At a recent Statesboro Kiwanis meeting, Bethany Gilliam, CTAE Director for Bulloch County Schools, provided an in depth look at the district’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs. As an alumna of Bulloch County Schools, Gilliam expressed gratitude for Kiwanis’s community support, highlighting initiatives like Project EAGLET and the popular Kiwanis Fair.
Her presentation offered insights into the district’s strategic efforts to prepare students for a range of career paths.
Expanding pathways through the College and Career Academy Program
Gilliam discussed the College and Career Academy Program (CCAP), a model designed to integrate career and technical education across Bulloch County’s three high schools. This innovative approach allows students to access multiple career pathways without requiring a standalone facility.
Through the CCAP, each high school offers unique programs tailored to the interests of students and the demands of local industries. Additionally, students have the flexibility to enroll in pathways at other campuses with provided transportation.
Benefits of the CCAP include:
- Maximizing community resources to offer diverse pathway options across schools.
- Allowing students to complete multiple pathways aligned with their interests.
- Adjusting offerings based on local workforce needs, in partnership with industry leaders.
- Establishing unique pathways at specific campuses, ensuring a wider variety of career options.
This approach enables the district to broaden pathway options for students, empowering them to pursue career paths suited to their skills and interests.
Comprehensive career pathway offerings across schools
Gilliam provided an overview of the specific pathways offered through the CCAP program, highlighting 35 pathways within 13 career clusters available at each of the three high schools:
- Portal Middle High School: Focuses on agriculture and technology, offering pathways such as Nutrition and Food Science, Ag Horticulture, Business and Technology, Engineering and Technology, and Work-Based Learning.
- Southeast Bulloch High School: Emphasizes health, business, and technical fields with pathways in Allied Health, Public Health, Forestry and Wildlife Systems, Early Childhood Education, Cybersecurity, Audio/Video Technology, Graphic Design, and Heavy Equipment Operations.
- Statesboro High School: Offers a broad range of programs, including Carpentry, Distribution and Logistics, Culinary Arts, Public Health, JROTC, Workforce Ready, Sports Medicine, and Work-Based Learning.
These offerings allow each school to specialize in high-demand career areas, with transportation provided for students who wish to access programs at other schools.
Growing success in the Work-Based Learning Program
One of the standout programs Gilliam highlighted was the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program, which provides students with real-world work experience. The program has experienced significant growth, from 180 students in FY21 to 340 students in FY24. Over the past year, participating students worked a total of 166,301 hours across 285 employer sites and earned a combined $1,711,263.
"Many students gain hands-on experience and employability skills through this program, with some even taking on supervisory roles," Gilliam noted.
The WBL program, supported by local businesses, helps students develop essential skills while earning school credits.
Career-Workforce Steering Committee’s strategic goals
Gilliam introduced the Career-Workforce Steering Committee, a collaborative initiative designed to support students' career readiness through community partnerships and targeted goals:
- Goal 1 - Collaborative Team: This team, led by the BCS CTAE Director, focuses on maintaining a framework for continuous workforce development improvement across the county.
- Goal 2 - Education Team: This group implements district-wide programs emphasizing employability skills, rigorous coursework, and hands-on learning. Key members include CTAE instructors, counselors, higher education partners, and industry representatives.
- Goal 3 - Community Team: Coordinated by the Lead WBL Coordinator, this team aims to prepare students for post-graduation opportunities in employment, enrollment in higher education, or military enlistment, with a focus on real-world experiences.
Each goal involves active participation from educators, industry leaders, and community partners to ensure students are equipped for successful career paths.
Career-Workforce Development Plan: Building a skilled workforce
Bulloch County Schools’ Career-Workforce Development Plan is grounded in a Three Pillar Foundation, designed to provide students with post-graduation choices aligned with their goals:
- Enrolled: Prepares students for success in post-secondary education.
- Enlisted: Supports students interested in military careers.
- Employed: Equips students with skills for immediate employment in local and regional industries.
Gilliam emphasized that the development plan’s success relies on a collaborative framework that transcends changes in “people, politics, and purses,” ensuring students receive relevant career preparation regardless of shifting external factors.
Utilizing workforce resources for career preparation
Bulloch County Schools leverage several resources to support students in exploring and preparing for career paths:
- Xcel Partnership: This partnership brings hands-on training to schools, with programs in construction at Statesboro High, agricultural mechanics at Portal Middle High, and automotive training at Southeast Bulloch High. The Transitions Learning Center also provides skill-building opportunities.
- YouScience: This aptitude and interest assessment is administered in 6th, 7th, and 9th grades. Data from YouScience is used to:
- Identify students for career-specific Discovery Events.
- Inform dual enrollment programs at technical colleges.
- Guide students in academic and career pathway selection.
Structured 'Discovery Events' and teacher externships
To provide ongoing career exploration, Bulloch County Schools offer Discovery Events each year, tailored to students’ grade levels:
- 6th Grade: Agriculture Expo
- 7th Grade: STEM Field Experience
- 8th Grade: CTAE & Fine Arts Showcase and “Be Pro Be Proud” initiative
- 9th Grade: College and Career Expo
- 10th Grade: Business and Industry Showcase
- 11th Grade: Manufacturing Day and Job Shadow Day with local industries
- 12th Grade: Career Expo
In addition, the district runs a Teacher Externship program, rotating CTAE teachers and counselors on five-year cycles to spend 1.5 days working with industry partners. This exposure helps educators stay current with industry practices, ensuring students receive relevant and up-to-date guidance.