Julia Miller graduated from Troy University, majoring in communications. During her time at Troy, she joined her school's local news station, TROY TrojanVision News, where she discovered her passion for journalism.
While there might be regular classes, students at a new school in Albertville will learn how to weld, build robots, and everything in between.
Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey was on hand as Albertville City Schools cut the ribbon for the new Albertville Innovation Academy.
It's a first of its kind; the Albertville Innovation Academy offers a wide range of career and technical education programs to equip students with the skills they need for future success.
Tyler Reeves, the school principal, stated that this school is a representation of today's society.
"Really, the creation stems from just a changing world we are living in, workforce development, and getting to a place in education where we don't say everybody needs to go this one certain way. We know that there are a lot of different ways that students can become productive citizens," said Reeves.
Albertville City Schools superintendent, Bart Reeves, says not only are the students learning major life skills, they are also preparing for real life by learning hands-on each day.
"What we were wanting to do, what I want all of our teachers to do, whether they are in the traditional high school or whether they are here at the academy, we want them to prepare kids to go to college or work, one of the two... so that is the impact of just preparing our kids, getting them ready for life," said Reeves.
Alabama state superintendent of education Dr. Eric Mackey said he believes this is the future for students and hopes to see it take off statewide.
"Whether people want to go to a two-year college or a four-year college, they want to go straight to work, straight to the military. Employers all tell us the same thing: they need students who have these basic academic skills who can think, who can work together in groups, and who can do things; they can build projects, and that's what we see here at the innovation center," said Mackey.
Reeves says right now the school serves around 350 students in grades nine through twelve.
"Our students that are AIA students that are here all day get everything here. We serve a lot of 10th and 11th graders; we also have some seniors and freshmen. Those are our two smaller classes. As this thing evolves, we feel like it'll be a deal where we have to turn kids away," said Reeves.