Two Work-Based Learning coordinators from Hall County attended the “Top Gun” WBL educator training this summer.

Johnson High’s Cree Aiken and Chestatee High’s Holli Howard took part in the training.

The event was a unique staff development training for WBL coordinators who have excelled in a specified set of performance criteria.

The concept of the “Top Gun” training is based loosely on the theme of the movie of the same name: The best of the best are honored with participation in a specialized training opportunity and given the chance to compete and hone their skills. Participants are then better prepared to promote Georgia’s Work-Based Learning program, which gives Georgia students the opportunity to receive credit while working in an environment related to their career pathway.

Twenty teachers/WBL coordinators were invited to attend the Top Gun training, representing all regions of the state. Participants learned to use a marketing and public relations toolkit to more effectively market and brand their program and increase connections with the business and industry sector.

Other topics included increasing employability skills in high school students, matching education to economic development needs and improving the quality of student placements and mentoring.