Principal's Message

Dear ATA Students, Parents, Families, and Community Members,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Academy for Technology and Academics (ATA)! We are excited about another year filled with opportunities for our students to learn, grow, explore their interests, and prepare for successful futures.

At ATA, we believe that education becomes especially powerful when students can connect what they learn in the classroom to meaningful, real-world experiences. Our career and technical education programs provide students with opportunities to develop technical expertise, strengthen employability skills, earn industry-recognized credentials, and explore pathways that can lead to college, careers, and lifelong success.

Our mission reflects the work we do each day: At ATA, we empower all students with practical skills and knowledge to thrive in their chosen career pathway by providing skills necessary for collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity through rigorous program standards to ensure they are Job Ready Day One.

Being Job Ready Day One means more than mastering technical skills. It means developing the habits and qualities that employers, colleges, and communities value—responsibility, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, perseverance, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence. Our dedicated faculty and staff work every day to create engaging learning environments where students are challenged, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

We also recognize that student success is a partnership. We value the important role parents and families play in supporting their students, and we encourage you to remain connected with ATA throughout the school year. Together, we can help our students make the most of the opportunities available to them.

We are equally grateful for our business, industry, and community partners who provide invaluable support, expertise, and authentic learning opportunities for our students. These partnerships help ensure that our programs remain relevant and that our students are prepared for the expectations of today's workforce.

Most importantly, ATA is a place where students can discover what they are passionate about and begin turning those interests into possibilities for their future. We want every student who walks through our doors to know that they belong, that their goals matter, and that we are committed to helping them Aspire, Train, and Achieve.

I am proud to serve as principal of the Academy for Technology and Academics and look forward to working alongside our students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners. Thank you for being part of the ATA family and for supporting our mission of preparing students to be Job Ready Day One.

Go Navigators!

Warmly,

Dr. Andrea Pridgen
Principal
Academy for Technology and Academics