HUNTERSVILLE – A federal official with the U.S. Department of Education visited Hopewell High School’s Academy of Engineering on March 29 to learn about successful relationships among school districts, community colleges and businesses.

Brenda Dann-Messier, assistant secretary of U.S. Department of Education Office for Vocational and Adult Education, spoke with about 30 Hopewell teachers, parents, students and business partners involved with the engineering academy, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools news release said. The department provides funds for eighth- through 12th-grade career and technical education programs.

“Hopewell has a fantastic reputation,” Dann-Messier said. “I am here to listen and learn.”

During her visit, she discussed increasing teacher recruitment and community business partnerships, aligning high school and college coursework and recruiting more girls to participate in engineering programs. She spoke with teachers about training and applied-learning projects, such as learning labs.

“I am a fan of applied learning and Hopewell is doing a great job executing that method,” she said.

The National Academy Foundation has commended the engineering academy, one of five in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, for partnering with local engineering business and firms to give students real work experiences and internships.

“Hopewell is a model for what we talk about across the country,” said Bill Taylor, the National Academy Foundation’s associate vice president for network and growth. “This school is providing opportunities for students to learn beyond the walls of Hopewell.”