Local Educators Attend Career Choices Training

Did you know that for every 100 ninth graders, only 18 will graduate from college within 6 years? Although this number is alarming for most Americans, the reality is that in Georgia the number is even lower.

Local educators along with educators from across the state participated in a two-day training at Sandersville Technical College on September 19 th and 20 th. The training was conducted by Academic Innovations, a Utah based company. The company specializes in training teachers, counselors, and administrators on the implementation of a freshman transition curriculum which drastically reduces drop-out and remediation rates among students.

The curriculum used is based on research conducted by George Washington University and is being implemented in over 3,800 schools across the country. The coursework not only includes educational achievement plans but also personal and social development and skill building and career and life skills and planning techniques.

Local educators in attendance were Susan Binion, Damita Bynes, Alicia Carr, Mary Julia Dennis, Christy Goforth, and Vicki Harden. The teachers completed all activities and had time to discuss ways to implement the curriculum in their schools.

The training was paid for by the Stay in School Grant that Sandersville Technical College was awarded to work with TJ Elder Middle School and Washington County High School.

Tess Chapman, SiS Coordinator, commented, “This training was an eye opening experience. The curriculum has so many great hands-on activities that we can take back to the classroom and implement to help these students make that transition much easier.” Mrs. Chapman currently uses parts of the Career Choices curriculum as she works with the 8 th graders at TJ Elder Middle School.

(Left to Right) Susan Binion, Alicia Carr, Vicki Harden, Mary Julia Dennis, and Christy Goforth are teachers from Elder Middle School and Washington County High School that were in attendance at the Career Choices Training at Sandersville Technical College.

September 20,2007.