507
WBL & YAP Coordinators
26,948
2020 Students Served
9,000+
Participating Employers
$56,241,580
2020 Wages Earned by WBL Students
381
Participating Schools
The Georgia Work-Based Learning Program assists businesses with building a highly trained, technologically sophisticated and career oriented young work force. Our goal is to assist in the creation of a strong support structure between local employers, students and schools. Work-Based Learning supplies talent to address industry workforce shortage needs. We promote an industry-driven system where employers set occupational skills standards, collaborate on curriculum, provide work experience and certify mastery of skills. Focus on the future with Georgia Work-Based Learning.
The mission of the Work-Based Learning Program is to assist in providing a highly trained, technologically sophisticated and career oriented young work force. This is accomplished by developing partnerships between business, industry, students, parents, school systems, coordinators, post-secondary institutions, and registered apprenticeships which will lead the participating student into meaningful careers.
Georgia had 19,394 students enrolled in credit bearing Work-Based Learning courses in 2017, which includes 3,219 students in Youth Apprenticeship Placements. The vision of the Work-Based Learning Program includes:
Creating a seamless transition from career oriented courses in High School to post-secondary education, credentials, and a successful career.
Opportunity for students to develop strong employability skills (soft skills) that will make them desired employees.
Application of the technical skills learned in related coursework while working in real life employment situations
Super Lawn Technologies, a manufacturing company in middle Georgia, experiences huge success through the first ever Work Based Learning partnership with local schools. Learn how they have given energetic and smart students a chance to gain valuable work experience while getting paid.
“Without support from the WBL coordinators who really KNOW the kids...we may not have as much success.”
Tony Bass, Founder Super Lawn Technologies
WBL & YAP Coordinators
2020 Students Served
Participating Employers
2020 Wages Earned by WBL Students
Participating Schools
Our local Work Based Learning program provides sharp, professional students who are talented and eager to learn. We use WBL participants as part of our intern program and enjoy how readily they integrate with our team. It is wonderful to have this resource in our community for creating career paths that benefit small businesses with a work-ready work force to recruit locally from.
| Work Based Learning Student of the Year | |
| East Central Region: | Anna Lorelei Culbreath, Evans High School. Coordinator: Tim Perry |
| Northeast Region: | Ashton Hill, Madison County High School. Coordinator: Sarah Waldrop |
| Northwest Region: | Jamez McPherson, Lithia Springs High School. Coordinator: Kimberly Isles-Towry |
| Southeast Region: | Olivia Thrift, Ware County High School. Coordinator: Kim Callahan |
| Southwest Region: | Madison Hardy, Cook High School. Coordinator: Jenny Pitts |
| West Central Region: | Bailee Tracy, Harris County High School. Coordinator: Gary Johannes |
Overall Work Based Learning Student of the Year: Ashton Hill, Madison County High School, Coordinator: Sarah Waldrop | |
| Youth Apprenticeship Program Completer of the Year | |
| Northeast Region: | Carlos Mendoza-Mojica, Gainesville High School. Coordinator: Helen Perry |
| Northwest Region: | Laura Kate Wright, Dalton High School. Coordinators: Dr. Larry Tripp, Doug Shults |
| Southeast Region: | Graci Thrift, Ware County High School. Coordinator: Kim Callahan |
| Southwest Region: | Andrew Malone Harrell, Cook High School. Coordinator: Jenny Pitts |
| West Central Region: | Tra’quan Jones, Northside High School. Coordinator: Sandi Couillard |
Overall Youth Apprenticeship Program Completer of the Year: Graci Thrift, Ware County High School, Coordinator: Kim Callahan | |
| WBL Business Partner of the Year | |
| Northeast Region: | Kubota Manufacturing of America, Coordinator: Deana Harper |
| Northwest Region: | Northside Hospital, Coordinator: Emily Henderson |
| Southeast Region: | Wellman Family Healthcare, Coordinator: Susan Faulk |
| Southwest Region: | Nichols Lures, Coordinator: Brandi Miranda |
| West Central Region: | Kimble’s, Coordinator: Gary Johannes |
Overall Work Based Learning Business Partner of the Year: Kubota Manufacturing of America, Coordinator: Deana Harper |
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| Distinguished WBL Coordinators of the Year | |
| Cathy Ferguson, Jones County High School/College and Career Academy | |
| Edd Saxon, Haralson County College and Career Academy | |
| Jennifer Turner, Loganville High School | |
| Jason Van Nus, Lowndes High School | |
Leah Thorton – Ware County High School Class of 2011
Leah was an honor graduate at Ware County High School in 2011. She achieved high achievement in her academic and Career Technical Agricultural Education courses. Leah was able to take courses in the medical field to gain foundational knowledge. Then, she worked in the medical setting as an office assistant at the Vein Clinic through the Youth Apprenticeship/Work Based Learning Program. Leah interacted with patients’ daily with scheduling appointments, taking payments, filing insurance claims, and assisting with simple patient care. The Work-Based Learning Program allowed Leah to gain hands-on experience in the medical field prior to pursuing a post-secondary degree and career in the medical field.Leah attended and completed the Weber State University Nuclear Medicine program. She passed the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board Examination. Leahwas able to begin working immediately in Jacksonville at the Cancer Specialist of North Florida. She is Leah Thornton Mattox RT (R) CNMT.
