Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career And Technical Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lively Technical College aviation program spotlit as pathway to high-paying jobs
Summary
At the Leon County School Board meeting, Lively Technical College's aviation program showcased student success, training assets and workforce potential; instructor and graduates urged outreach to recruit aviation employers and expand capacity.
LIVELY TECHNICAL COLLEGE aviation instructor Rutledge Fuller told the Leon County School Board on May 13 that the program sends graduates into high-paying jobs and is underused locally.
Fuller, who the board identified as Lively's lead aviation instructor, said the school's tuition for county residents is low and that many graduates “are able to gain $90,000 a year.” He described two recent graduates who returned to show their progress and said the program trains both general aviation and maintenance students.
Why this matters: Board members and district officials framed the program as an economical local pipeline into aviation careers at a time when Fuller said the program is sending students across the country to find work. Board members said the program bolsters Leon County's workforce pipeline and asked district staff to explore how to increase enrollment and employer outreach.
Fuller told the board the program maintains a 25:1 student-to-teacher workload limit and typically enrolls about 17 students in August and 17 in December; he said the program has been graduating “about 50 to 60 students a year.” He said that Lively students have taken positions from general aviation to roles with Pratt & Whitney and American Airlines, and that recruiters seek graduates because “they know our students have nowhere else to go.”
Fuller described training assets the program recently acquired and said the equipment is operational: a Citation 500 jet (1970s model), a 1961 Cessna 172 and a Robinson R44 helicopter. He said students also produce some of their own training aids and that recent purchases were funded with what he referred to in his remarks as “Golf Triomp money.”
Two alumni described their experiences. Simon Buboles, identified by Fuller as a 2024 program graduate, said he used grants to pay little or nothing out of pocket and now works in general aviation. “This is the best decision I've ever made in my entire life,” Buboles said. Jefferson Prophet, introduced as a 2023 graduate, said he received an offer before graduating and used his earnings to build a home. “It did change my life,” Prophet said.
Board member Daryl Jones asked Fuller about enrollment and expected graduates; Fuller reiterated the 25:1 ratio and said capacity could more than double with additional instructors. Multiple board members thanked Fuller and the students for the demonstration and success stories.
Ending: Board members praised the program's role in career preparation and asked staff to examine ways to better connect Lively graduates with local aviation employers. No formal vote was recorded on funding or program expansion during the meeting.
