Macon Magazine

Career-minded approach e vision for Hutchings made headway in 2013 when Bibb County Schools' interim superintendent Dr. Steven Smith indicated he was open to the idea of converting the existing career center into a college and career academy. e Career, Technical, Agriculture and Education (CTAE) director and principal of the school met and discussed the proposed college and career academy design and its benefits. According to Dr. Cassandra Miller-Washington, executive director and CEO of Hutchings, an advisory committee was developed to generate a timeline for development of the new academy. Comprised of students, parents, teachers and administrators – along with the CTAE District Advisory Committee, local business and industry, Central Georgia Technical College, Mercer University, Helms College, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and Macon Economic Development Council – the committee worked together to analyze needs-assessment data, complete the charter petition and compete for the Georgia College and Career Grant Project. In looking for a more central location for the new academy, Bibb County Schools wanted to utilize an existing facility with great proximity to the six base high schools and Central Georgia Technical College, where academy students have the opportunity for dual- enrollment. Miller-Washington said the committee wanted the building to include a business and community resource center. "at is when they decided on utilizing the Promise Center as the central location," she said. According to Niya Hicks, assistant principal and CTAE supervisor, the building was designed and renovated to create a collective intelligence where stakeholders could come together and share ideas. After the renovation, the building not only began providing service as a "bright environment conducive to a growing academy, but also as a community meeting space that hosts multiple local and statewide conferences and classes year-round," Hicks said. "e building also includes many innovative programs, including a café that educates the culinary students, and Wish Printing, an active print shop educating the graphic design pathway students." Charting new courses e pathways available to students at Hutchings are many and diverse, providing opportunities as unique as the students it serves. Among the pathways currently offered are: Banking & Finance; Culinary Arts; Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism; Teaching as a Profession; erapeutic Services/Patient Care; erapeutic Services/ Emergency Medical Technician; Graphic Design; Carpentry; Welding; Industrial Maintenance; Audio-Video Technology & Film; Personal Care/Cosmetology Services; Barbering; Automotive; Distribution & Logistics; and Aviation Maintenance. With so many offerings, it's no surprise HCCA has grown to more than 350 students and has increased enrollment by 20 percent every year since its move to the new building. Bibb County School District's CTAE pathway completer graduation rate is an impressive 96.6 percent and its post-graduation job placement rate is 65 percent. Ja'Niyah Stephens, a certified nursing assistant at Pruitt Health Peake, had been interested in the medical field while enrolled at Rutland High when she learned of the medical pathway offerings at HCCA. "I was led to take classes there because I knew it would give me that stepping stone," she said. "My experience at Hutchings helped prepare me for my role in caring for the elderly. is was a great way to get an insight into my future career path." HCCA is successful not only because OUR SKILLS WERE CHALLENGED; THEY REALLY BROUGHT OUT OUR CREATIVITY." – BROOKLYN THOMAS " 122 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2021

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