Academy Offers High School Nursing Assistant Program

Story by Nancy Collins

Education is shifting, and Spring Valley Academy (SVA) is stepping up to ensure students graduate with more than just a diploma, but with a calling, a career and hands-on experience.

This year, SVA is offering a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program to junior and senior students. This immersive course directly bridges academic learning with immediate job readiness, allowing students to earn their state nursing assistant certification and step into health care roles upon graduation.

The program marks a major milestone in SVA’s expanding vocational emphasis, designed to pair rigorous academics with real-world skills, industry certifications and direct pathways to employment.

“At Spring Valley Academy, our mission is to prepare students not just for college, but for a life of purposeful service,” says Nancy Collins, development director. Our Nursing Assistant program gives upperclassmen a headstart on a meaningful health care career while embodying Christlike service right here in the Dayton community. We are thrilled to partner with Kettering Health to offer our students real-world experience, direct career opportunities and a powerful foundation for their future.”

Taught in direct partnership with the Kettering Health, the program offers instruction from experienced medical professionals. Upperclassmen in the CNA program will learn fundamental caregiving skills, anatomy, patient rights, safety protocols and vital sign monitoring.

In addition to classroom instruction, students will complete required clinical rotation hours inside Kettering Health facilities, gaining priceless, direct patient-care experience before even receiving their high school diploma.

Upon passing the state certification exam at the end of the program, graduates will be fully eligible to work as certified nursing assistants in hospitals and medical centers; assisted living and long-term care facilities; home health agencies; and rehabilitation clinics.

For students aspiring to become registered nurses, physician assistants or doctors, this certification serves as a powerful stepping stone—providing essential clinical hours often required for competitive college nursing and pre-med programs.

The CNA program is just the first step in SVA’s vision to bridge academic excellence with practical career preparation. As the school builds out its vocational initiative, future high school offerings are being explored to give students diverse, hands-on career paths before graduation.

By blending academic excellence, Christian character and job-ready vocational skills, SVA is creating a modern educational experience where every student can discover their calling, develop their talents and make an immediate impact on the world.

Interested in learning more about the CNA program or SVA’s Vocational Department? Contact nacollins@springvalleyacademy.org or visit springvalleyacademy.org.