Lt. Governor Jay Collins Visits Astronaut High School
Brevard Public Schools welcomed Lt. Governor Jay Collins to Astronaut High School this week, where he toured the school’s expanding Career & Technical Education offerings and spent time with students in the nationally recognized welding program.
The visit came just one day after Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida now ranks No. 1 in the nation for workforce education, underscoring the state’s continued investment in preparing students for high-demand careers.
During his tour, Lt. Governor Collins met with welding students and instructional staff, observing live demonstrations and discussing the hands-on training that prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce. Collins noted that he was particularly impressed with the students’ technical skill, confidence, and enthusiasm for the trade.
Florida’s welding industry continues to experience high demand, with the average age of workers around 50 years old. Collins emphasized the need to train the next generation of welders to help fill a growing workforce gap in a field essential to infrastructure, manufacturing, aerospace, and defense.
Astronaut High School’s welding program provides students with industry certifications, early career experience, and pathways that lead directly to high-wage, high‑skill jobs. The program is one of several across Brevard Public Schools designed to strengthen Florida’s talent pipeline and ensure students graduate with both academic knowledge and practical, employable skills.
BPS is proud to showcase the exceptional work happening in classrooms across the district and appreciates Lt. Governor Collins’ visit to highlight the importance of workforce education in Brevard County and across the state.