It’s almost time for the Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School (AoH) Class of 2026 to cross the stage!
On Thursday, June 11, graduating adults who’ve completed our high school and workforce training pathways will celebrate their achievements with fellow learners, alumni, staff, friends, and family.
The 2025-2026 school year did not persist without its challenges— from the government shutdown to extreme winter weather affecting valuable instruction time. Whether AoH adult workforce learners obtained professional development to progress their careers or are transitioning to an in-demand industry— like information technology, healthcare, or business— their hard work, determination, and dedication led them to success.
We are extremely proud of the AoH Class of 2026 for pursuing their career goals. Join us in recognizing and celebrating a couple of our workforce graduates below:
Jasmine W., CNA
This June, Jasmine will celebrate earning her high school diploma and finishing her CNA training.
Jasmine came to AoH in July 2024, realizing a diploma was vital for her career. She set two goals: to earn her diploma before turning 35 and before her son graduated.
The motivation was mutual. She and her son attended school together, helping and inspiring each other. Together, they will join the Class of 2026, helping Jasmine achieve both goals.
“I just wanted to make my dad proud and be an inspiration for my son.”
After earning her diploma, Jasmine immediately enrolled in AoH’s Nurse Aide Training Program (CNA). Her passion for helping people and her father— who became paralyzed from the chest down after a workplace accident— inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare. Alongside a career, she hoped to use her newfound expertise to care for her father when needed.
Jasmine has had to balance work, her family, her personal life, and school. But despite these challenges, Jasmine persevered to earn the academic and workforce training she needed to create a new path for herself.
“I feel amazing because I’ve completed all of these things with so many obstacles against me, and I’ve, you know, pushed through.”
Her journey doesn’t stop there. Jasmine plans to use her CNA training to pursue a stable career in healthcare and build her savings. Once she mobilizes her finances, she plans to continue her education at a local college to study either social work or nursing.
Raycol B., Information Technology (CompTIA Network+)
Raycol wasn’t unfamiliar with IT before AoH. Having his CompTIA A+ certification, Raycol worked as a Tier 1 Help Desk associate at Mathematica. However, due to federal budget cuts, he unexpectedly lost his job in April 2025.
He didn’t want his unemployment to become a burden. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to further his education. After hearing great things about AoH from his friends who were learners, he decided to enroll in AoH’s CompTIA Network+ program.
In the program, Raycol gained the foundational skills needed to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot both wired and wireless networks. While taking classes, he worked as a DoorDash driver and then as a fast-food employee to make ends meet. He passed his exam and earned his credential in late 2025, joining the Class of 2026.
Since then, Raycol obtained a higher-income job as a Datacenter Technician with Amazon Web Services (AWS). In the role, he works on servers, hardware side, and networking that powers the industries that use AWS.
“I couldn’t have done it without the certification that I received from AoH … I’m seeing like 95% while I’m doing the work. It feels like I can go straight into the notebook that I have from class and apply it straight to what I got here, and it’ll sync in perfectly.”
He is also thankful to be back in the field that provides a new challenge every day.
“I come from a background of bartending, retail work, fast food service, and things of that nature. So, being able to actually have a little bit more brain fulfillment in my employment is so wonderful for me. It makes me feel good, you know, just all types of ways.”
Conclusion
AoH’s workforce programs continue to grow each year, reflecting the demand from adults seeking career training in the District. Such programs not only provide industry-specific training but also offer opportunities to improve their lives through stable employment and economic mobility.
Jasmine and Raycol— alongside the rest of the Class of 2026— are proof of this program’s demand and outcome.
To learn more about the overall impact of AoH, read HERE.