Advanced learning has a new home in Fayette County with the ceremonial ribbon cutting of the new Center of Innovation. Housed in the old J.C. Booth Middle School, the state-of-the-art COI brings the Fayette County Public Schools Career and Technical Education program together with Clayton State University and Southern Crescent Technical College under one roof.

Just seven short months ago, the building was a standard middle school, but a rebuild refreshed the 1970s school into a modern college campus.

“Thank you for joining us as we dedicate this building to the students that will reap the benefits of this unique educational facility for years to come,” led off COI Lead Administrator Dr. Dan Lane.

On the school system’s end, they will host work-based learning and youth apprenticeship programs aimed at providing students with on-the-job experiences.

“By connecting with the COI, our students have the chance to get hands-on, real-world experience and even earn industry credentials while also simultaneously earning a high school diploma,” said Lane.

In addition to dual-enrollment classes, Clayton State offers a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies where students create an individualized curriculum to meet their career needs, as well as a bachelor of science in nursing.

Southern Crescent Tech offers a number of programs, including nursing, criminal justice, engineering, EMT, and advanced manufacturing, with 500 students already enrolled.

Among the speakers was Brandi Meeks, whose daughter is a Starr’s Mill junior and SCTC dual-enrollment student. Through the CNA program, her daughter has already earned her certified nursing assistant certification.

“You want your child to find their passion and eventually find a career that makes them happy, making the world a better place,” said Meeks. “For our family, the Center of Innovation provided a safety net within the school day for her not only to earn college credit and a certification but also dip her toes into nursing and see if this was something she would like to pursue in college.”

Aralynn White, a Whitewater High senior and Clayton State dual-enrollment student, is using the COI experience as launching pad for a head start towards a doctorate.

“I am no longer intimidated by challenging courses. Now, I feel prepared for what lies ahead in my college experience,” White said. “The Center of Innovation has provided students like myself skills like leadership, adaptability, creativity, and so much more to be used effectively as we grow and move into the next educational phases of our lives.”

Dr. Georj Lewis with Clayton State University expressed excitement at the potential of the COI partnership.

“In an ever-changing world, an advanced degree opens the door for graduates to pursue whatever dream they have. It’s transformational,” said Lewis. “We’re proud to be part of the Center for Innovation and have the opportunity to partner with the Fayette County Board of Education and Southern Crescent to help students dream big and achieve success.”