Gordon State College and Griffin-Spalding Schools Sign Articulation Agreement

From front left, Griffin-Spalding County School System Superintendent Jim Smith joins Gordon State College President Dr. Kirk A. Nooks after signing the articulation agreement. Back row from left, Dr. Ric Calhoun, GSC Assistant Vice President for Innovative Education and Strategic Initiatives; Dr. Tiffany Taylor, GSCS Director of Strategic Talent Management; Dr. Joseph Jones, GSC Dean for School of Education; Stephanie Dobbins, GSCS Executive Director for Human Resources; Dr. C. Jeffrey Knighton, GSC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Julie Little, GSC Assistant Professor and Dr. Katie Wester-Neal, GSC Assistant Professor and PDS Program Director.
From front left, Griffin-Spalding County School System Superintendent Jim Smith joins Gordon State College President Dr. Kirk A. Nooks after signing the articulation agreement. Back row from left, Dr. Ric Calhoun, GSC Assistant Vice President for Innovative Education and Strategic Initiatives; Dr. Tiffany Taylor, GSCS Director of Strategic Talent Management; Dr. Joseph Jones, GSC Dean for School of Education; Stephanie Dobbins, GSCS Executive Director for Human Resources; Dr. C. Jeffrey Knighton, GSC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Julie Little, GSC Assistant Professor and Dr. Katie Wester-Neal, GSC Assistant Professor and PDS Program Director.

Gordon State College and Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) signed a partnership articulation agreement Friday that will begin a Professional Development School in Griffin.

The newly established Professional Development School will allow eligible paraprofessionals, who are GSCS employees, to pursue a bachelor’s degree from Gordon State College in a two-year program. Courses for the Professional Development School will be hybrid distance education courses, which use technology to deliver some of the class sessions as well as face-to-face instruction on location in Griffin at both Futral Road Elementary School and Rehoboth Road Middle School. Griffin Region College and Career Academy is also an approved location for the program.

“Griffin-Spalding Schools are part of our 14-county service region, and as the state college for this region, we are listening and support them,” said Gordon State College President Dr. Kirk A. Nooks. “This articulation demonstrates that we want to be the catalyst for the solution to the teacher shortage in the region. We want to be a resource for these paraprofessionals who are continuing their academic journey locally.”

The Professional Development School is an innovative institution formed through partnerships between Gordon State’s professional education programs the P-12 schools in Griffin-Spalding Schools. This is the first such agreement between the two institutions.

Administrators at both schools are guided by a common vision and calling the agreement an active educational partnership in providing educational opportunities for the region’s workforce. Nooks said Gordon State is committed to the preparation of developing a talent base of future educators. He added the agreement is in alignment with GSC’s Strategic Plan to convene and nurture partnerships that build an education ecosystem with our P-12 partners.

“We recognize there is a teacher shortage, and we have a number of people who need the opportunity and encouragement to continue their education,” said GSCS Superintendent Jim Smith, “The Professional Development School will allow them unique opportunity to continuing gaining experience and working while pursuing their certification in Griffin.”

Dr. Joseph Jones, Gordon State College Dean for the School of Education said the Gordon State College School of Education is honored to be able to work with such dedicated educators.

“The partnership has the potential to change lives and create better communities,” Jones said. “Its impact will be generational. We look forward to a great partnership.”