MOBILE, Alabama – A student at Mary G. Montgomery High School has become the first person in Alabama to earn a master’s certification in Microsoft Office 2013, one of the highest technical credentials the software company offers at the high school level.
The student, enrolled in a career and technical education class taught by Suzanne Taylor, achieved the master’s certification after passing five separate Microsoft Office Specialist exams covering different applications within the Office 2013 suite. According to a release from the Mobile County school system, the student earned a perfect score of 1,000 on three of the five required exams, an unusually strong performance on an already demanding, industry-recognized credential.
The Microsoft Office Specialist master certification is considered an adult-level, industry-recognized credential typically pursued by working professionals, making the achievement especially notable for a high school student. The certification falls under the broader umbrella of technical credentials offered through Mobile County Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education Department, which provides students with pathways to earn workforce-ready certifications before graduation.
School officials pointed to the achievement as part of a larger pattern of career-credential success across the district. During the 2013-14 school year, Mobile County students collectively earned more than 7,300 career credentials spanning a wide range of fields, including certified nursing assistant qualifications and welding-related safety certifications such as OSHA 10-hour cards, alongside various industry-recognized technology and trade credentials.
Career and technical education programs like the one at Mary G. Montgomery High School are designed to give students hands-on, transferable skills that can lead directly to employment or give them a head start in relevant college coursework. Earning nationally recognized certifications such as the Microsoft Office Specialist master credential while still in high school can give students a competitive edge when entering the workforce or applying to postsecondary programs that value demonstrated technical proficiency.
Instructors within the district’s career and technical programs have said credentials like these reflect not only individual student achievement but also the broader investment Mobile County Public Schools has made in aligning classroom instruction with real-world industry standards. The district’s Career and Technical Education Department continues to expand its certification offerings across multiple industries, aiming to give students in South Alabama practical qualifications that carry weight with employers well beyond high school graduation.