MCDUFFIE COUNTY, Ga. (WFXG) - THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES FEBRUARY AS CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION MONTH. THOMSON HIGH SCHOOL IS USING IT'S cTAE PATHWAYS TO PREPARE IT’S STUDENTS FOR JOBS RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

WITH 26 PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO CHOSE FROM, BUSINESS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER REBEKAH BURNSIDE says THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

“SEEING THE LIGHT BULB COME ON WHEN SOMEONE CREATES SOMETHING THAT THEY THOUGHT WAS TOO CHALLENGING AND WHEN I SEE THAT THERE INTEREST REALLY IS PIQUED," BURNSIDE says. "fROM i THINK I MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS TO I REALLY WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THIS.”      

BURNSIDE TEACHES WEB DESIGN, GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION AND BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY. these are A FEW OF THE PATHWAYS THAT SERVE AS A COLLEGE-LIKE MAJORS FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP DOWN THE ROAD.

in the classroom NEXT DOOR, ALBERT GUNBY SHOWS HIS STUDENTS ALL THAT GAME DESIGN AND CYBER SECURITY HAVE TO OFFER. He says some students are apprehensive at first. BUT, AFTER THEY START PROGRAmmING, THEY GET VERY EXCITED about seeing the results.

“I HAD AN INDIVIDUAL TODAY, WHO SAID SHE WANTS ANOTHER CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE’VE COMPLETED ONE," Gunby says. "NOW, SHE WANTS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO PUSH HER KNOWLEDGE AND HER ABILITY.”

LILLIAN SHIFFLET’S was introduced to MR. GUNBY’S gaming CLASS through her OLDER SISTER.

“SHE’D COME HOME AND TEACH ME WHAT SHE LEARNED," Shifflet says. "WHEN I WAS 8, I WAS DOING BINARY...WHAT SHE TAUGHT ME, STUCK WITH ME. "IF I ALREADY KNOW IT, I MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND DO IT.”

NOW, the GAME DESIGN STUDENT IS BUILDING PC’S, ALL WHILE EARNING INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION.

HUNTER BRUCE WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE, BUT DECIDED TO GIVE CYBER A CHANCE. HE IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AN ADVANCED CYBER PATHWAY. “IT’S REALLY FUN AND IT’S USEFUL.”

WHETHER THE PLAN IS COLLEGE OR JUMPING STRAIGHT INTO A JOB, bRUCE AND SHIFFLET BOTH AGREE THAT THE PATHWAYS CAN TAKE YOU JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE.

fOR MORE INFORMATION ON class offerings for students, VISIT THEIR website.

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