Students build career paths in the trades before graduating high school
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Jonah Santos and Yahnitza Matos are two among 11 students that have recently completed a construction training program before even graduating high school.
Both are students at Reach Cyber Charter School, which serves Pennsylvania students through virtual education but also can connect them with in-person experiences.
One of their career readiness initiatives is the 23-week construction training program with the Finishing Trades Institute MidAtlantic Region (FTI-MAR).
Santos and Matos first took a construction course online, during which they were mailed materials to get hands-on experience at home. Later, they visited FTI-MAR to learn about painting, drywall finishing, and more.
They earned certifications in OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR with Adult AED, Scaffolding Erecting and Dismantling, Lead Renovation, Pair and Painting, and Fall Protection.
Watch the video above to see what the experience meant to them and their goals for the future.
To learn more about Reach Cyber Charter School or the Finishing Trades Institute, visit their websites.
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