Centennial High School Program Awarded Industry Certification

ROSWELL, GA -- The Business and Computer Science Program at Centennial High School has been awarded Industry Certification from the Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Georgia Department of Education for the third time since the school opened in 1997.

This is a tremendous honor for Centennial High School, as the certification signifies that students from Centennial have the skills needed for employment that will benefit the business community. The six rigorous Program Certification standards, 50 Tasks, comprehensive site visit and numerous interviews were successfully concluded on March 21, 2017 after a year-long process.

To achieve certification, schools must have an active Advisory Committee to link the business program with the business community and stakeholders, in addition to meeting the stringent criteria. Centennial High School reached the Gold Level for Future Business Leaders Association (FBLA) Chapter of the Year, thus earning the extra honor of being named a School of Distinction.

“I am very proud of the Business Department faculty who worked tirelessly to make this happen,” said Principal Kibbey Crumbley. “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Brenda Badura, Scott Kent and Department Chair Marie Robinson on staff. Earning this certification is truly an arduous task — and rightly so,” noted Crumbley.

Centennial High School received its first certification in 2006, accompanied by a $10,000 grant. The second certification was earned in 2011, along with a $5,000 grant. This year, the school received another grant of $5,000 along with its third certification which will last until 2022.

Grant monies have been used to purchase a range of equipment, from robots and an industry-standard camera to software and consumable materials used in project-based learning in the school’s newly-opened SPaCE creativity center. The materials will continue to benefit future students in the years to come.

Centennial estimates that nearly 100 students are enrolled in the Advanced Placement Computer Science and AP Computer Science Principles courses and that enrollment in these classes will increase over the next school year.

Centennial High School is also one of the first in Fulton County to combine the curriculum for the Introduction to Digital Technology and Computer Science Principles courses into one year-long course that is worth two credits. This was achieved by obtaining a waiver from the state of Georgia.

“This program just keeps improving the career-readiness of our students,” said Department Chair Marie Robinson. “I like to say that the projects our students undertake are the application of all the skills they learn across the academic spectrum. It is very exciting to see.”

Examples of project-based learning in action at Centennial include:

• Hallway Traffic Computer Simulation. Created by Arteen Ghafourikia, Karl Jacobi and Oscar Lee from the AP Computer Science A class, created a GPS tool to help students determine the most efficient route to their next class and could be used in the future to help administrators customize bell schedules to relieve hallway congestion.
• H&R Block Budget Challenge. Financial Services students LaJahna White and Celia Senerman participated in this national online competition related to cash flow, investing and money management. These two students are preparing take the test for their Financial Investing and Planning Credential by using a program called WI$E. This tool is aimed at providing financial planning information to Generations X and Y women and is available through the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Oswin Nwabude, Yachiara Ross, and Rane Hill, the president, vice president and secretary, respectively, of FBLA shared the accomplishments of the team over the past year. Through participation in numerous conferences, working sessions, rallies and competitions, the team have placed in the top 10 in the State. The Centennial Chapter of FBLA is now a Gold chapter and their president, Oswin Nwabude, is now a Region 9 Officer and newly elected State Vice President of Projects and Programs.
• Computer Game Design. Programming students, Jackson Denmon, Jordan Goldstein, Kyle Le Picard and Ruslan Sharpe created an innovative computer game and learning tool for the Community Based Instruction (special needs) students at Centennial. Specially designed to be interesting, engaging and accessible, the feedback from these students was very positive and will be available to these students in the future.

Each Centennial student who completes a Business or Computer Science pathway is eligible to take an industry credentialing exam in their area of study.

Provided by an outside agency, these tests are administered in April of each year. Students who pass earn a certificate stating that their learning meets industry standards in each of the areas tested which they can submit to prospective colleges and employers. This sure isn’t your Dad’s shop class!

Centennial High School is a 21st century learning community providing a high quality, innovative educational experience for all students to be college and career ready. Located at 9310 Scott Road in Roswell, Georgia, the school has been ranked as one of America’s best high schools by The Washington Post, US News and World Report, and Atlanta Magazine.

Photo: the Centennial Team involved in the rigorous site visit to achieve Business and Computer Science Industry Certification in March 2017. From left to right are Centennial High School Department Chair Marie Robinson, Kyle Le Picard, Jordan Goldstein, Ruslan Sharpe, Lajahna White, Rane Hill, Oswin Nwabude, Yachiara Ross, Celia Senerman, Dr. Brenda Badura. Credit: Centennial High School