SANFORD, Fla. – Stepping into Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford’s Historic Goldsboro community, you’re immediately greeted by relics of the past and a glimpse into the future.
The Seminole County public school is a magnet school, immersing students in multimedia design technology, computer programming and network systems technology. The school is in its 98th year.
Principal Brandon Hanshaw shared some of the school’s history with News 6 anchor Julie Broughton, explaining the legacy of the school’s founder, Joseph Crooms, and his wife, Wealthy.
“Dr. Crooms was the principal here for over 30 years and was principal of Hopper Academy prior to that,” Hanshaw said. “But the original intent of Crooms Academy in 1926 was so the African American students across all of Central Florida would have their very first access to a public school curriculum that went past 10th grade through 11th and 12th, that focused on post-secondary skills, which gave them a curriculum to add the arts, the sciences that led to college opportunities beyond high school. Prior to that everything concluded in 10th grade and was trade- and agriculturally-based so the current family was indeed innovators. And we’re just hoping to continue in that spirit of innovation today.”
Just past historic images of Crooms and some of the school’s first students, you’ll see some technology that’s normally hidden.
“So behind me, you’ll see most of the networking information infrastructure that is actually used to power the school. In most high schools, you’re not going to see all this stuff out in the open with glass because it’s usually hidden back away behind closets. But because we are an information technology school, it’s important for our kids to understand the real-world applications of this sort of stuff, which is also why we see these wire management systems running along in the exposed part of the ceiling,” Assistant Principal Clayton Donnan said.
Donnan told News 6 that the curriculum heavily focuses on career development. Crooms is a member of the National Academy Foundation, which allows students to gain work experience through paid internships and mentoring. Crooms is also an AA Pathway. That means students can earn an Associate of Arts Degree from Seminole State College while still in high school.
Because Crooms Academy of Information Technology is a magnet school, any high school student in Seminole County can apply. A lottery fills open spots.
To learn more about the school and how to apply, click here.
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