Parents' POV

Tom Quarles, whose son Matthew is a NWGCCA student studying advanced manufacturing, offers five key things for parents to consider when exploring their children’s education options.1.    There's no “one size fits all” when it comes to education. Students learn in different ways. If your child is a hands-on learner who appreciates more individual attention and opportunities to put theory into practice, a College and Career Academy could be the best fit.

2.    College and Career Academies offer freedom and teach responsibility. There's more fluidity in schedules allowing for online or in-class courses as well as the possibility of apprenticeships on-site at a local business in a student’s junior or senior year.

3.    NWGCCA helps students explore potential career paths. For anyone who may wonder, “How is my 8th grader supposed to know what they want to be when they grow up? Doesn't picking a career now limit their options in the future?” I'd say it's just the opposite. NWGCCA exposes students to potential careers in a way that hearing someone speak in a classroom or at a career fair can't. I'd rather see my children try different things and eliminate possibilities while in high school rather than changing majors multiple times in college. Many of the career paths -- such as those focused on mechatronics, industrial maintenance, and advanced manufacturing that my son is taking -- teach practical skills that can be applied on the job or at home regardless of where they ultimately work.

4.    Through the Move On When Ready program, students can earn college credits while in high school without paying tuition. This is not only a cost saver but a way for students to be better prepared for a job more quickly. And it can present a much-needed challenge for students who might find themselves bored in a typical classroom setting (and possibly getting in trouble as a result) and allow them to go more in-depth on a topic in which they are particularly interested.

5.    The manufacturing industry offers rewarding careers, not just a job. There are a ton of good-paying advanced manufacturing jobs in and around Dalton that require higher skills than ever before. That creates opportunity for a career with ongoing advancement opportunities after gaining further experience and/or education. NWGCCA and the new Advanced Manufacturing and Business Academy curriculum help set the foundation for that whether your child is interested in marketing or mechanics.