Community Partnerships
The school year has ended with Putnam graduation ceremonies that gracefully honored graduates. A chapter closes and another begins. It can be an exciting and scary time for many because important decisions must be made, with each turning of a page leading to the next. It is my hope that every Putnam graduate lives a great story. Putnam is a community with many opportunities to support youth development and careers. There is no doubt that it is a place with the ability to nurture quality of life wants and needs. In order to be considered a unified and sustainable community for generations to come, it is my hope that our youth will make decisions that will allow them to be contributing members of society. Whether graduates are joining our local workforce, taking post-secondary classes, or serving in a branch of the military before returning to their hometown, I ask myself the same questions at the conclusion of each school year. Have we done everything we could do as a community to expose our young adults to options that give them a head-start? Have we guided them, helped them grow, nourished their strengths, and equipped them with the tools necessary to thrive both personally and professionally? Have we promoted the importance of mental and physical health and wellness? Have we taught students organizational skills that will cultivate balance in their lives? Have we taught students how to be resourceful? Sweet summertime provides us with the perfect opportunity to reflect, celebrate successes, recognize that there is always room for growth, and prepare to move forward. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge some of the good! Though this year looked a little different, students still participated in engaging learning opportunities that connected them with real world. Many opportunities took place virtually or within school buildings, but it was amazing to watch teachers work extremely hard to provide quality career-related education for students. Teachers had to be willing to learn and do things in new and different ways. Many may have even felt a little uncomfortable at times, but they were humble and willing to grow. They pushed themselves beyond limitations to ensure that learning experiences did not suffer just because they might have looked a little different. It was very powerful to watch the passion, dedication, and growth that happened during this unique school year. Saying that I am proud of our education system is an understatement.
I did mention that there is always room for reflection and growth! Exposure opportunities that can only happen as a result of partnerships between our education systems and local business and industry were limited this school year and I hope to repair existing partnerships while also adding new ones. We have an opportunity to build connectivity within our community in a way that can be stronger than ever. We currently have a local workforce that has more employment opportunities than can be filled. Finding a job is not an issue in today’s economy. The issue is filling the jobs that are locally available. So, how do we support our workforce, make jobs appealing, and develop the overall well-being of our community for years to come? One way to do so is to invest in our youth by exposing them to career paths, developing their employability and technical skills, and growing them as leaders. When classroom learning is connected with real world, the results can be powerful, creating a cycle that continues, connects generations, and keeps everything in motion. In order for this to be truly impactful, it takes the dedication and togetherness of community stakeholders working towards the same goals and mentoring our youth. Tomorrow’s workforce is in our hands. Connectivity between our schools and local partners is imperative to creating experiences for students that serve as an extension of classroom learning. May we all find balance between work and play so that we can give back to our communities in positive ways. When evaluating our to-do lists and planning our calendars, may we recognize that investing in our youth is a top priority that will retain and foster local talent. Healthy economic development helps to ensure a better quality of life for the people who make Putnam the wonderful community that it is. We have an amazing opportunity to grow a thriving economy while also being a place that is supportive of its people and their overall quality of life. Let’s continue to nourish the Putnam community by cultivating a vibrant atmosphere to live, work, and play. For the love of family and economic development, lets pledge to become #OnePutnam. We are always better together.
Putnam County Charter SChool System CTAE Director, CHRISTINA Hinz
Christina Hinz is the Career, Technology, & Agricultural Supervisor for Putnam County Schools. She previously served as the Career, Technology, & Agricultural Supervisor for Henry County Schools, as well as having prior experience with law enforcement in Clayton County, Georgia and a career with Southern Crescent Technical College as the Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Mercer University, her Master of Education from Troy University, and a teaching certification for educational leadership, technical education, early childhood education, and special education from Columbus State University. She and her husband Cameron Hinz have three children; Cashton, Coralyn, and Caitlee. QUARTERLY COMMERCE | SUMMER 2021 30
