LCHS Career, Technical and Agriculture Education Advisory Council meets

LCHS Career, Technical and Agriculture Education Advisory Council members are front row (L-r):Tangie McKinney, Ann Scott, Dr. Elizabeth Chamblin, Patty Hawkes, Dr. Michelle Mason-Woodard, Gail Remsen, Carol Williams, Ellen Butler; back row: Johnny Spratlin, Marcus Matthews, Hillyer Wright, Joe Hogan, Chris Heitmann, Howie Gunby, Crawford Asbell, Janet Dukes, Brittney Thompson, Melvin Stewart, Shannon Cox, Lisa Aycock, Debra Poland, Tammy Goldman, Dennis Gay, Teresa Burgess, Marion Aycock, Joann Collins The Lincoln County High School Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education Advisory Council met on October 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Healthcare Science Technology lab. Members, teachers, and administrators had the opportunity to get acquainted at the beginning as light refreshments were served.

The meeting began with a welcome by Joann Collins, CTAE Supervisor. She recognized members of the council and guests and thanked everyone in attendance for their participation and support.

Mrs. Collins discussed Career Pathways and explained how LCHS is using the Career Pathways in the classroom. She stated that a career pathway is a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career courses, commencing in the 9th grade and leading to an associate degree and/or an industry-recognized certificate or license and/or baccalaureate degree and beyond. Presently, the CTAE department has implemented the following pathways: Small Business Development, Financial Management-Accounting, Engineering, Transportation Logistical Support, Forestry/Natural Resources, Plant Science/Horticulture, Therapeutic Nursing, and Nutrition and Food Science.

Also, the CTAE department is involved in the program initiatives: Education and Career Partnership and Youth Apprenticeship. Dr. Elizabeth Chamblin, ECP Manager presented the articulation agreement that Lincoln County has with Augusta Technical College which supports the student as he or she transitions from high school to technical college and then to a career. Dr. Chamblin gave an update on the Education and Career Partnership grant and what is available to LCHS.

Mr. Melvin Stewart, CSRA-RESA YAP coordinator, gave updated information about the youth apprenticeship program at LCHS. He stated that this program allows students to leave school early and go to work as an apprentice in a career they are planning on pursuing. Mr. Stewart also talked about completers of the program in which the student must have earned 2000 hours of work to receive technical credit. He indicated that LCHS presently has 6 students involved in the apprentice program.

Mr. Brian Campbell, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, presented updated information about the new school which is planned to open in the fall 2010. Mr. Campbell showed pictures to the advisory council of how the new school would look when completed. The CTAE programs to be included in the new school are: Business and Computer Science, Automotive, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture, Professional Foods, Healthcare Science, and Construction.

Mrs. Janet Dukes, Business & Computer Science instructor, discussed Industry Certification for the business department. She stated that she and Mrs. Collins would be going through the procedures to become industry certified for this school year. Mrs. Dukes presented a survey to the businesses for them to complete. She indicated that the information from this survey would be collected as part of the industry certification requirements.

After the general session, the council was separated into different labs. In the labs the instructors presented updated information about their program and student organization. Members of the CTAE department presenting were: Janet Dukes—Business and Computer Science; Dennis Gay—Agriculture; Tangie Mckinney—Healthcare Science; Joe Hogan—Engineering and Technology; and Brittney Thompson—Family and Consumer Science.

The purpose of the advisory council is to provide community input into the career, technical, and agriculture programs so as to maximize career and technical training opportunities for the students through a school and community partnership. With input from the community the career and technical department has insight as to what business leaders see as the career and technical needs for the areas of study.

Those representing the community and school were: Melvin Stewart— YAP Coordinator CSRA-RESA; Tammy Goldman—Farmers State Bank; Ellen Butler, Counselor— LCHS; Johnny Spratlin—Spratlin & Sons Construction; Chris Heitmann— H & H Industrial Maintenance; Crawford Asbell—Lincoln County Technology Department; Gail Remsen—Lincoln County Board of Education board member; Carol Williams— Lincoln Wellness Center; Debra Poland—Office Xpress; Teresa Burgess—Office Xpress; Hillyer Wright—R & W Auto Parts; Howie Gunby—Adult Literacy-Augusta Technical College; Lisa Aycock—Dept. of Family & Children Services; Marcus Matthews—Environmental Horticulture-Augusta Technical College; Dr. Michelle Mason Woodard; Patty Hawkes—Lincoln County Farm Bureau; Shannon Cox—Medical Records-Dr. Michelle Mason-Woodard; Ann Scott—Parent representative; Henry Madden, Assistant Principal-LCHS; Dr. Elizabeth Chamblin—ECP Manager; and Brian Campbell—Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services.