Three Porterville Unified School District Pathways have been awarded NAF’s Katherine Blasik Distinguished level recognition for 2026 — NAF’s highest level of achievement.
The honored Pathways are Monache's Manufacturing and Construction Technology Academy, MCTA; Porterville Military Academy's Academy of Aviation and Leadership, AAL; and Granite Hills' Computer Operations and Development Education Pathway, CODE.
This designation is awarded to a select group of academies nationwide that demonstrate exceptional implementation of NAF’s educational model, which prepares students for college and careers. The Katherine Blasik Distinguished level is determined through NAF’s annual assessment, which evaluates an academy’s effectiveness in delivering rigorous, industry-aligned curriculum and meaningful Work-Based Learning experiences. For academies who received the award for the first time, virtual site visits were conducted to validate the honor.
“I am extremely proud of the team of teachers, counselors, administrators, and Pathways personnel that all work together to help MCTA achieve Distinguished status,” said MCTA lead tacher Tim Newby. “It was truly a team effort.”
PUSD Pathways integrate career technical education with core academics, providing students with hands-on, real-world learning opportunities such as internships, industry partnerships, and project-based experiences embedded within the school day. Through this model, students not only gain technical knowledge but also develop transferable skills, explore career interests, and connect their learning to future opportunities.
“Earning Distinguished status reflects the incredible commitment of our students, teachers, and industry partners to delivering meaningful, real-world learning experiences,” said PUSD Director of Pathways Cynthia Brown. “Each of these Pathways exemplifies what is possible when education is aligned with industry and focused on student success.”
With this year’s recognition, 12 out of PUSD’s 14 Pathways have now earned Distinguished designation.
“This recognition speaks to the strength of our Pathways system as a whole,” said PUSD Pathways Learning Director Erik Santos. “When students are given access to relevant, hands-on learning and strong industry connections, the impact is powerful — not just for their future, but for our community as well.”
NAF Chief Executive Officer Lisa Dughi stated “Congratulations to all of our Katherine Blasik Distinguished academies. Your commitment to preparing students for successful futures is not only changing lives but also setting the standard for excellence across the NAF Network.”
The recognized Pathways are part of NAF, a national education nonprofit that brings real-world careers into public high schools by connecting students to industry and hands-on learning experiences.
NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds. For more information about PUSD Pathways, visit www.pathways.portervilleschools.org