Cenaida Herrera never before considered a career as a 911 dispatcher.But, always keeping an open mind about her career prospects, the recent Immokalee High School graduate wanted to learn as much as she possibly could about the profession.With Wednesday’s announcement of the Immokalee Foundation’s new partnership with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, students can train in emergency 911 communications through the foundation’s Public Safety Career Academy.”Just the opportunity and the new experience with everything they offer it was all very overwhelming,” Herrera said in a press conference at the Collier County Emergency Communications Center. “I’m really into new stuff. … I’ve never really seen myself working for the sheriff’s office. With the new opportunity, I might.”By the way:Collier commissioners set to vote on Bill of Rights Sanctuary County ordinanceMore coverage:Slain FWC officer Julian Keen remembered with launch of mentorship initiative in ImmokaleeEleven students selected by the Immokalee Foundation, ages 16 to 22, make up the inaugural class of this pilot program that began June 14 and will stretch until June 28.In a classroom at Immokalee Technical College students will learn police codes, emergency dispatch center technology and how to respond to someone calling 911 in distress.“The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is proud to partner with The Immokalee Foundation to provide this unique training opportunity for students in Immokalee,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “This program just makes sense because it will offer practical, real-world experience that can be parlayed into a dispatching job after graduation, preferably with CCSO.”The Immokalee Foundation, which has assets totaling more than $13 million, offers  education programs that focus on building professional careers through support, mentoring and tutoring, and life skills development leading to economic independence.Immokalee Foundation President and CEO Noemi Perez stood alongside Herrera, Rambosk and student Edwin Ramirez at the press conference.”This new relationship with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office continues to diversify the ways we prepare our students for success,” Perez said. “We are grateful to Sheriff Rambosk and his team for the leadership and vision, not just for helping to expand The Immokalee Foundation’s educational program offerings, but for how this innovative new program will ultimately benefit our community at large.”Like in many areas of the country, emergency dispatchers are in high demand in Collier County. Rambosk viewed the program as a way to increase opportunities for partnership with the Immokalee community and generate interest in dispatching careers.Students will have 232 hours of training including operation of communication equipment, mapping location skills and laws, and policies and procedures. The training extends to understanding privacy and state public records laws, testifying in court cases involving emergency calls and stress management.The program also offers hands-on experience sitting beside certified dispatchers and presentations from road patrol deputies, paramedics and firefighters.Did you know? Immokalee Community School expanding to middle school after parents’ advocacyIn case you missed it:Roberts Ranch home rehabilitation project seeks to preserve Immokalee historySee photos:Vigil held for Immokalee man killed by CCSO deputy Students can then take the exam to become a state certified public safety telecommunicator.While still learning, students can begin the application and hiring process with the sheriff’s office with the goal of starting on-the-job-training in August as a full-time dispatcher with starting compensation of $18.02 an hour with benefits.Becoming a fully trained dispatcher takes about 18 months with a year-long probationary period.”When that’s all done what we hope is that they love the career field. They want want to try it. They want to try it with us,” Rambosk said adding the academy could be expanded in the future to other areas of the sheriff’s office. ” … Our goal once certified by the state as a telecommunications operator is that we hire them right here in Collier County so they can support the residents and neighbors that they live with.”