Dear GACTE Members,
Welcome to a new year!
I am honored and excited to assume the role of President of the Georgia Association of Career Technical Education (GACTE) for 2024-2025. It is truly a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to shaping the future of our state through career and technical education.
Your passion for equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success is truly inspiring. Our GACTE organization is a testament to our collective commitment to excellence in education, workforce development and securing our future. It is with great excitement and anticipation that I write this letter. Each new year brings a variety of emotions for those in education. We have the incredible opportunity each year to start fresh, adjust and implement modifications, and to take what was great and make it greater or take a do over on something that might have been a struggle for us the previous year. Each new year brings some fresh hope for the impact that this year will bring. It is my desire as you have reflected and are adjusting to the new school year that you find that the impact you have desired is seen.
As I look forward to the new year, I want to encourage everyone to keep the 2025 Georgia ACTE summer conference theme to the front of your mind, Creating Connections - Securing Our Future. If you have been in education or business for that matter, you understand the principle of building relationships. People serve and commit because of the relationships that they have made. Think of a Chick-fil-a or a Starbuck’s customer that comes back because the employee remembers their drink or a unique fact about them or because the employees have taken a moment to acknowledge them with a please or a “my pleasure”. Success for these businesses is driven by their intention for making connections with their customers.
In education it is the same, the impact we have is dependent on the intentionality of the connections we make, not just on the quantity of connections but the quality of those connections. As CTAE members each day we have the opportunity to connect with our peers, students, parents, legislators, and business partners. Our impact can be far reaching.
I challenge you this school year to set a small goal for evaluating, then renewing or creating the connections within your areas of influence. Together as CTAE educators we can build those connections and as CTAE influencers, “Secure our Future”. I look forward to seeing those successes throughout the year.
I know many of you are serving in one of the counties that was affected by Hurricane Helene. Please know that I have you and your schools in my thoughts today and in the days to come. GACTE will be "connecting" with you to see if there are needs that we can meet both in Georgia and in our surrounding states.
In closing, a thought for reflection. “It doesn’t take much to create a connection, but it does take intention.” George Couros
Professionally,
Susan Hall
