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THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS
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THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS
For many people, probably most people, in fact, success is measured by tangibles: honors, awards, recognition, trophies.
By those standards, Albany's Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy (4C) has enjoyed more than its share of success in its brief history. There are all of those plaques and trophies; a nationally-ranked robotics team; and recognition as the top college and career academy in Georgia after just five years of existence.
But there is a group – headed by 4C Academy CEO Chris Hatcher and joined by a number of business leaders in the community – that has a very different definition of success.
For this group, it's the employability of the 4c academy's students when they get ready to depart and how those hirees' work ethic can be translated into useful business practices that are the primary watermarks for success.
By those standards as well, the success of the 4C Academy has surpassed even the most optimistic projections for this Dougherty County School System school whose students come from neighborhoods throughout Albany and rural partner counties in the area. The 4C's niche is innovation through industry-focused education, and this clearly informs the academy's partnerships, practices and curiculum.
4C student drew taylor
In an age when business leaders are looking for employees with soft skills that entice customers rather than drive them away and who are familiar with the ethics of successful business practices, the 4C Academy, through its internship program, is helping to prepare a work force that is up to the challenge of a rapidly evolving business world.
"There are a couple of reasons, I believe, for the success of our internship program," Hatcher said. "On the front end, our business partners share with our instructors what they are looking for in employees. And our instructors develop programs that prepare the students for successful internships.
At the 4C, students finish high school requirements in the 9th and 10th grades. In their junior year, they learn soft skills and the needs specific to a career pathway they've chosen. By their senior year, students are ready for a paid internship that not only prepares them for the work force or college, it gives them a real-time perspective of what it takes to succeed in a specific business.
"Our goal is to provide all of our students with an internship opportunity," Hatcher said. "Because whether they want to go immediately into a specific field that they now have experience in, whether they want to go to college, or whether they're not quite sure yet what they want to do, they know what is required to be a valued employee. Because, eventually, everyone is going to have to go to work."
Tommy Sharpe, one of the principals of U-Save-It Pharmacy, an Albany-based pharmacy with locations throughout the region, said the internship program at the academy can be as beneficial to businesses as it is to the students.
"Especially today, with COVID, there is a work force shortage," Sharpe said. "These kids from
mikel hudson
4C student
the 4C Academy come to you already knowing the soft skills: They look you in the eye, smile, shake your hand.
"As a former athlete, I use a coaching term: We want kids who are coachable. We can teach the kids to perform the skills that are required to do the jobs they do. Those intangibles, though, are just as important. The kids who have worked with us are introduced to the responsibilities, and when they leave, they have an idea of what's required to continue on this pathway."
Some students who go through the internship program move immediately into the job market.
"We’ve enjoyed partnering with the 4C Academy in recent years through the construction and internship programs, which has led to some full-time employment," said Jake Reese, vice president of LRA Constructors in Albany. "Like most, the construction industry continues to face work force challenges, and we believe the 4C Academy can play a significant role in supporting these work force needs in our community."
Hatcher said that while the internship program, much like the aims and goals of the 4C Academy itself, is ever-evolving, the school is fortunate that it has found willing business partners in the community. Some of them are even developing programs directly geared toward utilizing 4C students. "We are so fortunate that we have business partners willing to work with our students," the academy CEO said. "I've always said that, while there is certainly a lot that students can learn in the classroom, a lot of the real learning comes when they get out and work on a job.
"Sometimes, students may not remain in the pathway they've selected here at the academy. But just getting the opportunity to work while they're in high school helps them determine if this pathway is for them or if they want to move on to something else. It's a win-win all around."
Stan Curington said the 4C Academy student who worked with him at his family-owned HBT (Hardware, Bolts and Tools) business turned into a full-time hire before that student opted to join the U.S. Air Force.
"I told Chris we needed some help with our business, and he recommended this kid who ended up working for us full-time for a year and a half," Curington said. "He was a quiet kid, but he turned out to be exactly what we needed. He had the soft skills that translated well to our business.
"When he decided to go into the Air Force, I told Chris he needs to find us another worker. Their internship program is great for the kids, great for the businesses and great for the community. When you get a student from the 4C Academy, you can count on them being able to do the job."
jayden keaton
4C student
phillip medlock 4C student
Bud Stoudt, the project manager for Outdoor Network Manufacturing in Albany, sang the praises of the 4C Academy student who signed on to work with the manufacturer of diesel boat outboards.
"I love to talk about our 4C intern, Phillip Medlock," Stoudt said. "Phillip has been with us since last summer and will be with us up to his departure for college in the summer of 2022. He has displayed a solid work ethic and attention to detail in his daily duties. His calm demeanor and logical approach to problem-solving is also very good.
"He has blended in with the work team very well and is a valued contributor. With the operation just getting started here in 2021, we have faced many challenges with logistics, COVID and supplier delays. But we look forward to expanding our team in 2022, and at that time we also would like to expand our intern program." Hospital, though, who are perhaps the most excited the 4C's intern concept. While neither Phoebe's Simulation & Innovation Center coordinator, Tracy Suber, nor Hatcher are ready to talk details the pending internship program, both are enthused about providing students with opportunities while addressing a well-documented, crisis-level nursing shortage facing communities and the nation.
"We're working on a program for students in the health care pathway at the 4C Academy that will allow them to become certified nurse aides by the time they complete their senior year," Suber said. "They will go through clinical rotations at Phoebe, and the 4C Academy will recommend the cream of the crop for a program that will allow them to work as paid interns at the hospital.
"When these students graduate, they will be guaranteed an interview for a position at the hospital. And the ones who are selected will have an opportunity to go to Albany State University or Albany Technical College and have their education paid for by Phoebe. This will be a true partnership, one that could become the standard throughout
the state. It's an exciting program, and it's not fragmented among the entities involved. We're all on the same page."
All of which pleases Hatcher but pushes him as well.
Want to get involved with 4C?
Contact CEO Chris Hatcher at chris.hatcher@4CAcademy.org or (229) 431-1562.
Follow the academy at 4CAcademy.org and on Facebook.
"This is great ; all of these opportunities that our students are getting are great," he said. "But we can always do more. There's no time to reflect on what we've done. We have to be constantly looking for more partners, more businesses, more opportunities for our students to help change the face of the work force in this community and in our state."
detalia milton 4C student
