Six students in the 4C Academy’s Teaching As A Profession pathway were selected as interns at elementary schools in the Dougherty County School System (DCSS). They performed a variety of tasks and were able to experience what it is like to be a teacher and work in a school. “The internship was great and I learned a lot while there. I learned that you have to be patient and flexible when working with children. I also learned how important it is for teachers and administrators in a school to work together,” said Aliyah Williams, a student intern.

“I’m proud of each and every one of these students. They have all grown so much and it is rewarding to me as their instructor to see them grow and mature and become a part of the schools where they were able to intern. It is fun for me to listen to them share their experiences and I can tell that they are learning by the terminology that they are picking up at the partner schools,” said Keyla Johnson, the instructor for the Teaching As A Profession Pathway.

Jill Addison, Director of Human Resources for DCSS, states, “We appreciate our partnership with the 4C Academy. We are constantly looking for good teachers to join our System and we view Dr. Johnson’s pathway as a pipeline for us to generate interest from students right here in our community. This is a chance for the students to gain hands-on experience and for us to develop a relationship with these future teachers. It’s a great opportunity for all involved.”

Don Gray, Board Member of the 4C Academy and Director of Facilities Management for the City of Albany presented the six interns with a briefcase and other gifts at the end of the program. He shared, “Teachers are incredibly impactful on the lives of their students. I can speak to this first-hand and recall how my teachers encouraged, pushed and motivated me to work hard and stay focused despite many challenges in my life and background. Teachers save lives. From my interactions with this program and the check-in call that we had several weeks back, I see your passion and concern for the kids and hope you keep that spirit throughout your careers as teachers. We all appreciate your commitment to education.”

Angie Gardner, Principal of the 4C Academy, continued, “We are excited about this program and the direction we are headed and appreciate the DCSS for the partnership and commitment to the internship. Internships are so important to the learning experience and allow students the ability to apply what they are learning in the classroom to the real world. They are so valuable to our student’s education.”