The 2026 Bulloch Career–Workforce Summit served as a reminder of the role Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education plays in preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Through student stories, program updates, and workforce data, district leaders highlighted how CTAE pathways connect education, industry, and real-world experience across Bulloch County.
The 2026 Bulloch Career–Workforce Summit opened with welcoming remarks from Christy Rikard, Vice President for Student Affairs at Ogeechee Technical College, who thanked attendees for being present and highlighted the collaborative effort behind the annual event.
Rikard said the summit serves as a chance to reflect on the work completed over the past year and to celebrate the impact that work has had on students across Bulloch County Schools.
Following the invocation and presentation of colors led by Superintendent Charles Wilson and JROTC cadets from Southeast Bulloch High School, Bethany Gilliam, CTAE Director for Bulloch County Schools, outlined the purpose of the summit. Gilliam explained that the event is designed not only to recognize student and instructor achievements, but also to publicly report progress on the district’s 2026–2030 Career Workforce Development Plan.
She said the summit functions as an accountability checkpoint, allowing the district to share measurable outcomes, evaluate growth, and reaffirm partnerships with education, industry, and community stakeholders to ensure CTAE programs remain active, intentional, and aligned with workforce needs.
CTAE by the Numbers: Program Scope and Workforce Impact
During her presentation Gilliam walked attendees through a data-driven snapshot of the district’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education programs, showing how CTAE has grown into a structured workforce pipeline serving students across multiple schools, industries, and postsecondary pathways. The figures reflect outcomes from the most recent reporting year and were shared as part of the district’s annual CTAE report.
CTAE Program Structure
- 13 career clusters
- 34 career pathways
- 1,491 students enrolled in at least one CTAE course
- 461 students completed a full career pathway
- 98.06% CTAE graduation rate
- 78% End-of-Pathway Assessment pass rate
- 44 students identified as Accelerated Career Diploma participants
Gilliam noted that pathway offerings are intentionally aligned with regional workforce needs and reviewed annually to ensure relevance as industry demand evolves.
Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)
- 1,321 student members participating in CTSOs
These organizations provide competitive, leadership, and skills-based experiences that extend classroom learning into regional, state, and national arenas.
Dual Enrollment and Work-Based Learning
- 609 students participating in dual enrollment
- 392 students enrolled in work-based learning
- $2.12 million+ in total student earnings
- Nearly 200,000 hours worked
- 38 employer sites
- 345 active business and community partnerships
Gilliam said work-based learning remains one of the district’s most impactful tools, allowing students to earn income, gain industry experience, and build professional networks, all before graduation.
Career Exploration and Discovery Events
- 9 discovery events
- 1,338 students participating
- 23 event partners
These events are designed to expose students to a wide range of career options, helping them make informed decisions about pathway selection, postsecondary education, and future employment.
Gilliam said the combined data reinforces the district’s focus on accountability and intentional growth, showing that CTAE programs are not only expanding in participation, but producing measurable outcomes that benefit students, employers, and the broader Bulloch County workforce.
CTAE Award Recipients Recognized Across District
A portion of the summit was dedicated to recognizing CTAE students and instructors from across Bulloch County Schools who earned state, national, and international honors through CTSOs. Gilliam noted that more than 25 students qualified for national-level competition during the past year, crediting the success to the time and dedication of CTAE instructors and advisors who prepare students well beyond regular classroom hours.
She also said this is the first year students from every Bulloch high school — and one middle school — have represented the district at nationals.
From Portal Middle High School, students were recognized through Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), including Cannon Thompson, a 2025 National Leadership Conference qualifier in Sports Nutrition Level 3. Portal also celebrated John Hendrix, who was named Georgia’s STEM Teacher of the Year by the Air & Space Forces Association, an honor highlighting instructional excellence alongside student achievement.
At Southeast Bulloch High School, a large group of FCCLA students earned qualification for the 2025 National Leadership Conference across multiple competitive areas, including professional presentation, nutrition and wellness, entrepreneurship, sports nutrition, repurpose and redesign, national programs in action, and digital storytelling.
Recognized students included Sara Jo Tankersley, Jaden Lehman, Bailey Chaney, Isabella Conley, Makenzie Banter, Jaiden Moye, Chloe Lín, Rachel Clay, Makenna Dykes, Addie Sherrod, and Kaleb Hernandez, under the guidance of advisor Charity Masters.
Southeast Bulloch High School students were also recognized through Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), with John Thomas Kile qualifying at the national level in Management Information Systems and Noah Burnham in Accounting, advised by Kacie Craig and Randy Lee.
Additional recognition was given to Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) qualifiers Emily Peacock, Mason McNeely, Andrew Davis, and Liam Melton, who competed at the International Leadership Conference under advisor Elizabeth Hartley, who was also named CTAE Instructor of the Year by the Statesboro–Bulloch Chamber of Commerce.
Recognition continued at the middle school level with Emily Ruth Ward of Southeast Bulloch Middle School, who qualified for the 2025 National Leadership Conference in FCCLA’s National Program in Action Level 1, under advisor Kate Cowan.
At Statesboro High School, FCCLA students were honored for national-level qualifications in categories ranging from leadership and teaching strategies to early childhood education and service projects.
Recognized students included Rylee Mackiewicz, Madison Holmes, Lorelei Prosser, Ava Mincey, Natalie Harvey, Kadyn Carlyle, Kayonnis Garris, and Alesha Durant, with advisement provided by Rosanna Ward and Jackie Merrill.
Gilliam emphasized that while not all award recipients were able to attend the summit due to graduation, college schedules, or dual enrollment commitments, the recognitions reflect the depth and reach of CTAE programs across the district and their role in preparing students for leadership, competition, and future careers.
Career Workforce Development Plan Updates
Following student recognition, Gilliam also provided an in-depth update on the district’s 2026–2030 Career Workforce Development Plan. Gilliam told attendees the district intentionally returns each year to report progress, evaluate outcomes, and outline next steps to ensure the plan remains active and responsive to workforce needs instead of “sitting on a shelf.”
Gilliam explained that Goal One of the plan focuses on fostering a unified career education framework that connects students to industry pathways and expands access to resources. Over the past year, the district launched the Career Ready Bulloch social media platforms to better highlight student success and share information about CTAE opportunities, while also completing pathway guides for every CTAE pathway. These guides are designed to help students visualize their progression from coursework to pathway completion, work-based learning, dual enrollment, and postsecondary options.
Looking ahead, Gilliam said the district plans to create clearer resources outlining all available ways students can earn college credit, including articulation agreements and dual enrollment, while continuing to review pathway offerings using regional workforce demand data and YouScience student data to ensure programs align with high-demand careers.
Under Goal Two, which centers on preparing students for successful futures through employability skills, rigorous coursework, and authentic learning experiences, Gilliam highlighted major instructional improvements made during the past year. CTAE teachers across the district developed district-wide pacing guides for all CTAE courses, helping ensure consistency in instruction regardless of campus.
The district also launched the new Work Ready Certification for CTAE students, a structured employability framework that establishes a baseline set of skills across CTAE pathways. Gilliam explained that the certification includes defined skill-based activities embedded throughout CTAE coursework, giving students the opportunity to earn recognition for workplace readiness.
Upcoming initiatives tied to this goal include launching a CTAE ambassador program to elevate student voice, ensuring students earn stacking credentials through CTAE classes, and developing field experiences for every CTAE pathway so students can connect classroom learning directly to real-world settings.
Gilliam said Goal Three focuses on developing career-ready graduates through hands-on experiences, job preparation, and meaningful recognition. Progress under this goal includes the creation of a Hiring Under 18 one-pager designed to help employers better understand state and federal guidelines for employing minors, addressing a common barrier in work-based learning placements.
The district also launched the Work Ready Graduation Cord for work-based learning students and expanded YouScience training for middle and high school teachers to strengthen career exploration and aptitude awareness. Moving forward, Gilliam said the district will continue aligning work-based learning and youth apprenticeship sites with local industries, increase staff awareness of YouScience as a planning tool, and implement an industry bus tour for administrators to provide firsthand exposure to regional employers and workforce environments.
Gilliam closed the update by encouraging continued community involvement, noting that the Career Workforce Steering Committee plays a critical role in shaping and sustaining the district’s workforce initiatives and that new members are welcome as the district moves into the next phase of implementation.
Pathway Spotlight: Teaching as a Profession – Portal Middle High School
Representing Portal Middle High School, senior Kailyn King shared how participating in multiple CTAE pathways helped shape both her career goals and personal growth. King told attendees that she has completed three pathways — business and technology, animal science, and teaching as a profession — and said hands-on learning opportunities were the most impactful part of her experience.
She recalled shadowing a veterinarian as part of her supervised agricultural experience, an experience she described as “life-changing” and one that helped solidify her long-term goal of becoming a veterinarian.
King also spoke candidly about the challenges she faced along the way, including failing an end-of-pathway assessment on her first attempt. She said the experience forced her to confront failure, lean on support from her teachers, and ultimately persevere — lessons she described as just as important as academic success. Through her pathways, King said she developed skills in public speaking, time management, problem solving, and communication, while also gaining clarity about her future.
She plans to attend Georgia Southern University on a pre-veterinary track before pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Georgia, with the long-term goal of returning to the Portal community to open her own veterinary practice.
Pathway Spotlight: Audio, Video, Film and Technology – Southeast Bulloch High School
Southeast Bulloch High School senior John Thomas Kile highlighted how the Audio, Video, Film and Technology pathway gave him real-world experience that mirrors professional media environments. Kile described his work helping build and operate his school’s daily news and live-streaming program, managing everything from equipment setup to live directing and broadcast logistics. He said Friday nights often find him on athletic sidelines filming games or overseeing livestreams — experiences that taught him to make fast decisions under pressure.
Kile said his CTAE coursework showed him that classroom assignments often replicate industry workflows, reinforcing the relevance of technical and business skills taught through the program. Through participation in Future Business Leaders of America, where he served as a chapter officer and became the school’s first national qualifier, Kile said he learned the importance of leadership, accountability, and teamwork alongside technical expertise.
Looking ahead, Kile shared that he has enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard, describing his path as that of a “soldier-scholar.” He credited CTAE with preparing him not only for college and competition, but for leadership, service, and success in the workforce beyond high school.
CTSO Officer Spotlights: FCCLA Student Leadership
In addition to pathway presentations, the summit featured remarks from two students serving in leadership roles with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), offering insight into how Career Technical Student Organizations help students develop confidence, communication skills, and a service-oriented approach to leadership.
Eden Chavers, a Georgia FCCLA Region 9 officer, spoke about how her role in FCCLA helped her grow both personally and professionally. Chavers explained that FCCLA’s mission — centered on strengthening families, careers, and communities — shaped her understanding of leadership as service rather than recognition.
Through planning regional meetings, organizing workshops, and collaborating with fellow officers, she said she gained experience in communication, organization, and problem-solving while learning to step outside her comfort zone. Chavers noted that the organization helped her build confidence and prepared her for future leadership opportunities by emphasizing teamwork and outreach.
Kamryn Williams, Georgia FCCLA Vice President of Membership, followed by reflecting on how serving as a state officer broadened her perspective and introduced her to leadership experiences she had never anticipated. Williams said FCCLA helped her develop professional skills such as networking, public speaking, time management, and accountability — lessons she said cannot be learned from a textbook alone.
She described the role as transformative, allowing her to explore career interests, build meaningful relationships across the state, and understand the importance of service-based leadership. Williams said the experience reinforced that leadership is rooted in helping others and making a positive impact, both within schools and in the wider community.
Learn More about CTAE in Bulloch
Superintendent Charles Wilson closed the summit, noting that it takes a village in the community to make this type of education possible. For more information on Bulloch County Schools’ CTAE programs, visit careerreadybulloch.org.