The Kenton County school district’s Academies of Innovation and Technology was recently named a PEAK (Public Education Achieves in Kentucky) Award winner by the Kentucky School Boards Association.

KSBA established the PEAK Award in 1997 to focus statewide attention on outstanding public school efforts aimed specifically at enhancing student learning skills and, in doing so, to promote the positive impact of public elementary and secondary education in Kentucky.

In its second year, the Academies of Innovation and Technology, partners with local business, industry and higher education leaders in guiding students toward career opportunities.

The Academy of Innovation and Technology is one of six district academies used to help students build career paths. The others are biomedical sciences; sustainable energy technology engineering; high performance production technology; engineering; and media arts and informatics.

Students spend half a day in their regular classes and the other half at the academy of their choice. Dual credit is available for students.

Business, manufacturing professionals and area educators who helped create the curriculum, also serve each academy in respective advisory roles.