Page 30 - Columbus NCG 2019

EDUCATION

Photo (Courtesy of the Georgia
Department of Education) L-R: State School
Superintendent Richard Woods, GEDA Chair
Missy Kendrick, Georgia Department of
Economic Development Regional Project
Manager Anna Hurt, Muscogee County
Schools CTAE Director Victoria Thomas,
GEDA President Kevin Shea

“Additionally, District administrators
have gotten more involved with the Greater
Columbus Chamber of Commerce, leading to
the development of the annual industry bus
tour for educators and enhanced support for
a college and career academy to be added,”
Thomas said.
Pratt & Whitney has partnered to provide
an internship program for the past ten
years. Interested students must successfully
complete the Certified Manufacturing
Muscogee County Schools Specialist (CMS) program at Columbus
Technical College. Afterward, Pratt & Whitney
will interview students for intern positions.
named State Economic Development Following the internship, some students
have been offered full-time positions
Partnership District
with the company. Over the course of the
By Andrew Smith
partnership, about 40 area students have
he Muscogee County School District development training courses, while Career, been hired and remain with the company.
recently was recognized as one of the Technical and Agricultural Education Through the Chamber’s Partners in
T first districts in Georgia to become a directors, teachers and school counselors Education program, Pratt & Whitney also
State Economic Development Partnership must complete a business externship has individual partnerships with Aaron
District. At a September 2018 event, State every five years. Participating districts also Cohn Middle School, Double Churches
School Superintendent Richard Woods review local Career Pathway offerings for Middle School, and Northside High School
commended Muscogee County Schools and alignment to high-demand careers and through which it provides additional real-
four other districts for their efforts to build must display evidence of business and world experiences.
partnerships with local employers and gain community partnerships. TSYS and MCSD partnered to provide
knowledge of local industry needs. “We are so excited to receive the exposure to IT careers for high school and
“For the benefit of our students and our Economic Development Partnership middle school students. The four mandatory
state, it’s essential that we forge stronger District designation,” said Victoria Thomas, activities that are part of this partnership
connections between the educational Muscogee Schools CTAE Director. “It are student job shadowing, teacher job
system and industry,” Woods said. validates the work that our CTAE Department shadowing, education tours, and Hour of
“Muscogee County Schools is doing an and others throughout the District have Code activities.
excellent job of working in partnership with done to understand workforce development W.C. Bradley provided a sizeable donation
their community to provide the best possible and build relationships with businesses that to support the District’s STEAM Center, which
opportunities for students.” will ultimately enable our students to be was named in honor of retired W.C. Bradley
The Economic Development Partnership prepared for careers.” President, Stephen T. Butler. Through W.C.
program, which began in 2017, seeks to Thomas said the school district has Bradley’s donation, the school district has
promote improved relationships between existing partnerships with Pratt & Whitney, been able to expand the robotics program
local school districts and businesses or TSYS, and W.C. Bradley, among others, and and support students by opening the STEAM
industry. To finish the program, district will continue to build relationships as the Center on weekends for robotics teams to
leaders must complete economic program progresses. practice and provide them with lunch.

26 26 Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce | www.columbusgachamber.com | 706.327.1566ter Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce | www.columbusgachamber.com | 706.327.1566
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