More Information
Late applications Career Academies and Programs of Choice are being accepted through the month of April.
POC Late Paper Application for 2021-22
Detailed information on all St. Johns County Career Academies and Programs of Choice is available on the CTE of St. Johns County website.
Check out our Academy Showcase!
Robert Raimann, St. Augustine High School Career Program Specialist
[email protected]
904.547.8538
Click Title or Image to view Academy websites
Overview
Instructors: Chris Daugherty, Steven Campos, David Moorefield
Professor David Moorefield, a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, started his aviation career in 1984 as a C-141B and C-5A mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. In 1989, he embarked on his flying career with the U.S. Navy by attending Aviation Officer Candidate School. Upon graduating Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola Fla, he entered Naval flight training earning his wings of Gold on November 15th 1991. Professor Moorefield held various assignments as a Naval Aviator to include instructing in the SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopters and T-34C primary training aircraft. As a primary flight instructor in the T-34C Professor Moorefield instructed all phases of flight to include VFR/IFR flight instruction, Aerobatics as well as Instrument Ground School, Meteorology, and Crew resource Management. His military aviation career spanned 28 years until his retirement from the Navy in 2012.
After retirement, Professor Moorefield continued with his passion of aviation, flying for various EMS helicopter companies flying the Bell 206, Euro copter EC-135 and commercial airlines flying CRJ-700/900 as well as a position with Northrop Grumman as a project manager on the E-2D in St Augustine.
Today Professor Moorefield continues to fly as a flight instructor at Florida Career Aviation Training flight school at St Augustine airport as well as teach at St Augustine High School as an Adjunct Professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Professor Moorefield holds a Master’s Degree from the U.S. Naval War College as well as an Air Transport Pilot License for airplanes and helicopters.
Instructors: Mr. Trey Brewer, Mr. Anthony Romeo-Adcock, Ms. Madeline Poe, Mr. Jonathan Peters, Ms. Kaila Schippani
First Sergeant Carlton Dale Brown was born in West Palm beach Florida and raised in suburban Atlanta Georgia. During his childhood he spent many long hours and days working his grandmother’s farm land. Working was part of his everyday life and yet he found time to study and finish school. First Sergeant Brown attended Lee County High School where he played basketball and ran track. He graduated in 1978 and went on to attend Atlanta Area Technical College. After a few years at the technical college, First Sergeant Brown decided to join the United States Army where he served as a logistics specialist, military intelligence sergeant, drill sergeant, and recruiting company First Sergeant. After 20 years of military service First Sergeant concluded his time in the army and retired in 2000. In 2001, First Sergeant Brown found employment as a JROTC instructor, Football coach, Basketball coach, and head track coach here at St. Augustine High School where he still serves today. First Sergeant Brown has obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and is in the process of completing his master’s at the university.
Army Instructor: (Ret.) 1SG Carlton D. Brown
Lieutenant Colonel James A. Nelson is a native of Jackson, Minnesota. He received a commission in the United States Army Reserve from Austin Peay State University in December 1992 graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a minor in Political Science. Upon entering active duty he attended the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, Virginia. After graduating from the Basic Course he was assigned to his first duty station at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. LTC Nelson spent the next 21 years serving in several conventional and unconventional forces. He has deployed several times to both Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom going through over 9 combat deployments most being over 12 months with two being over 16 months holding positions as a Company Commander to Battalion Executive Officer. He has spent the last 7 years teaching AJROTC in Memphis, TN before moving to St. Augustine, FL.
LTC Nelson’s military education includes the following schools: Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistical Officer Advance Course, the Command and General Staff College, and Joint and Combined Warfighter School. His awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star (3 oak leaf clusters), the Meritorious Service Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal (2nd award), the Air Assault Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
LTC Nelson has been married for 20 years to Theresa herself a native of Denver, Colorado. Together they have three children: Jordan (daughter age 19), Austin (son age 17), and Olivia (daughter age 11).
Instructors: Ms. Dempsey Hall, Ms. Frances Wood
Frances Wood moved to Florida after beginning college in Kentucky and completing her English Degree at Jacksonville University. She has been teaching high school English for twenty-one years. Several years ago she retired, but she missed the students too much to stay away. Ms. Wood lives in St. Augustine with her husband. She has two grown daughters, and her favorite pastime is spending time with her husband, her kids, and her dog. This year she is teaching Introduction to the Teaching Profession and AICE Literature. Often asked what her favorite book is, she replies, “The one that I’m currently reading.” You will often see Ms. Wood around campus attending sporting events and any other events in which her students are involved. GO JACKETS !!!
Dempsey Hall in currently in her fifth year of teaching at Saint Augustine High School. Born in Salisbury, Maryland, she attended Flagler College, where she majored in Secondary Education with a concentration in English Language Arts, and earned an ESOL endorsement. She spent her senior internship at Saint Augustine High School, and ultimately accepted English Language Arts teaching position soon after graduation. She has been a proud Yellow Jacket ever since.
Ms. Hall serves Saint Augustine High School as a teacher, coach, and club sponsor. She currently teaches 9th grade English and two Teaching Academy courses to junior and senior students through the St. Johns Academy of Future Teachers. She also coaches the girls’ varsity soccer team at Saint Augustine High School and has coached at the school for the past seven years. Ms. Hall is also the club sponsor for the Future Florida Educators of America and serves as a member of the AVID site team.
In her spare time, Ms. Hall enjoys traveling, hiking, photography, cooking, and writing. She has visited 12 countries and almost all 50 states! She is currently studying Spanish, learning to bake, and playing with her new camera. Ms. Hall’s favorite part of her job is sharing her passion for literature, watching students grow, and inspiring future teachers.
Academy Instructors: Lieutenant Harold Rutledge, Martin Westall
Harold Rutledge comes to St. Augustine High School with a combination of 38 years’ experience in criminal justice and education. Harold, a retired Lieutenant, began his career at the age of twenty two as a correctional officer. After several months, he transferred to the patrol division. During his career, Lt. Rutledge worked as a watch commander, school resource officer, hostage negotiator, field training officer, and a traffic homicide investigator, to name a few. He was a certified instructor in hostage negotiations, police radar operator, pepper spray, defensive tactics, firearms, and taught at the First Coast Technical College and the St. Johns River Police Academy.
He began his teaching career as the school resource officer at Clay High School in Green Cove Springs. He was asked to create the criminal justice program for the Academy of Law and Emergency Services and held the first class in 2003. That first class had only 12 students. Lt. Rutledge retired in 2015 from teaching with a robust program of nearly 400 students. In fact, his program was only the second criminal justice program in the nation to receive the prestigious Model Status from the National Career Academy Coalition.
During this same time period, Mr. Rutledge was elected as a County Commissioner for Clay County’s District Five. He served as the chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, the chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee and Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. During his time as a commissioner, he reduced property taxes by more than 20 percent while, funded needed road projects, a new Emergency Operations Center, and preserved the 150 acre Camp Chowenwaw Girl Scout camp as a Florida Forever park so generations to come can enjoy Clay County’s hidden treasure.
Lt. Rutledge holds advanced degrees in Criminal Justice, an Associate in Arts Degree from St. Johns River State College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of North Florida, and a Master’s Degree in Business from Ashford University. Education is something he strongly believes in and is one of a few things someone cannot take from you.
Harold and his wife have been married for more than 27 years and have four children. Three of his four children have either graduated or are currently attending the criminal justice program he built at Clay High School.
After retirement, Lt. Rutledge was asked to help start the criminal justice program at St. Augustine High School with the Academy of Law and Homeland Security. After the program got off to a rocky start, Harold was asked to join St. Augustine High School and teach the program. He left retirement and the golf course and has taken the program from 60 to nearly 200 students in just three years. This second program he has built offers the students a chance to earn 6 high school credit towards graduation, leave high school with the Police Service Aide (P.S.A.) certification, Florida Class D security guard license, and the 911 Telecommunicator license from the Florida Department of Health. These certifications and licenses allow a high school student to graduate and enter the workforce full or part-time.
Martin Westall is an Instructor at St. Augustine High School in the Academy of Law and Homeland Security. He is a Veteran of local Law Enforcement, having served with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and City of Green Cove Springs Police Department. While with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, he also served on the Honor Guard for the department, playing TAPS, at several funerals for Fallen Officers, Dignitaries, and was requested to play for Police Memorial Day in Tallahassee at the State Capitol. He took pride in serving the communities that he worked in and solved many cases. As a Rookie Officer, he was awarded the Prestigious “Officer of the Year” award for his prowess in solving several school burglaries, resulting in multiple arrests and convictions. His love for the job and his attentiveness to his students, shines thru every day. He brings his experience in Law Enforcement, and knowledge of Florida Laws, as well as diversity and cultural changes from those departments to the classroom. He believes that while Patrol is the backbone of any department, teaching this environment to high school students is vital to their future vocational lives after graduation. Mr. Westall has three grown children and 1 grandson. His hobbies include horseback riding (owned a farm), going to the shooting range, riding on the beach and trails in a Jeep, mountain trips, and photography. He enjoys playing Santa Claus during Christmas season. He inspires students with two favorite quotes: “We are constantly learning, even at my age!”, and “The FBI calls that a clue!”