Preparing Georgia's future workforce starts long before students enter the job market. It begins with educational leaders who understand how classroom learning connects to career opportunities and local economic growth.

Thanks to a partnership between the University of Georgia and Georgia Power, 16 school superintendents from across the state are now better equipped to lead those efforts in their communities after completing the inaugural Georgia Superintendents' Workforce Leadership Academy.

“These participating superintendents, representing school districts of all sizes, have gained knowledge and skills they can apply as they support students’ career paths and boost their communities’ local economies,” said Greg Wilson, Institute of Government associate director and workforce lead.
 
The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government and Georgia Power developed the leadership academy to equip education leaders with the knowledge they need to become workforce development catalysts in their school districts and communities.
 
“When education and workforce development align, we create real opportunities for students by connecting what they learn in the classroom to clear, attainable pathways into high-demand careers,” said Jonathan King, director of workforce development at Georgia Power. “Through the Georgia Superintendents’ Workforce Leadership Academy, we’re working alongside superintendents to help empower students’ futures and strengthen the talent pipeline for communities across Georgia.”
 
Participants attended in-person and virtual workshops, received expert coaching and explored successful workforce development models across the state. The academy kicked off in West Point with a visit to Kia Georgia, where superintendents saw firsthand how one of Georgia’s largest employers works with education partners to develop a skilled workforce. They also attended Georgia’s Workforce Conference at UGA, connecting with business leaders, workforce professionals and educators to better understand the challenges and opportunities shaping
Georgia’s economy.

In addition to the formal curriculum, the academy provided space for participants to build connections and share ideas. Taliaferro County School Superintendent Andreana Jones found the networking invaluable as she navigated her first academic year leading Georgia’s smallest school district.
 
 
“It’s been inspiring to be in the room with so many experienced leaders and to see what larger districts have been able to accomplish. As a leader myself, I’m now thinking, how could we do that? We may have fewer people in our district and our community, but the same work could be done for our students on a smaller scale,” she said.

Rather than just discussing workforce challenges, participants were tasked with developing practical solutions tailored to their communities. Each superintendent completed a capstone project designed to strengthen workforce readiness and create new opportunities for students in their district within 12 months. They presented their projects at a final workshop in Atlanta and will be paired with local mentors as they work toward their goals in their school districts.

The capstones ranged from Putnam County School Superintendent Derick Austin’s work-based learning compact that ensures every student participates in some form of work-based or job-related learning before graduation to Whitfield County Schools Superintendent Mike Ewton’s call for an education-industry externship program for teachers.
 

Some superintendents focused on Career, Technology and Agriculture Education (CTAE) pathways for their projects. Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Kristina Brooks shared her plan to streamline agriculture-focused pathways, while Camden County Schools Superintendent Tracolya Green spoke of adding a golf course management pathway, tying into Coastal Georgia’s hospitality and tourism industries.
 
Lumpkin County Schools Superintendent Sharon Head hopes to spark elementary school students’ interest in
career education as part of her project. High school students would lead age-appropriate activities to teach employability skills to fourth graders, who would in turn visit the district’s college and career academy to learn about CTAE pathways.
 

“We found that we’re doing a lot with our older students once they get into high school through our college and career academy, but we're not doing a lot with our younger students,” she said. “I think career education starts much earlier than what we currently emphasize.”

While each project reflected the unique needs of its community, all shared a common goal of helping students see a clearer connection between education and future careers while strengthening the local workforce pipeline.

The superintendents graduated from the leadership academy with a stronger grasp of strategies and tools they can use to support local, regional and state workforce development efforts.

Troup County Schools Superintendent Rachel Hazel is already applying her knowledge by building relationships with local employers and using data to explore how students’ interests can match local industry needs.

“I’ve gained a broader understanding of Georgia’s workforce needs, both locally and statewide. With that, I have a better idea how to prepare our students and align our focus to meet the needs of our community and state,” she said.

 

2026 Superintendents’ Workforce Leadership Academy graduates:

Derick Austin, Putnam County Charter School System

Kristina Brooks, Baldwin County Public Schools

Jennifer Carter, Hart County Charter System

Mike Ewton, Whitfield County Schools

Joseph Goodroe, Madison County Schools

Tracolya Green, Camden County Schools

Rachel Hazel, Troup County School System

Sharon Head, Lumpkin County Schools

Eric Holland, Rome City Schools

Andreana Jones, Taliaferro County School District

Dallas LeDuff, Barrow County School System

David Lewis, Muscogee County School District

Dan Sims, Bibb County School District

Denise Warnock, Emanuel County Schools

Christy Wray, Turner County School District

Mitch Young, Forsyth County Schools