V. STUDENT PREPARATION
V. STUDENT PREPARATION
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STANDARD V:
STANDARD V:
A comprehensive process to prepare students for career transition is in place. Students are given co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities that support career goals. Students are supported and recognized by staff.
Table of Contents for Standard V:
Table of Contents for Standard V:
CAREER AWARENESS & EMPLOYABILITY
CAREER AWARENESS & EMPLOYABILITY
Our program provides a comprehensive multi-year career and employability plan that integrates individual counseling, industry-recognized certifications, and robust Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities to ensure student success and post-secondary tracking. Furthermore, we foster leadership and community engagement through active SkillsUSA participation, a wide variety of student recognition types, and strong partnerships with local agencies and the Explorer Post.
Below you will find a quick overview of our Program's scope and sequencing - including our multi-year course plan - as well as data on our enrollment, extra-curricular participation, and certification and test scores.
The above data is based just on the 2025-2026 school year, which is the first year The HILL has been open and operational.
STUDENT FOCUS: HILL STUDENT STRUCTURE
STUDENT FOCUS: HILL STUDENT STRUCTURE
The HILL is a premier career and technical education center designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry excellence. By integrating rigorous academics with hands-on, real-world application, we empower students to graduate not just with a diploma, but with a clear trajectory toward high-demand careers and post-secondary success.
Students from all the public high schools in Fayette County have the opportunity to attend The HILL. In our student enrollment breakdown above, you can see the student population count from our 4 largest high schools in the district.
Our application process at The HILL is designed to be intentionally inclusive and accessible, utilizing a student-centered approach that offers materials in multiple languages and across various devices to reach all learners.
By balancing qualitative interview responses with quantitative data, we strive to build a student body that is truly representative of our community’s diverse genders, ethnicities, and learning styles. Our goal is to ensure that our programs reflect the rich diversity of our district, preparing every student to thrive in a professional and competitive environment.
Application FAQ's Document Shared By Counseling Department
The above data details our inclusive enrollment of special populations and varied student identities at The HILL.
To ensure every learner reaches their full potential, we provide specialized support services for a wide range of learning needs, the impact of which is highlighted in the following metrics.
We take pride in our deep community roots, and the data above illustrates the significant volume of industry partnerships, facility tours, and student engagement events that define our collaborative environment.
This graphic highlights the tangible value we provide our families through college tuition savings, dual-credit opportunities, and the extensive work-based learning hours our students log to prepare for their careers.
Our School's Data For Project Right Size, Bright Future
Our School's Data For Project Right Size, Bright Future
Project Right Size, Bright Future is a Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) initiative launched in late 2025 to optimize district facilities, improve financial efficiency, and address capacity issues. It involves a community-based committee reviewing building usage, student population shifts, and potential consolidations, such as the initial focus on RISE STEM Academy for Girls, George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys, and The Stables.
Right Size, Bright Future Flyer.pdfFlyer of School Data for Project
Presentation of School Data for Project
Our school, like many, presented data on demographics, spending, and community engagement as a part of this new program.
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS & PATHWAY / PROGRAM COMPLETERS
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS & PATHWAY / PROGRAM COMPLETERS
Students are encouraged throughout the two-year program to complete the industry standard testing identified by Kentucky Department of Education. (Our program has previously included a three-year track and we anticipate that returning in the future.) These tests include, FEMA 100, 200, 700 and 800, Basic Life Support, Stop the Bleed, and the National Law Enforcement Certification Exam, or NECI 911 exam. Beginning with student's first semester and throughout the program, industry-level testing is prioritized. Upon finishing the program, students will earn a recognition stole to wear with their graduation regalia. If they complete industry certifications to indicate post-secondary readiness (PSR), they will earn an additional pin for the program. This can then be placed on their academic stoles with their graduation regalia (please see section below for more information).
The image to the left shows data on our program/pathway completers for the current school year, as well as preceding two years. Data for PSR for the year 2023-2024 is currently inaccessible.
Our previous school (Eastside) and another tech school (Southside) merged in the fall of 2025 to form The HILL. At that time, some previous data from the programs became unavailable due to this merger.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER PLANS & ELEVATE "PORTFOLIOS"
INDIVIDUAL CAREER PLANS & ELEVATE "PORTFOLIOS"
The Elevate process empowers students to develop essential self-advocacy and goal-setting skills through customized learning and mentorship. Developed by our district as a comprehensive digital portfolio, the online platform allows students to document meaningful "moments" and utilize Virtual Job Shadowing to build a personalized ILP for career placement and global success.
Elevate increases student motivation and accountability by transforming the standard Individual Learning Plan (ILP) into a dynamic embodiment of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate. Through mentor-led "Elevate Circles" and dedicated classroom spaces, students build the strong relationships and employability skills necessary to make informed, authentic decisions about their postsecondary futures.
EVERYBODY COUNTS PROGRAM
EVERYBODY COUNTS PROGRAM
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.
Primary Function: Postsecondary Planning & Transition Support
Supports seniors in planning and progress toward their postsecondary goals.
Facilitates career exploration, resume support, interview prep, job shadowing, and employer connections.
Partners with families, counselors, and community organizations to remove barriers to graduation and postsecondary success.
Coordinates postsecondary planning events such as FAFSA workshops, scholarship support sessions, and pathway commitment ceremonies.
Maintains regular communication with students post-graduation to ensure sustained support and successful transitions.
Collaborates with regional employers and workforce partners to match students with job opportunities, apprenticeships, and internships.
Pathful Explore: Helping Students Navigate Their Future
Pathful Explore: Helping Students Navigate Their Future
To help students navigate the complexities of the legal field, our Law Enforcement program and Everbody Counts Coach utilize Pathful Explore, a comprehensive video-based platform that brings real-world career planning directly into the classroom. Through interactive interest assessments and a library of "Day in the Life" virtual job-shadowing videos, students can explore various law enforcement roles and build personalized career paths based on their unique strengths. This digital tool also offers specialized "FlexLessons" and employability skill videos, empowering our students to develop the essential professional habits and technical knowledge required for success in high-demand public safety careers.
Program Success Story: Graduate Brittany Sherrod
Program Success Story: Graduate Brittany Sherrod
Brittany Sherrod was a 2020 graduate of Eastside Technical School and Woodford County High School. In high school, she was a member of the 2018-2019 United States Women’s Lacrosse All-American and All-Academic Teams. She led the nation in goals scored during her junior season in high school, according to United States Women’s Lacrosse, and was a three-time selection to participate as a player for the Women’s Divisional National Team. Her high school team won back-to-back state championships during sophomore and junior seasons. After high school graduation, she was recruited to play lacrosse at Gardner-Webb University. While there she was a homeland security major and ROTC cadet.
While in the Law Enforcement Program at Eastside Technical School, she was competitive in SkillsUSA and placed 1st with her team in Crime Scene Investigation.
SKILLSUSA PARTICIPATION
SKILLSUSA PARTICIPATION
The Law Enforcement pathway has a robust Skill USA membership. For the 2025-2026 school year, twenty-six students were active members with several competing in both pathway and leadership competitions. Since The HILL just opened in August of 2025, our SkillsUSA chapter has not applied for bronze level nor higher, however; plans are in place to work toward this goal in the future.
2025-2026 Law Enforcement Program SkillsUSA Participants
Students have previously taken part in the Kentucky Leadership Training Institute as an out of school leadership event. Additionally students receive presentations on the explorer program, agency youth academies, teen court and other opportunities offered in the community.
Recent SkillsUSA Regional Wins:
Recent SkillsUSA Regional Wins:
Criminal Justice:
1st Place - Jacob Carrus
2nd Place - Simon Yamada
Tactical Teams:
2nd Place - Ben Morton, Luke Williams, Matthew Wilson, Joseph Anjos
3rd Place - Emmanual Diaz, Andrew Dunham, Samuel Mehnert, Bryson Riley
Crime Scene:
1st Place - Ana Franco, Ashley Perez Rosas, Emma Wiggins
2nd Place - Sophia Florez, Caraline Sterne, Zain Eary
Proud Hosts: SkillsUSA Law Enforcement Regionals 2026
Proud Hosts: SkillsUSA Law Enforcement Regionals 2026
The HILL was honored to host the 2026 SkillsUSA Regional Law Enforcement competition, welcoming talented students from Fayette County and surrounding districts to showcase their expertise in public safety. Participants demonstrated elite professional skills across categories like criminal justice, tactical response, and crime scene investigation, proving their readiness for the rigorous demands of the law enforcement field.
You can click either of the above images to open the social media posts about our Regionals event on Instagram.
Please scroll through the above gallery of students participating in various SkillsUSA competitions. The photos also show a wide variety of our facilities that were utilized and a variety of advisory board members and local law enforcement who participated as judges.
Advisory Board Members & Other Law Enforcement Professionals That Assisted At Regionals:
Donald Horton of Lexington Police and Lexington Police Explorers Leader
Rachel Kennedy of Lexington Police
Brandon Kennedy of Lexington Police
Justin Muravchick of Lexington Police
Everett Hobson of Lexington Police
Matthew Laney of Lexington Police
David Schroerlucke, retired from Frankfort Police
Erica Settelen, Law & Public Safety Career Pathways Representative in Kentucky for Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Above is a copy of the "thank you email" sent to participants and judges following our Regionals competition by our program instructor.
Thie email was a follow-up email from one of our professional participants at the Regionals event.
Images are from the 2024 KLTI at Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp.
KENTUCKY LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE (KLTI) & SKILLSUSA
KENTUCKY LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE (KLTI) & SKILLSUSA
The Kentucky Leadership Training Institute (KLTI), often held in October, brings together state officer teams from both KY HOSA and SkillsUSA Kentucky. This joint conference focuses on developing leadership skills, networking, and strategic planning for the upcoming school year.
Joint Initiative: The collaborative event prepares officers from both career-technical student organizations to lead effectively.
Purpose: Training focuses on communication, teamwork, and planning local chapter activities.
Focus: It allows KY HOSA and SkillsUSA KY leaders to unite on shared goals in career and technical education.
WORK-BASED LEARNING AT THE HILL
WORK-BASED LEARNING AT THE HILL
At The HILL, industry partnerships are intentionally integrated into daily learning, giving students meaningful opportunities to engage with employers and real-world work environments. Work-Based Learning includes both internships and co-op experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom.
To ensure high-quality, professional experiences for students and industry partners, students must demonstrate readiness and meet established eligibility considerations prior to participating in Work-Based Learning opportunities.
Students interested in WBL opportunities work with a variety of HILL staff in preparation:
Austin Howell, Program Manager
Erin McIver, Curriculum Coach
Milton Meza, Everybody Counts Career Coach
Sara Tracy, Strategic Partnerships Manager
Partnership Packet.pdfView Our Partnerships Informational Packet Above
Student Eval - WBL.docxCopy of The HILL's WBL Student Evaluation Form
Copy of WBL transportation documentCopy of The HILL's WBL Guardian Permission Form
To provide our students with authentic professional exposure, we are continually expanding our Work-Based Learning (WBL) initiatives, ranging from hands-on simulation to community partnerships. While age requirements and agency policies can present traditional placement challenges, we bridge this gap through a robust guest speaker series, job shadowing with School Resource Officers (SROs), and intensive training on our various simulators (vehicular and 911), which allow students to navigate real-world service calls in a controlled environment.
Moving forward, we are aggressively scaling our outreach to develop new internships and formalize a full integration with the Police Explorers program to round out our three-year curriculum. Our current focus includes expanding community service projects, such as our work with local food banks, while our Law Enforcement instructor and WBL Coordinator collaborate closely to secure diverse, high-quality mentorships and professional placements for every student.
WBL EXPERIENCES THROUGH LEXINGTON POLICE EXPLORERS PROGRAM
WBL EXPERIENCES THROUGH LEXINGTON POLICE EXPLORERS PROGRAM
The Lexington Police Explorer Program provides students with an introduction to a career in law enforcement or the criminal justice system. Designed for youth aged 14 to 21, Explorers learn through both classroom and field environments. The program not only provides firsthand experience in law enforcement but also offers students invaluable experiences in character building, leadership development, and community service.
Click To View A Video About The Program
CELEBRATING WINTERFEST WINS
CELEBRATING WINTERFEST WINS
We want to congratulate our Police Explorer Program Post #357, who competed in Winterfest 2026 in Gatlinburg. They won 1st place in the Honor Guard and Crisis Negotiation events, and 3rd place in the Cell Search and Uniform Inspection events!
Winterfest is a 2-day event featuring competitions, aquatic and STEM events, shooting sports, climbing, sports tournaments, and more! Many events are related to various career fields such as Fire Service, Law Enforcement, and EMS.
WBL EFFORTS THROUGH GUEST SPEAKERS & FIELD TRIPS
WBL EFFORTS THROUGH GUEST SPEAKERS & FIELD TRIPS
While student safety and security protocols naturally limit on-site work-based learning within the law enforcement field, our program maintains a robust connection to the industry through a constantly rotating schedule of diverse guest speakers and practitioners. We further bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application by coordinating as many relevant field trips as possible, ensuring students gain direct exposure to the professional environments they aspire to join.
A FEW GUEST SPEAKERS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, & FIELD TRIPS
A FEW GUEST SPEAKERS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, & FIELD TRIPS
EKU Field Trip
EKU Field Trip
Chris O'Bryan Visit
James Fugate Visit
Memorial Field Trip
Body Farm Trip
Kelly Rasche Visit
FCPS Career Fair
STUDENT RECOGNITION: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AT THE HILL
STUDENT RECOGNITION: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AT THE HILL
Our Law Enforcement program takes pride in celebrating student achievement through a diverse range of honors, including the daily "Student Buck" rewards for exemplary character and the selection of elite Student Ambassadors to represent our pathway. Beyond the classroom, we formally recognize professional growth and community leadership with distinguished graduation regalia, including program-specific pins and the prestigious Portrait of a Graduate medallion.
BLUEPRINT OF A HILL STUDENT & STUDENT BUCKS RECIPIENTS
BLUEPRINT OF A HILL STUDENT & STUDENT BUCKS RECIPIENTS
At The HILL, we’re building more than careers. We’re building habits, skills, and mindsets that make us workforce ready and future focused.
We have a unique, career-focused take on student expectations and conduct. Please see our "Blueprint of a HILL Student," outlined to the left. Click on the image for a larger view.
This year, instructors are awarding “Bonus Checks” to students who go above and beyond in demonstrating the Blueprint of a HILL Student: Habits of Success, Industry-Level Skills, Literacy for the Workforce, and Leveraging Technology.
HILL STUDENT AMBASSADORS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
HILL STUDENT AMBASSADORS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
Matthew Wilson
Summer Pulido Lopez
Jacob Carrus
Oparebea (Blessing) Ayeh
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM PURPOSE:
The HILL Ambassadors are the face and voice of The Hub for Innovative Learning and Leadership. They model the professionalism, curiosity, and innovation that define our community, serving as guides, leaders, and storytellers for current and future HILL students.
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM MISSION:
To develop student leaders who represent The HILL with professionalism, communicate its story with confidence, and demonstrate the habits, skills, and mindsets that prepare them for success in college, career, and life.
RECOGNITION VIA GRADUATION REGALIA
RECOGNITION VIA GRADUATION REGALIA
Our graduates are honored with a distinguished program pin to signify their status as Kentucky Department of Education program completers, marking the culmination of their multi-year journey at The HILL. These pins serve as a prestigious addition to our school-specific graduation stoles, celebrating students who have mastered their craft and successfully met the rigorous state and industry certification requirements.
Above is the initial slideshow proposal for this graduation initiative, which will occur for the first time in May 2026.
This is a picture of the white satin stole students will earn when they complete a CTE program course sequence.
Above is a closer image of the pins that students can earn when they pass the industry certifications included in their career program(s).
An AI-generated image showing roughly what our graduation regalia will look like when worn with the different colored caps and gowns of our district's various high schools.
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE MEDALLION
PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE MEDALLION
Beyond program honors, HILL seniors can earn the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) medallion for their graduation regalia by documenting growth through "Elevate moments." To qualify, students must achieve "Momentous Maestro Gold" status with 40 total moments, complete the POG and Resume Rockstar badges, and submit a final post-secondary reflection. Registration via the official HILL form and tagging the Elevate coordinator is required to track progress toward this prestigious honor.
HONOR SOCIETY PARTICIPATION
HONOR SOCIETY PARTICIPATION
While The HILL does not currently host an National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) chapter and has not previously had one prior to the merger, we hope to establish our inaugural chapter next year; in the meantime, students are encouraged to pursue leadership and recognition through NHS, Beta Club, and various academic honor societies at their home high schools.
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