Florida - Miami
Florida
SIATech at Miami Job Corps Center
3050 NW 183rd Street
Miami Gardens, FL 33056-3536
Tel: (305) 624-1144, ext. 6301
Principal: Catherine Bonnewell
catherine.bonnewell@siatech.org
Overview
SIATech at Miami is nestled in the newly formed community of Miami Gardens. The Job Corps Center which houses the school is a relatively new building in an urban area which was built specifically for the Job Corps program. Beautifully landscaped walkways and outdoor areas, maintained by the students, give this center a tropical flair.
Students take pride in their surroundings as evidenced by the number of students completing the requirements of the painting, carpentry, facilities maintenance, landscaping, and culinary arts vocational trades. They are regularly engaged in hands-on work assignments throughout the campus.
Of the 300 trainees who attend this Job Corps Center, SIATech serves approximately 150 students who are interested in attaining their high school diploma. Most of the students are from the neighboring community and live in the immediate area.
Principal Profile
Catherine Bonnewell has been the principal at the Miami SIATech campus since July of 2005. Prior to joining the SIATech staff, Ms. Bonnewell worked as an assistant principal, reading facilitator, and classroom teacher. Ms. Bonnewell graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She obtained her Master's Degree in Reading Education from Florida International University.
Success Stories
Success on the Horizon for International Students
Two SIATech Miami Graduates' Stories of Transformation
by Lori Trujillo
If the economic crisis facing today's youth isn't enough, add to the mix English language barriers, culture shock and academic challenges and you'll still find some inspiring youth from foreign countries leading the way of the American Dream. For two young women from Jamaica and Haiti, a local career training and educational center has been their road map to brighter futures.
Esther Dol is a young woman who came to Miami Job Corps Center (MJCC) in 2009. Having arrived from her native homeland Haiti, she was eager for the opportunity to complete her education, improve her foreign language skills and learn valuable work skills. During her stay at MJCC, Dol completed her English as a Second Language (ESOL) program, earned certification in the Accounting trade, graduated with a high school diploma and served as an ambassador for a Job Corps Commercial that aired on National television in 2009. In 2010, Dol was awarded a scholarship from Faith Medical Institute (FMI) Career School, an opportunity where she receives free tuition to pursue a nursing career and a paid internship to work as an Administrative Assistant. "This is a dream come true for me. I'm Looking forward to the challenge," said Dol.
At a young age of 16, Rasheda WestCarr left her home in Saint Catherine-SpanishTown, Jamaica to start a new life in south Florida with her Mother and siblings. And while her new start was exciting for her, WestCarr said the FCAT became an obstacle while she was attending a local high school. "In Jamaica there is no FCAT, our school system is different in that once we complete our subjects, we graduate. I think (the FCAT) can really be a challenge here in the U.S." Yet despite this obstacle, WestCarr enrolled at MJCC and has already gained her High School Diploma from SIATech charter school, has passed the ACT exam and has been accepted to attend Miami Dade College in the fall. WestCarr has also been recognized for her volunteer service to projects with Miami Dade County’s District 1 Commissioner Barbara Jordan’s Office, the Miami Council on International Visitors (MCIV) and the Miami Job Corps Green Team.
With such admirable qualities as courage, dedication, leadership and talent, these young women have shown that the world of their dreams is well within reach.
Thank you to Lori Trujillo, Business and Community Liaison at Miami Job Corps, for submitting this story and photo. She can be reached at Trujillo.Lori@jobcorps.gov.
Helping Haiti:
SIATech Staff and Students Work Together to
Help a Country in Need
At the Miami Job Corps Center, SIATech Creative Technology and Senior Projects Instructor Candice Owens stepped up to lead a Haitian relief fundraiser. Ms. Owens extended her sincere gratitude to her colleagues including Center Director Willie Brown, Ms. Pierre, Ms. Deguerre, and many others. This "labor of love" raised more than $400 as well as 30 boxes of food and clothing. ~Catherine Bonnewell, SIATech Miami Principal
Success Story from Miami Gardens
The program has gained a great deal of momentum since the day it opened and staff members regularly comment on the positive changes they have noticed in the students since SIATech began. Most notably is the increase in their academic achievements. Even one Army recruiter exclaimed about the rise in the overall ASVAB scores from the SIATech students. He noted, “The scores are really going up and the one thing that has made the difference is the addition of SIATech.”
