Businesses, School Aim to Advance Some Careers

La Paz Intermediate School’s first Career Academy will be today.

Representatives from more than 50 local businesses will be on campus to educate and share their expertise about employment opportunities with the school’s 1,118 students.

Those delegates are from a variety of fields, organizers said, including health care, finance and law enforcement.

Designed to provide students with insight into the job market, the academy will offer both students and their parents the opportunity to participate in one-hour, hands-on informational seminars presented by local professionals.

“Our purpose is to give our students an awareness of various career opportunities,” teacher Bryan Spafford said. “Everybody’s really excited.”

A year in the planning, the academy was made possible through funding by Orange County Coalition Vision 2020. The so-called school-to-work program encourages schools to develop partnerships with local chambers of commerce and the business sector to enhance students’ career awareness, district officials said.

La Paz shares a $30,000 grant with Mission Viejo High School and Cordillera Elementary School to help implement their Vision 2020 plans. Since starting the program last year, all three schools have more than doubled their business partnerships, officials said.

The academy starts at 7:30 a.m. on campus, 25151 Pradera Drive.

Information: (714) 830-1720.