Seniors Amalie Rosales from Sandy Creek High School, Keneisha John from Whitewater High School, and McKay Moore and Tynan Fortune from McIntosh High School discuss their experiences with the work-based learning program at a regional economic development meeting organized by the Georgia Department of Education and hosted by Panasonic in Peachtree City. The Georgia Department of Education is hosting six regional economic development meetings this fall at various locations throughout the state.

Amalie, Keneisha, McKay, and Tynan are among a larger group of students who actively participate in the school system’s work-based learning program each year. Students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of career pathways, including healthcare, business management, marketing, etc., which allows themto dive into their future career interest with the skills and knowledge needed to be successful. 

Tynan, who completed a graphic design pathway, and Amalie, who completed a graphic communications pathway, are both now interning in the Community and Public Relations department at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. Both students have used the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom and applied it to their internships. They have also had the privilege of working on a variety of projects including, designing Infographics to communicate information, developing signage to help patients navigate to a particular location in the hospital, and designing the Piedmont Fayette Hospital 20th Anniversary celebration invitation.

Tynan says, “Work-based learning has given me the opportunity to explore what I want to focus on in the future.” She has learned how to be creative while complying with Piedmont standards and the importance of work ethic. Tynan also participated in the Governor’s Honors Program where she competed against 15 other graphic designers from the state of Georgia. “My pathway classes taught me important interview skills, which was a huge part of the application process,” she says.

Amalie who is also a state officer of Skills USA, a student led organization that helps students obtain the skills needed to be a successful employee, says, “The things I learned in the classroom I can use everywhere.” The skills she learned made it easy for her to transition from the classroom to the workplace and adjust accordingly.

Keneisha, a healthcare pathway student, previously interned in the Emergency Department at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and is currently interning at Peachtree Immediate Care Clinic in Fayetteville. Through this program she was able to obtain her CNA certification during her junior year. With the opportunities to shadow numerous physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals Keneisha says, “I’ve learned things about confidentiality, HIPPA laws, and effective communication between myself and my employer.” She is also learning how to triage patients at the urgent care center while applying the skills learned in her healthcare classes like taking vital signs.

Advanced academics was the pathway McKay completed, and interned at TDK’s Engineering Department where he has had the privilege of assisting with manufacturing and quality assurance. He also worked with the IT/MIS departments on a project to create an app to automate a particular quality assurance process on the manufacturing floor. The app has been implemented and continues to improve accuracy while saving TDK money. McKay always believed that the best engineering jobs were on the west coast; however, through this program he was able to recognize “There is [engineering] opportunity within my community.”

Virginia Gibbs, Coordinator of Innovative Partnerships, Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeships, says, “We are giving [students] the preparation so they have the confidence and the foundation to have credentials so they can bring something to the table immediately after graduating high school.”

All four of these students plan to use the skills they have learned, going beyond the classroom to becoming successful individuals.