Plainville High School Launches New Trade Academy to Prepare Students for High Demand Careers
Plainville High School is proud to announce the launch of its new Trade Academy, a four-year program designed to prepare students for successful careers in the skilled trades, including carpentry, electrical, and HVACR. The Plainville High School Trade Academy was made possible through the support of a dynamic “funder collaborative” - a group of state and local funders, including the State of Connecticut, Main Street Community Foundation, Farmington Bank Community Foundation, the Petit Family Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, and the American Savings Bank Foundation, who have generously provided financial support for the program.
The Trade Academy, which debuts this fall, will provide students with a hands-on, career-focused educational experience beginning as early as their freshman year. Students will explore a variety of trade pathways while developing foundational skills in tool use, safety, and problem-solving. As they progress through the program, students will engage in advanced coursework in OSHA safety, employability skills, construction math, blueprint reading, and industry-specific training delivered through the nationally accredited NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) curriculum - the gold standard for construction and trades education in the United States.
By the end of the program, students will have gained extensive experience in construction, electrical systems, and HVACR through project-based learning in state-of-the-art lab environments. Students completing the NCCER curriculum will earn portable, nationally recognized industry credentials. These are qualifications that are highly valued with employers throughout the region and across the country. In the final phase of the program, seniors will have the ability to participate in work-based learning opportunities, partnering with local businesses and industry professionals to gain real-world experience before graduation. Sixteen students will comprise the inaugural Trades Academy cohort; those students were selected from the initial applicant pool, and will be in grades 9-12 during the 2026-27 school year.
Plainville High School is proud to partner with the Construction Education Center (CEC) of Plainville, strengthening the program through industry collaboration, expanded training opportunities, and alignment with workforce needs. This partnership helps ensure students are learning skills that are directly relevant to today’s job market.
“This program is about creating opportunities for students to succeed in meaningful and rewarding careers,” said Dave Gaignard, Trade Academy Instructor. “The Trade Academy will help students build real skills, earn industry-recognized certifications, and graduate with a clear pathway to employment or further training.”
The Trade Academy reflects Plainville High School’s ongoing commitment to innovation in education and to meeting the growing demand for skilled trades professionals in the region.
“We are excited to build this program with the support of the Plainville community. We are passionate about supporting all students' career exploration. This program will allow PHS to support students who are interested in Trade exploration in equal capacity as college bound career pathways,” said Jennifer DeLorenzo, Principal of Plainville High School.
“We are honored to partner with Plainville High School to help create more opportunities for students to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades,” said Marcie Addy, Director of the Construction Education Center of Plainville. “The Trade Academy is built on the NCCER accredited curriculum, ensuring students earn nationally recognized industry credentials alongside their diploma. This reflects a shared commitment to hands-on learning, workforce readiness and giving students access to skills that can lead directly to rewarding careers.”
“The Plainville pre-apprenticeship program stands as a model for other high schools in Connecticut," said Todd Berch, Director of the CTDOL Office of Apprenticeship Training. "This program blends STEM coursework, industry-standard technical skills training, and work-based learning to ensure students are ready for Registered Apprenticeships and confident about their career choice in the skilled trades. I applaud Principal DeLorenzo, the Plainville Board of Education, Construction Education Center, and CT Associated Builders & Contractors for their tireless work on behalf of students and all the employers waiting to hire them after graduation."
“There are many ways to approach the workforce shortage. As local philanthropic funders, we have a shared commitment and belief that this academy will prepare students for high demand careers in fields that are essential to our local community and beyond,” commented Main Street Community Foundation President & CEO, Susan Sadecki.
“This program gives our students so many opportunities that will elevate them as they enter the workforce and postsecondary education. This is a great example of the broader educational community coming together to build a program tailored for our students,” noted Superintendent of Schools, Brian Reas.