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Catoosa County highlights career academy wins, reports $900,000 in private tax-credit support
Summary
District leaders praised Career & Technical Education (CTA) successes, celebrated student competition wins and an accreditation commendation for the Career Academy, and said $900,000 in Peach Education Tax Credit donations have supported CTA pathways as of February 2026.
The Catoosa County Board of Education spent a large portion of its March meeting highlighting Career & Technical Education accomplishments and the district’s Career Academy accreditation praise. District leaders credited partnerships with local businesses and the Peach Education Tax Credit for expanding student opportunities.
Director Mark Peters and CTA supervisors recognized multiple student winners at regional and state competitions, including a retail-business regional champion and a three-student team that placed first in the state stock-market competition and qualified for nationals. “We are making generational change,” the certification team quoted in its report, saying the program helps students become “college ready, career ready, and life ready,” Catoosa County officials said.
The board heard details from CTA supervisors about pathway growth and industry certifications. Dr. Jason Scott and Brian Dodson described growing enrollments in architectural and engineering drafting pathways and industry training using Revit software. Officials said students are earning college credits and industry credentials through partnerships with G&TC and other partners; presenters said 190 G&TC students earned a combined 2,286 hours of college credit last year and that 214 CTA students earned 107 G&TC certificates while 138 students earned industry credentials.
District staff reported that, as of February 2026, the board had received $900,000 in redirected business contributions through the Peach Education Tax Credit, funds directed to CTA pathways for materials, testing and student supports rather than local taxpayer dollars. The district said it used those funds to purchase transportation for CTA travel, provide $500 per CTSO for competition support, and fund curriculum development costs.
Officials also summarized recommendations from a recent certification visit: expand high-demand pathways (the team specifically recommended exploring growth in the healthcare science pathway), examine recruitment and compensation strategies to attract industry professionals as instructors, and review strategic planning to meet student and employer demand.
Board members and presenters framed the Career Academy’s work as a local workforce pipeline, citing projects where students provided parts and services for maintenance and community partners. The board closed the segment by thanking teachers and partners and noting next steps to consider expanding pathways and addressing instructor recruitment.
The board's remarks were celebratory but procedural: the CCA visit produced operational suggestions for the district, and several items (pathway expansion, compensation review) will require further study and formal action in future meetings.
