Dubose named Advantage Academy Director

After several years as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Counselor at Advantage Academy, Bryan Dubose will take the helm as director next school year after current director Kitty Carpenter retires.

“Advantage Academy has added many new and innovative programs over the last several years,” said Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley. “I am looking forward to seeing what advances Mr. Dubose will make as director. He has shown that he is forward-thinking when it comes to adopting and testing new things such as AI and I believe he will be a strong addition to the district’s leadership team.”

Dubose holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Business from Francis Marion University. He also holds a Master of Science in A.C.E. Guidance and Counseling from the University of West Alabama. He has worked at Advantage Academy since 2018 and has worked in Florence 1 Schools since 2008. 

“I'm really honored and excited to take on the director role at Advantage Academy next school year,” Dubose said. “I started at Advantage Academy, then the Career Center, in 2008 as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator and then moved to South Florence High School not long after. I finally transitioned back to Advantage Academy at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.”

Dubose said he is looking forward to building upon the successes and program growth that Advantage Academy has seen over the last several years.

“I'm excited about the opportunity to continue to build a positive environment for students and the community, and I'm looking forward to all the advancements we'll make in the future,” Dubose said. “It's easy to put your heart into a school when you really believe in what you're doing.”

Director Kitty Carpenter said that she could not be happier that Dubose was chosen to lead Advantage Academy when she retires.

“Bryan is very knowledgeable about CTE and everything that goes along with that,” Carpenter said. “He knows how hard we have worked to get our programs where they are. I could not have hoped for a better successor. It makes it easier to walk away knowing the person who is replacing you.”

Advantage Academy offers Career and Technical Education classes for high school students at all three Florence 1 high schools. Advantage Academy offers programs in areas such as Agriculture Science / Horticulture, Auto Collision, Auto Technology, Aviation, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Cyber Security, Digital Art and Design, Electrical Line Worker, Emergency Medical Services, Hospitality and Tourism, and Welding.

Find more information about Advantage Academy online at advantageacademy.f1s.org or www.facebook.com/F1SAdvantageAcademy