Checking in with Community Partners

Leadership Putnam Class of 2022

Leadership Putnam is a program offered by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce. The program has been in existence since 1990; however, the Class of 2022 is the first to experience the reinvigorated program. The program consists of a group of students diverse in age, gender, race, and occupation. Each month, a full day is devoted to educating the class on a component of the community: Non-Profit Organizations, Government, Business Development, Education, & Recreation.

As a proud member of the Leadership Putnam Class of 2022, I have had the privilege to meet monthly with my class members to learn about each other, the community, and how we can become better leaders within our community. We began our journey with a day filled with introductions to Non-Profit Organizations within our area followed by a local weekend retreat to gain a better understanding of ourselves and each other. After all, one of the graduation requirements is to complete a class project for the betterment of our community. The retreat developed our class into a team. Designed and organized to take a step back from our day-to-day demands and activities, we were allowed a period of concentrated discussion, focused thinking, and collaboration. From our new-found knowledge of the many Non-Profit Organizations in our area, their purposes, goals, and needs, we selected to fundraise for the Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor Park as our class project.

by Rachel Harvey - Class Project Chair

Located in downtown Eatonton, the park includes six honor walls bearing brick tiles inscribed with the names, branch of service, and dates of service of those who have served our country. The head wall bears the words: “Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor Park, ” with the crests of the five Armed Forces. Since its inauguration, this tribute has fallen into disrepair. The mission is to restore the important community head wall to its former glory and draw attention to the sacrifices made for our nation by so many local families. We want to honor and remember our local American heroes who have defended our freedom in the past and continue to do so today.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not share the greatest impact Leadership Putnam has had on me personally. Our community requires the attention of its citizens to care for it and each other. There is an abundance of service opportunities. JustServe.org is a website where the volunteer needs of organizations may be posted, and volunteers may search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community. I encourage members of our community to utilize this site so that we may become more connected and unified with each other. Volunteering your time, an irreplaceable commodity, paves the way to increasing mutual understanding, correcting misconceptions, and building new friendships. A little change here and a few hours there will quickly add up to make a real difference. Many hands make light work.

CHECKING IN WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS Gatewood Schools

Nestled in the historic small town of Eatonton, Georgia is Gatewood School, a K2-12th grade, college-prep school with Christian values. Our mission is to provide the best educational opportunities available in a nurturing, Christian environment while instilling life-long characteristics of faith, honor, integrity, and loyalty. We are dedicated to forming well-rounded men and women who are prepared for college and post-collegiate life.

With the accelerating speed of change in the world, Gatewood encourages and instructs students to be adaptable, creative, problem solvers who will enhance our future. We celebrate the unique gifts of each child and foster their creative passions. Bible classes are offered with a full-time chaplain on campus. Not only will your child become familiar with the content of the Bible, but they will also use those lessons and apply them to better understand the world around them. Students join in a shared purpose, to know that they are part of something bigger than themselves. We are committed to our community and seize opportunities to be of service and take care of those less fortunate. Schools like Gatewood are a community in themselves; we are like family providing emotional and spiritual support. Parents are an integral part of our community through extensive volunteerism in many aspects of the school, the classroom, athletics, fundraising, faculty and staff support, admissions, marketing, and more. We teach children to be compassionate and empathetic, and we teach that every child was created by and is a gift from God. Our upperclassmen mentor our younger students. Gatewood is mission-driven to sharpen student minds, deepen faith and develop talents.

Gatewood boasts 51 athletic state championships in 51 years. We offer 28 electives, dual enrollment, AP classes, arts (fine and performing), and competitions (literary, academic, and musical). Our students can participate in community organizations such as Anchor Club, Interact, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and YoungLife. Congratulations to Gatewood’s graduating class of 2022 (32 students); 100% will attend four year universities and colleges! 93% play sports at Gatewood. 94% are involved in community service organizations. 89% are HOPE eligible. 64% are dual enrolled. 22% are second generation Gators. 78% chose to make our school their family. One graduate is a 3rd generation Gator! Our graduates live in 26 states and 5 countries. May your light continue to shine, Gatewood Gators!

Contact our admission director, Libby Rainey for more information! Lrainey@gatewoodschool.com, 706-4858231 x 1300. We are a member of GISA, and are accredited by SACS, SAIS, and with quality by GAC.

Career, Technical, & Agricultural Education

by Christina Hinz- Putnam County High School

The Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop visited Baldwin County March 28-April 1. The Mobile Workshop was hosted at Baldwin County High School 155 GA-49, Milledgeville, GA 31061 each day from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. As the host site, Baldwin County worked with Jones, Monroe, Putnam, and Wilkinson counties CTAE directors to identify students that would benefit from learning more about Georgia’s most in-demand professions. The Industrial Authorities have partnered with both WorkSource areas to ensure the success of this event.

The need for skilled workers has never been greater. All industry sectors were already feeling a void in the workforce from a large number of individuals approaching retirement that has now been exacerbated by vacancies left from the global pandemic. WorkSource Macon-Bibb (WSMB) and WorkSource Middle Georgia (WSMG) in coordination with the Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) have been focused on identifying creative ways to backfill the workforce pipeline to help address these vacancies through the region’s youth. The 40-foot open-air trailer features five highly interactive simulations of Georgia’s most in-demand skilled professions, including commercial truck driving, health care, plumbing, welding, and robotics. Utilizing the latest digital and virtual technology, each simulation places students directly into a skilled profession where they learn important career information and complete skills challenges. Additionally, the initiative focuses on changing the mindsets of students, parents, and educators on the importance of skilled trades.

Most recently, WorkSource Macon-Bibb (WSMB) and WorkSource Middle Georgia (WSMG) partnered with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development to bring the state-of-the-art, interactive Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop to middle Georgia. Be Pro Be Proud is a movement focusing on bringing a new generation of pride, progress, and professionals to Georgia’s skilled workforce. Along with the mobile workshop, the Be Pro Be Proud website promotes 15 skilled professions with 10 percent or more growth potential and links to training and area industries that are hiring within these professions. Students can “Join the Movement” on beprobeproudga.org, which connects students with education and career opportunities.

In addition to the Be Pro Be Proud Trailer, Central Georgia Technical College, Middle Georgia State, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Military College, and Georgia College State University will be on-site to connect a student’s career path with the necessary training that is needed to be successful. There will also be industry partners on-site to discuss potential employment opportunities and recruiters for those that are interested in learning more about these industry sectors in the military.

CHECKING IN WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS Central Georgia Technical College- Putnam County Campus

Central Georgia Technical College’s (CGTC) Adult Education Program (AEP) is specifically designed for adult learners who have different needs, backgrounds, and skills. Our goal is to help adults age 16 and older gain literacy skills to reduce poverty, secure sustainable employment and livable wages in high-demand careers, and improve public access to community resources. In addition to reading, writing, and math instruction, classes offered include digital literacy, financial literacy, and employability skills, all free of charge to students. CGTC’s adult learners are now able to choose how they want to earn their high school equivalency (HSE). Students can choose to complete the General Education Development (GED®) test, the HiSet™ exam, or the Career Plus High School (CPH) Equivalency, which offers the flexibility to earn a HSE without the stress of a high-stakes test. The College also offers Integrated Education and Training (IET) which is a rapid up-skilling program designed to prepare students for a career and earn industry-recognized certifications in hospitality and tourism the opportunity to prepare for a career and earn free certifications in Hospitality and Tourism (ServeSafe, OSHA 10-Hour and First Aid/CPR) or Warehouse Distribution and Fundamentals (Forklift, OSHA and First Aid/CPR). The IET program can take as little as three weeks and is also no cost to the student.

Local AEP students will be placed in one of three academic areas: Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), or English as a Second Language (ESL). ABE provides instruction for reading readiness, basic mathematics skills, and an introduction to writing and basic grammar. Students attend classes at our Putnam Center Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays with a choice of morning, evening and online classes. ASE delivers instruction in reading, science, social studies, writing skills, and mathematics. This level will develop the skills necessary for the completion of the GED®, HiSet™ , and CPH. The ESL program offers instruction for students who want to learn to speak English or develop a deeper understanding of the English language. To be eligible for ESL classes, students must have a valid picture ID and must be a citizen of the US, a legal permanent resident 18 years or older, a qualified alien, or be lawfully present in the United States. There are scholarship opportunities to cover the costs of testing fees for Putnam County students. The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counites and the Putnam Family Connection Collaborative generously help students each year. CGTC is grateful for the support of these two organizations. If going back to school was a promise that you have made to yourself at some point, the right time is now. Decide to start; help yourself and show others that with a willingness to learn, it’s never too late. Visit www.centralgatech.edu or call 706-923-5000 to get started.

Written by: Kimberly Hicks-Grable is the Regional Lead Instructor for Central Georgia Technical College’s Adult Education Department. She is the lead teacher for Baldwin and Putnam Counties. Kimberly has served in this capacity for the past 21 years. Mrs. Hicks-Grable started her career at CGTC in December of 2000, after working three years at in the public school system as a Spanish and English teacher. She currently serves as secretary of the CGTC Faculty Advisory Committee, member of the Baldwin and Putnam Family Connections, and board member for Communities in School. Kimberly is an active member of Peeler Chapel Baptist Church.

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