Macon Agency Joins School District For Career Prep

More Bibb County students will get extra help carving out a career path starting in August.

The school district teamed up with the Macon-Bibb County Office of Workforce Development to place a career coach at each of the 7 high schools, and hire a coordinator.

The coaches will help students discover fields they're interested in.

"These career coaches will work with students to guide them through completing career interest surverys and conducting online career research, exploring career options so that they can find their passion," said Sharon Joyner, Director of the district's Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education program.

Workforce Development Director Kathy Thompson says they've given the district a $150,000 grant to go towards the career coaches, while the district adds about $100,000.

But the OWD's involvement extends beyond that. Thompson says they plan to expand their Workforce Investment Act summer program for youth so that more students enrolled in the CTAE program can get real-world work experience with Central Georgia companies in aerospace, automotive, food service, and other industries.

"We believe it will make their time in high school relevant and that more students will graduate but graduate as being ready to go to work," said Thompson.

She says the teens would be working towards a Georgia workready certificate, certification in their desired field, their diploma, and maybe some college credit.

"We need to demonstrate to employers first that we are graduating quality students that they would want to hire. That's our challenge and we have accepted that challenge," she said.

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**Written by Candace Adorka**