Turner Workforce Project 

The Turner Workforce Project is a partnership between the Turner County Development Authority, the Ashburn/Turner County Chamber of Commerce, Turner County Schools, and Southern Regional Technical College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

College and Career Academy

The Turner County Board of Education is proud to announce the completion of the new Turner County Middle High School, which now houses the TITAN College & Career Academy—a groundbreaking initiative designed to bridge education with industry and create new pathways for student success. At Turner County Schools (TCS), we believe in preparing students for both college and their chosen careers, ensuring they have the skills to thrive in today’s workforce.

The TITAN College & Career Academy represents the best of what can happen when education and industry collaborate to build a stronger future. As TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier stated, "By expanding access to high-demand skills training, this Academy will help students unlock opportunities while strengthening the workforce pipeline in the region." The Academy provides state-of-the-art facilities and a curriculum aligned with both local and regional workforce needs, ensuring students gain career-focused education that prepares them for real-world success.

The CCA initiative began in the Spring of 2020, when TCS applied for a College and Career Academy grant. Despite the pandemic, the first community meeting was held virtually, with 56 business and industry representatives expressing strong support. Thanks to these partnerships, TCS was awarded the CCA grant in 2023. This funding, combined with resources from our recent ELOST renewal, has supported the development of the new school building, which includes specialized classrooms and labs that reflect the evolving needs of the workforce.

As Superintendent Christy Wray shared, “The TITAN College & Career Academy is a game-changer for our students and our community. This partnership will open doors by providing access to real-world learning experiences and career-focused education that prepares students for success after graduation.”

The TITAN College & Career Academy is part of a growing network of 60 College & Career Academies across Georgia. These academies partner with over 3,000 businesses to ensure students graduate with relevant, job-ready skills and a clear pathway to success in the workforce.

Titans2Work Bootcamp

The Titians2Work Bootcamp consists of two boot camp tracks designed for fast-paced preparation, credentialing, and interviewing for a select group of seniors. Upon completion of the boot camp, students will be certified as Turner Workforce Project graduates. They’ll also leave with OSHA and forklift certification (manufacturing track) or customer service training and a ServSafe certification (hospitality track), a professional resume, and top-notch interview skills.

Turner College and Career Fair

A college and career fair, sometimes called a college and career expo, hosted by Turner County High School/School district, is an event at which college admission representatives and industry professionals are all gathered in one place with the goal of helping students learn about a variety of careers and the educational pathways to those careers.

School/district-hosted college and career fairs are a way to level the “playing field” in terms of access to important information about career and education pathways. College and career fairs provide all students at school, or in a community, the opportunity to talk directly with professionals from a variety of occupational fields to learn about their work, the education and credentials required for their field, and to receive tips and advice for steps to take in high school to position themselves for success in a variety of careers. By including college representatives in these events, students also have the opportunity to talk directly with them to find out about the programs and majors offered at different institutions and their admission requirements.

Mock Interviews

A mock interview, also known as a practice interview, is a simulation of an actual job interview. It provides job seekers with an opportunity to practice for an interview and receive feedback on their interviewing skills.

Mock interviews are an ideal way to practice for real job interviews because you are in a situation that mirrors an actual interview with a company. When you review your interview with the interviewer, you'll be able to modify your responses and interview behavior, if necessary.

Practice interviews familiarize users with the interview process and allow users to practice answering common interview questions with confidence. Video practice interviews are particularly helpful in that you can review not only your answers, but your body language, eye contact, and interview attire.

Business and Industry Tour

A key element for building successful partnerships is for school leadership to understand the needs of local businesses, industries, and the workforce. In 2023, TCS partnered with the Ashburn-Turner County Chamber of Commerce to host a Business and Industry Tour, helping to strengthen connections and align educational opportunities with the community’s workforce needs.

Work Based Learning

The Turner County School System Work-Based Learning Program provides relevant work experience for juniors and seniors at our high schools that align with the student’s high school career pathway, post-secondary, and career plans to benefit the student, employer, and community.

Work-Based Learning offers students school-based and work-based learning opportunities related to the student's career interest area. Students are able to:

• Earn wages while learning from skilled professionals

• Increase career options and future employability

• Strengthen academic skills

• Earn credentials of value while in high school

• Experience potential careers in the workplace

Benefits Work Based Learning: 

To the Students:

• Establishes a clear connection between education and work.

• Increases motivation and retention by showing the relevance of academic and occupational instruction.

• Provides opportunities to explore possible careers and enhances skill development.

• Develops workplace responsibility and positive work habits and attitudes.

• Encourages completion of secondary education and enrollment in post-secondary education.

• Provides opportunities for leadership development.

To the Business and Industry:

• Provides an opportunity to prepare future employees.

• Offers a source of skilled and motivated future employees.

• Offers an opportunity to provide community services.

• Increases employer visibility in education.

• Provides an opportunity to communicate required job-specific skills to educational personnel.

To the School:

• Keeps academic and occupational curricula up-to-date through communication with business and industry.

• Provides access to the latest equipment and technology.

• Enhances education's ability to meet the needs of diverse student populations.

• Makes education more relevant and valuable to students.

• Promotes faculty interaction with the business community.

• Facilitates communication regarding actual academic and occupational proficiencies required by business and industry.

To the Community:

• Provides an informed, competent, and productive future workforce.

• Ensures cooperation and understanding between education, business, and the community.

• Enhances awareness of local employment opportunities.

• Builds the foundation for a more productive local economy

FLEX

At TITAN College & Career Academy, we believe in learning that extends beyond textbooks and tests. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Georgia FLEX — the Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience — a program that empowers students to step into the world of entrepreneurship and leadership starting in high school.

Georgia FLEX (Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience) is a hands-on program where high school students create and run real businesses with guidance from local mentors. Through workshops, team collaboration, and business competitions, students learn leadership, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills by doing—not just studying.

FLEX gives students real-world experience, helping them build confidence, think creatively, and develop skills that last a lifetime. It connects schools with local businesses, strengthens communities, and prepares students for success in college, careers, or their own future ventures.