Instruction must be systematic and reflect the program goals. Marketing and recruitment are critical to program strength and viability. Policies for managing resources and budgets are crucial to good stewardship
Innovation meets opportunity at The Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership (HILL). A cutting-edge career and technical school, The HILL offers hands-on learning experiences in state-of-the-art facilities, industry-driven programs, and pathways designed to prepare you for the careers of tomorrow. With access to emerging technologies, expert mentors, and real-world projects,
The HILL empowers you to explore your passions, develop your skills, and create a future that’s uniquely yours.
By bridging education with innovation, The Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership equips students with hands-on learning, critical thinking, and leadership skills, empowering them to make an immediate impact in the workforce and further their education with confidence and purpose.
Law enforcement careers involve upholding and enforcing laws, maintaining public safety, preventing and investigating crimes, apprehending offenders, and serving communities to ensure justice through roles such as police officers, detectives, and federal agents.
Law Enforcement Services prepares individuals to perform the duties of police and public security officers, including patrol and investigative activities, traffic and crowd control, public relations, witness interviewing, evidence collection, crime prevention, weapon and equipment operation, report preparation, and other essential responsibilities.
"For those students interested in a law enforcement or criminal justice career, the base knowledge, skills, and professional contacts they can make place them far ahead of their peers." - Program Instructor Scott Carnes
Career and Technical Education (CTE) bridges the gap between classroom learning and practical application. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, CTE equips students with the critical skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to excel in high-demand industries.
By integrating hands-on learning, cutting-edge technology, and career-focused pathways, our CTE programs prepare students for college, careers, and beyond. For parents, educators, and community partners, CTE represents an investment in the future workforce—one that is skilled, innovative, and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Together, we are shaping confident, capable individuals who will lead and thrive in an ever-changing world.
District CTE Contacts:
Amanda Wickersham, Director of CTE - (859) 422-2188
Donna Austin, Administrative Assistant - (859) 422-0057
The mission of Fayette County Public Schools is to create a collaborative community that ensures all students achieve at high levels and graduate prepared to excel in a global society.
All Fayette County Public Schools students will receive a world-class education.
Student Achievement
Unity, Belonging, & Student Efficacy
Highly Effective, Culturally Responsive Workforce
Outreach & Engagement
Organizational Health & Effectiveness
The Law Enforcement Services program at The HILL perfectly embodies our mission of "innovation meets opportunity" by transforming classroom theory into practical, high-stakes application. Through hands-on training in state-of-the-art facilities - ranging from forensic evidence collection to investigative tactics - students develop the critical thinking and leadership skills essential for today’s high-demand public safety careers. By integrating cutting-edge technology with real-world scenarios, we bridge the gap between education and the workforce, empowering students to enter college or a career in criminal justice with the confidence to make an immediate, professional impact.
During this year, the Law Enforcement Program will focus on fully utilizing the potential of the new classroom and lab spaces that came with formation of The Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership (The HILL). In doing so the program will be actively exploring the new collaborative opportunities that exist in this space as several additional programs are now co-located within this building. The opportunities that exist are massive, but the work will focus on right sizing the opportunities for the best benefit for students.
Over the next three years, the Law Enforcement pathway will focus on two primary areas of growth: internal program development and external expansion through community and industry engagement. Internally, the program will prioritize instructor development, continued curriculum refinement, the integration of micro-credentialing opportunities, and increased student participation—both in overall enrollment and in applied activities such as Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) competitions. Externally, the program will strengthen relationships with community stakeholders and industry partners to support authentic learning experiences, professional exposure, and long-term program sustainability.
The long-term goal of the Law Enforcement pathway is to become a recognized, high-quality Career and Technical Education program known for strong instruction, ethical decision-making, and meaningful alignment with the law enforcement profession. The program will model how a secondary public safety pathway can responsibly prepare students for postsecondary education and future careers while maintaining clear expectations for safety, professionalism, and accountability.
In May 2024, Zoey Washington, a then 11th grade student in the Law Enforcement Program at Eastside Technical Center (Now The HILL) won 3rd Prize in CSPAN's StudentCam 2024 for the documentary, "Balancing the Scales: Race and the Criminal Justice System."
For winning third prize, she took home $750. The Kentucky Senate and House recognized Washington with resolutions, and Mayor Linda Gorton’s office declared April 30, “Zoey Washington Day.”
Class sizes at The Hub For Innovative Learning and Leadership are kept at a level that allows for individualized attention and assistance as students learn. With the assistance of technical liaisons, who are assigned to the program, students needs are met and allow them to excel within the pathway.
For a more detailed breakdown of enrollment data - including demographics, support systems, partnerships, and more - please see Standard V.
The HILL Counseling Framework emphasizes the importance of robost recruitment strategies to build lasting partnerships with local high schools and middle schools. This includes hosting tours, inviting counselors for visits, and engaging in various outreach initiatives to attract new students and foster a strong community connection.
In conjunction with the HILL Counseling Team, our core mission is built around:
Recruitment – attracting future students
Retention – keeping them engaged and thriving
Release – preparing them for success beyond the HILL
In addition to the aforementioned concepts, our school recruitment plan focuses heavily on the following:
Strong collaborations with counselors and the students' home schools
December counselor meeting invites to tour our facilities
Appearance at the FCPS Special School Showcase
Innovative Outreach Initiatives
Annual Preview Night
And lots and lots of tours for 8th graders, interested groups, ESL students, interested families, etc.
Retention focuses on supporting current students through tailored career and interest development programs, consistent academic monitoring, and enhancing student engagement. This approach ensures students are not only enrolled but also thriving and prepared for future opportunities.
Some additional strategies for retention include:
Field Trips to Colleges
Fostering Club and CTSO Involvement
Dual Credit Opportunities
This phase empowers students with choices and readiness - whether they pursue college, a career, or military service. It reflects a holistic commitment to student success beyond graduation, ensuring every senior has the resources, confidence, and support to "release" into adulthood prepared and informed.
Some core components to "Release" include:
Guest Speakers for Career Insights
FAFSA Workshops for Financial Aid
Resume Writing and Revision Assistance
Application Support for College and Jobs
Law Enforcement Program Flyer
Program Marketing & Recruitment Plan
Student Selection Process
2026-27 School Program Brochure
Mrs. Laura Anderkin is assigned to our Law Enforcement Pathway as the counselor. Mrs. Anderkin is actively involved in the program, assisting students with schedules and dual credit opportunities.
The counseling department in coordination with other team members leads in the promotion of our program with the feeder schools. Through site visits to our schools, parent nights, prospective student open houses, intentional recruitment planning, and presentation, the teams ensure classroom levels match program expectations.
The HILL is fortunate to have Mr. Milton Meza de los Santos as our Everybody Counts Career Coach. He helps connect students with resources related to scholarships, college applications, federal aid, vocational training, job placement, and anything else they need to be successful with employment, education, and training opportunities.
Beyond our technical pathways, the district offers both Army and Air Force JROTC programs that cultivate leadership, citizenship, and personal responsibility through student-led organizations and community service. Many of our Law Enforcement students at The HILL are actively involved in these programs, finding that the JROTC focus on discipline and "Deeds Not Words" perfectly complements their professional training in public safety.
Strong partnerships at The Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership amplify the meaningful work happening in our classrooms by aligning instruction with real industry needs.
Our bi-annual advisory meetings allow us to learn directly from partner expertise, strengthen career pipelines, and shape programs through collaborative input. Together, we expand work-based learning opportunities and ensure students graduate prepared to contribute with confidence and purpose in their chosen fields.
Chuck Adams
University of Kentucky Police
Logan Steele
University of Kentucky Police
Lora Estes
Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training
Matthew Laney
Lexington Division of Police
Rachel Kennedy
Lexington Division of Police
Everett Hobson
Lexington Division of Police
Michelle Patton
Lexington Division of Police
James Fugate
Woodford County Sheriff's Office
Lindsey Hix
Kentucky Attorney General's Office
Kelly Rasche
Kentucky State Police
Robert Purdy
Kentucky State Police
Principal: Michelle Wilson
Assistant Principal: Dr. Meghan Wood
Program Alignment and Administration, SKILLS USA Approvals
Counselor: Laura Anderkin
Scheduling Issues, Dual Credit, Academic Issues
Our Law Enforcement program and the school at large strictly adhere to comprehensive policies for the safe management of training equipment and a transparent, effective budgeting process. We maintain detailed strategic plans for the continuous replacement of consumables, software, and instructional materials to ensure our students always have access to current, industry-standard resources.
The program budget is set at the school level based upon program need. Budgets are formed yearly for the following two years, and includes consumables, industry standard testing, and equipment. The budget is then approved at the school level based upon the needs of all programs within the building.
For purchase, instructors obtain quotes for items then complete a purchase request which is forwarded through bookkeeping for the principals approval. As The HILL is a merging of two previously existing schools, budgets for The HILL alone have been included.
Written Budget Policy
Spring '25 Budget Request
2025-26 Budget Request
Note On Budget And Records From Previous Years
Due to the merger of Eastside and Southside Technical Centers into The HILL in August 2025, a complete record of program expenditures for the previous three years is currently unavailable, as many historical financial documents and records were not retained during the transition.