Robins Region Students Receive a Well-Rounded Education
With a robust academic curriculum, a diverse menu of career and technical education programs, and several fine arts and sports offerings, Houston County School District not only prepares students for success in college and careers but also in life.
Mark Scott, who is the superintendent of schools for Houston County, says that by providing students with a holistic education, the district sets them up for success in a wide range of local careers.
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Strengthening the Workforce
At the Houston College & Career Academy (HCCA), for example, students learn through project-based instruction in a variety of pathways, such as cosmetology, fine furniture making, industrial systems and welding. HCCA’s programs prepare students to enter the workforce directly or to continue their education, while focusing on the priorities of businesses and industries.
“HCCA works with community partners to identify the workforce needs of our community, then develops curriculum and programming to meet that need. For example, our community has a current demand for individuals who are skilled in cybersecurity. In response to that need, we launched a cybersecurity pathway at HCCA in fall 2024,” Scott says.
Another new program is already in store for 2025, when HCCA will begin offering a fire science pathway for students interested in becoming firefighters.
“Through this pathway, students will be prepared to enter the workforce directly after graduation, having already obtained the credentials needed to make them immediately employable,” Scott says.
Leveraging Community Partnerships
The impact of local community support, Scott adds, cannot be understated. For example, the district partnered with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex and the Development Authority of Houston County to launch Project Synergy. The Project Synergy facility employs software engineers who support critical missions for Robins Air Force Base and creates opportunities for students.
“Through these strong community partnerships, our students benefit from instruction that is uniquely tailored to our local workforce needs. In turn, our entire community benefits from students who choose to stay in Middle Georgia rather than seek employment elsewhere,” Scott says.
Power of 18 is the result of a strategic partnership between Central Georgia Technical College and Houston County School District. Every eligible student can earn at least 18 college credit hours in economics, sociology, U.S. history and English before they graduate high school.
“The greatest benefit of the Power of 18 is that students earn college credits at no charge while attending high school, saving money on the overall cost of college in the future. The classes are taught by teachers at each of the five high schools in the county, which means students do not have to leave campus to earn college credit,” Scott says.
The program removes major barriers like transportation and cost, making dual enrollment an accessible opportunity for all students.
The Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center, which opened in 2024, was built with the collaboration of the Houston County Government and the cities of Centerville, Perry and Warner Robins.
The 39,000-square-foot facility and 50-meter competition pool were created to be a venue for both public recreation and key competitive swimming events.
Unleashing Student Potential
A large assortment of arts, sports and extracurricular programs contribute to the holistic development of students.
Scott says students are encouraged to join a sport or club because the district wants them to explore and develop their interests, talents and passions outside of the academic curriculum.
“Art education encourages creativity, which is important to the well-being of our students,” says Olethia Thomas, director of gifted education and coordinator of fine arts and Advanced Placement for the Houston County School District.
“It lowers students’ stress levels, improves their memory and fosters social connectedness. I’ve also found it helps them become resilient; it increases their grit and growth mindset for achieving both academically and in life.”
Thomas explains that both fine arts and sports provide students some of those soft, employable skills local employers desire. Students can hone their speaking skills during tryouts and auditions, while team sports and theater performances teach the students how to work side by side with peers with different opinions and backgrounds.
“Many of our fine arts students, for example, end up becoming valedictorians or student council presidents,” Thomas says. “They’ll cross over into clubs like Future Business Leaders of America, and they will have no problem with leading in college and their careers.”
One Educator’s Public School Experience Inspired Her Career Path
The Houston County School District’s holistic approach to education helps prepare students for a wide range of career paths, including education. A graduate of Northside High School, Lazunia Frierson, assistant superintendent of district and school effectiveness, says her Houston County education inspired her to become a teacher.
“Because I had so many amazing teachers throughout my childhood, it just made sense that I wanted to be a teacher. I looked up to my teachers and wanted to be like them when I grew up,” Frierson says. “The education I received not only equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills for college but also instilled in me a deep-seated desire to give back to the district that had given so much to me.”
Frierson says she always felt that her teachers had high expectations for her and her classmates, and their dedication to their students went beyond the classroom.
“My teachers not only educated us but also served as exemplary role models. I believe that my education in the public schools provided me with a strong academic and social foundation for later success in life,” she says.
Frierson says the diversity of both her classes and her classmates contributed to her academic and career success. In high school, she took courses in theater, medical technology, accounting, typing, chorus and ROTC.
“Having a vast array of options has always been one of the major highlights of being a student in the Houston County School District,” Frierson says. “These elective classes were beneficial in helping me to learn my interests and natural talents.”