Following a 1998 study, a critical shortage of high tech workers was identified. The centers are in select high schools in nine Snohomish and King County school districts. The curriculum leads to special information technology certificates or degrees, while supplying the high tech industry with potential employees. Sims, Drewel and others helped create partnerships with businesses who are involved to help interest, train and prepare young people for careers in the information sector, such as APEX Online Learning, Nextlink, Click2Learn, Verizon Northwest and Microsoft. These centers were created to begin preparation of students for careers in technology, said Sims.
Students learn programming, networking-tech support, multimedia, web authoring and animation.
The centers curriculum generates student interest in the IT field at an early age. Over 2,200 students have taken HTLC classes with an additional 7,600 enrolled in the 2000-2001 school year. Drewel and Sims honored some of the students that typify the kind of achievements, successes and goals of this program. They cite her as a pioneer in her field because of the shortage of young women and students of color in the information technology profession. Her Highline High School classmates Matt Coy, David Denmark and Jeff Cole, who are MCP certified, and Daniel Calderon and Caleb Rush, who are Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers, were also honored.