and other computer equipment.

So far, Sydney and Jamir have developed skills in troubleshooting and repairing Chromebooks.

Travis Turner, one of the program’s instructors and mentors, says both students have stood out for their work ethic and willingness to learn.

“Jamir and Sydney have been everything someone could ask for in a student,” Turner says. “They are kind, patient, attentive and genuinely willing to learn. It has been a pleasure so far getting to mentor them each morning.”

During the final 10 weeks of the program, Sydney and Jamir hope to take those skills back to Tavares High School, where they would help repair technology and equipment needing maintenance on campus.

The goal is to establish an in-house IT operation staffed by the student participants, allowing the school to benefit directly from the skills they have developed through the program.

The experience could also open doors after graduation. Sydney and Jamir may have the opportunity to pursue jobs with Lake County Schools’ IT department, giving them a potential path from classroom training directly into the workforce.

For Sydney and Jamir, the program provides hands-on experience while giving them an opportunity to build skills that could eventually lead to careers in information technology.