Career, Technical and Agriculture Education

CTAE Overview

The mission of Lowndes County Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education is to provide the opportunity for all students to explore meaningful career options through a multitude of career pathways and relevant hands-on learning to help them achieve their fullest potential in life and become contributing members of society.

Currently there are 30 + teachers in the Career and Technical Education department of Lowndes County Schools, along with a CTAE Supervisor/Assistant Principal and CTAE System Director located at Lowndes High School. Programs are offered at each of the three middle schools and the high school.

LOWNDES HIGH SCHOOL CTAE PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTORS:

AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC
Lt. Col. Pete Dominicis
MSgt. Matthew Schmidt
MSgt. Gil Harbach

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
Mack Ross
Quinton Hadsock
Lindsey Stone

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Don Faircloth
Steven Cooper

BUSINESS & COMPUTER SCIENCE
April Harrell
Spencer Graybeal
Gwen Belue
Gina Tindall
Rachel Roberts
Jodi Scruggs

CONSTRUCTION
Steven Cooper

EDUCATION: TEACHING AS A PROFESSION
Andrea Bridges

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING, & DESIGN
Marc McLain

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
Marilu Cantrell

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
Margie Chatelain
Rick Van Hook
Hannah Exum

HEALTHCARE SCIENCE
Ashley Harris
Brooks Johnson

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Matt North
Greg Terry

WORK-BASED LEARNING
Jason Van Nus
Andrea Bridges

LOWNDES MIDDLE SCHOOL CTAE PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTORS:

BUSINESS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Alvin Earp

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Shanna Beall

AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Pamela Ross

HAHIRA MIDDLE SCHOOL CTAE PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTORS:

BUSINESS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Laila Taylor

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
Curt Johnson

AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Kristen Thomas

PINE GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL CTAE PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTORS:

BUSINESS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Vickie Ashley

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
Shannon Stott

AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Anna Grantham

LOWNES HIGH SUPERVISOR/AP
Horace Walker

SYSTEM DIRECTOR
John Newton

John Newton, Director

Director of CTAE

Office: (229) 245-2260 x 3576

johnnewton@lowndes.k12.ga.us

CTSO's As an Added Benefit of CTAE

What is a CTSO?

CTSO stands for Career and Technical Student Organizations.

CTOSs are an integral part of Career and Technical Education program areas, including, agriculture, business, marketing, family and consumer sciences, health, skilled trades, and technical sciences.

CTSOs assist instructors in developing the leadership, citizenship, technical, critical thinking, and teamwork skills essential to students who are preparing for the work-force and further education. They enhance students' civic awareness and provide opportunities for developing social competencies and a wholesome attitude about living and working.

What do CTSOs do for students? What do they do for teachers?

CTSOs provide opportunities for students to showcase and demonstrate their talents, technical abilities, knowledge and leadership skills inside and outside the classroom.

CTSOs give students well-rounded experiences they can report on job and/or college applications.

For both advisors and students, CTSOs provide opportunities to network with business people, educators and students.

CTSOs bring together all types of students from diverse backgrounds to work as a cohesive team; CTSOs teach cooperation, tolerance, and teamwork.

CTSOs benefit the community they are in through local and national community service projects.

What is involved in a CTSO?

Each CTSO varies slightly, but some basics common to all include:

  • Organization
  • Each CTSO has a set of bylaws governing the organization
  • Each CTSO has meetings, including agendas and minutes
  • In every CTSO, students find ample opportunities to exercise their communication, leadership and organizational skills
  • Community Service
  • Each CTSO has its own way of giving back to the communities in which they are based, such as taking part in Habitat For Humanity or sponsoring events to benefit charities like the American Cancer Society
  • Competitive Events
  • Each CTSO has a variety of leader-ship and skill-based competitive events developed using national standards. Integrating these events (or parts of them) into the classroom curriculum is a win-win for students and instructors.

Lowndes County CTSOs include: FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA and TSA.

Viking Futures

Follow the experiences and achievements of our CTAE students in our publication Viking Futures.