BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — The goal after high school for many students is to be college or career ready.

But not all.

This week’s A+ Teacher spends countless hours inside and outside of her Hernando High School classroom, making sure her students are ready to get to work.

Virginia Duckworth is building relationships with students and business leaders to line up good jobs.

But more than that, Duckworth is known as a friend on campus. Her heart and compassion touches hundreds of families.

"Amongst the million things we all have to be grateful for, I hope you guys know how grateful all of us are for you guys,” Duckworth told a room of students last week. “And every single day you teach us the same lesson over and over. Where there is a will, there is a way."

And the students and staff also said thank you to Duckworth.

"She's not only a teacher, but she's also a friend,” said Tony Shackford, a job coach at Hernando High. “(She’s) someone you can go to. Someone you can talk to.

“Because she bring so much to the team, the team that we do have, we work wonderful together. It's just phenomenal, the places we go, the things we are able to do, because we have a great leader."

Duckworth runs "Project Looking Ahead,” helping young adults graduate with a good job and independence waiting for them.

But more than job and life skills, Duckworth, a former entrepreneur sets the bar high, reinforces positive behavior and then gives them hope and opportunity.

Her success rate is phenomenal, with almost every student getting hands-on experience at job sites and finding employment.

"By being in the business world and owning my own business, I have all that experience to share with the kids, and I know that anything is possible,” Duckworth said. "And when you give a person hope, the whole world is there for them. You believe in them. They will believe in them."