At a Glance

The Greater Peninsula is one of the first six Virginia sites, selected by the Department of Education in 2008, to implement Governor Kaine's "Governor's Academy for Career and Technology Education" (GAITE).This initiative is to prepare innovators and technologists for Virginia's workforce, especially in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

GAITE is designed to provide an academy focused on advanced academic and technical skills in each of the six Greater Peninsula school divisions. Its initial focus is in Engineering Technology: electrical engineering technology (EET)and mechanical engineering technology (MET). GAITE is coordinated by New Horizons Regional Education Centers, the largest and oldest regional center in the state, and is operated by the six Greater Peninsula school divisions. GAITE involves partners from education, business, postsecondary education, and non-profit organizations.

Academy of Engineering Technology
The GAITE's initial Academy of Engineering Technology with career pathways in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) is offered within each of the Greater Peninsula school divisions. These are high growth and high compensation occupations on the Greater Peninsula and for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Graduates of the Academy will have earned transferable credits to TNCC and ODU and/or industry credentials, and employment consideration with NASA, Northrop Grumman and other local businesses upon completion of college training.

The Academy of Engineering Technology provides enrichment program: Exploratory Saturdays (7th and 8th grade), Summer Camp (9th and 10th grade); and an Academy program (11th and 12th grade). Academy courses, both academic and technical, may be offered at divisional high schools, New Horizons, Thomas Nelson Community College, or through distance learning. Curriculum and applications are managed by each school division.