Industry Certified CTAE Programs

The Barrow County School System Career Technical Agricultural Education program celebrates Industry Certification and Recertification of four pathways!

According to the Georgia Department of Education Industry Certification Standards website, a program that is industry certified means it receives a "stamp of excellence."

Industry Certification involves the teacher and course meeting a list of criteria and being reviewed by business and industry leaders. 

BCSS Industry Certified Programs include:

• AHS Healthcare - Kalee Howard and Robert Yadon
• AHS Engineering & Technology - Teresa Johnson
• WBHS Engineering & Technology - Kimberly Garren
• AHS Law & Public Safety - Amanda Pugh and Dawnya Hill

Kimberly Garren says, "Industry certification is a rigorous process, which takes the teacher about 7 months to complete. Having a certified program allows me to give my students more opportunities by allowing us to keep our lab up to industry standards so they are better prepared for the engineering world, once they leave my program. Over the years, certification has helped us truly build a state-of-the-art lab for Winder-Barrow High School where students have access to use 30+ industry standard machines daily. This also allows our program to be 100% PBL based, which increases engagement and the number of skills students gain throughout the pathway. This most recent certification, we received the first 100% in the state, meeting all standards perfectly. I am thankful for all the parties involved which included parents, community members, industry members, engineering professors, WB administration, Dr. Wood and most importantly my students! Time to continue to learn and grow our WB program!"

Teresa Johnson says, "For me to have an industry certified program is validation I am offering a quality program to students. For students, it means they can feel prepared and confident if they choose to continue on this pathway that they have foundations skills to be successful. It is my desire to do what is best for students and offer all levels of students an opportunity to experience and be successful in an engineering setting."

Dawnya Hill says, "We received Industry Certification and National Accreditation through LAPSEN. We are one of the first three programs in the nation to receive this certification. We have amazing community support for our program and our students are amazing!"

The Industry Certification will span five years, with annual reviews to make sure the program continues to meet criteria.

AHS Engineering Teacher Teresa Johnson receives Industry Certification banner.