Academy of Environmental Water Technology (AEWT)

1. Heritage High School’s Academy of Environmental Water Technology (AEWT) Somer Y. Sutton, Director and AEWT Lead Teacher

2. “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” • from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

3. The Importance of Water Technology: Water Availability • Earth is a water planet: • 71.4% of the earth is covered in water, • However, only around 3% of it is fresh (“drinkable”) water • 2/3 of that 3% of fresh water is locked up in permanent ice (glaciers, polar ice caps) • This leaves only 1% of Earth’s water to quench the needs of 7 billion (+) peoples (!)

4. Drinking Water Operator • Drinking water operators are responsible for providing people with safe, clean (and palatable) water. • Drinking water operators are certified by state agencies and are employed local, state and federal entities (Army Corp of Engineers, military and civilian), private businesses, etc. • Water operations offer either a lifelong career opportunity or can act as a stepping stone to a large variety of environmental careers.

5. The Importance of Water Technology: The Workforce Need • Consider these conclusions from a recent Water Environment Research Foundation study: • It is projected that in the next ten years, 37 percent of water utility workers and 31 percent of wastewater utility workers will retire • These are the people who manage and protect our precious supply of fresh water.

6. AEWT Addresses this Workforce Need “Preparing the Next Generation of Environmental & Water Stewards” • AEWT focuses on an Environmental Water Technology course of study, leading to a student industry certification • Students can graduate high school with a Level C Water Operator Pre-licensure courses

7. AEWT Course of Study • Required Academy Course: • Beginning Water Technology (10th grade) • Intermediate Water Technology (11th grade) • Advanced Water Technology (12th grade) • Science Research (any year) • Electives: • Marine Science/AICE Marine Science • AICE Environmental Management • Senior year: Level C Water Operator State Test

8. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that operators of water- and wastewater-treatment plants earned an average salary of $41,580 in 2009. (http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/careers/104723.html)

9. Career Directions

10. Average Salaries for Environmental Jobs • Senior Environmental Scientist Analyst • $84,000 • Scientist Clinical Lab • $55,000 • Coastal Resources Scientist • $71,000 • Interdiscplinary Scientist G • $61,000 • Environmental Scientist • $56,000 • NEPA Planner • $67,000 • Senior Environmental Scientist • $66,000 • Environmental Engineer Investigation Closure • $72,000 • City Research Scientist • $65,000 • Geologist Environmental Scientist • $52,000 • Physical Scientist G • $83,000 • Soil Scientist • $70,000 • Research Scientist Supervisor • $83,000 • (http://www.indeed.com/salary/Environmental-Scientist.html)

11. AEWT Features • Paid student internship • Industry Mentors • Industry Guest Speakers • Industry Sponsorships • Summer employment/research • Partnership with Florida Gateway College • Employ Florida Water Banner Center affiliation • Engaged Advisory Committee • 3-4 year sequential CTE program • Voluntary open enrollment • Integrated academic & technical curriculum • Real world, hands-on field experience and research projects • Water and/or wastewater Level C pre-licensure courses • Postsecondary Dual Enrollment Credit

12. AEWT Advisory Committee • Brevard Public Schools • Florida Department of Environmental Protection • St. Johns River Water Management District • Employ Florida Water Banner Center for Water Resources • City of Palm Bay Utilities & HR Departments • City of Cocoa Utilities Department • City of Melbourne Utilities Department • Florida Gateway College • Florida Institute of Technology: Civil Engineering • Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program • Florida Rural Water Association • Florida Section AWWA • Ecospatial Analysts, Inc • 321 Plumbing, Inc.

13. What kinds of activities do AEWT students do? School-wide recycling initiative

14. Barrier Island Sancturay

16. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

17. Mote Marine Laboratory

18. Unique Hands-On Experiences in the Classroom • Laptop computer lab in the classroom • State-of-the-art laboratory in the classroom • Industry-specific equipment • Classroom river and aquifer models • Soil, air and water quality field kits • Solar panel construction • Fresh/saltwater mini ecosystems • Coming soon: • School garden • Aquaponic growing systems • Mini-river ecosystem working model

19. Unique Hands-On Experiences in the Classroom Cross-connection/ backflow model

20. Science Fair • Solar-powered, portable, UV disinfection device for water (funded by a $500 J.B. Butler Science Grant) • “Geobot” used to identify types of minerals in soil • Solar powered model vehicle • A profile of native and non-native species in the local watershed • Environmentally-friendly pest control in agriculture • Using greywater in hydroponics • Environmentally-friendly mosquito control

21. Additional Activities • Environmental Sustainability Club • EnviroThon competition • Energy Whiz competition • Beach clean-ups • Organic farming • Stormwater Sedimentation and Erosion Control Class

22. What are the benefits of an academy? • This promotes a family-like atmosphere and results in close student-teacher ties. • A career academy includes the following essential elements: • A small learning community • A college-prep curriculum with a career theme • Partnerships with employers, the community, and higher education • By design, these three central elements of a career academy lead to a curriculum that is rigorous, relevant, and relational. • (http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/careeracademies/ca_home.asp)