“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” -Maimonides

Education is perhaps one of the most important ingredients to a happy, successful, and constructive life. As a student and servant in leadership, I say this experience is extremely humbling and I am very fortunate to have been a part of this tour with my Lea

dership Henry classmates for Education Day 11/13/2019.
 
Our first stop was at one of the largest and renowned private faith-based schools in Henry County, Strong Rock Christian School. We were greeted with smiling faces and a lovely breakfast prepared by the school staff. We enjoyed a testimonial video which included some of our very own Leadership Henry Classmates and a LIVE performance from the school choir and drama students. Strong Rock offers programs for children from the ages of six weeks until 12th grade.

 
Our second stop was the Academy of Advanced Studies (AAS). This facility is in the heart of McDonough next to the Henry County Performing Arts Center. AAS is a college and career academy program of choice for high school students enrolled in Henry County Schools. Students who attend here can take career pathways such as Agriculture, Education, Finance, Automotive, Technology, and more. To top the tour, we were delighted to be served a 3-course meal prepared and plated by the students in the Culinary Arts Program! Only one word. “Excellente”! We closed the tour with a presentation from our very own Superint

endent, Mary Elizabeth Davis, celebrating the success of Henry County Schools with the increase of 9.9 points for their CCRPI scores for 2019. What a tremendous and honorary time for our teachers and students of Henry County!
 
Our final stop was at Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC).  SCTC is a technical college that offers education classes from technical certificate programs to degree programs for high school students, recent graduates, new and/or returning students seeking new skills and training to help achieve their career goals. As a growing technical college in Henry County, the facility offered an array of programs in a new state of the art learning environment. From allied heath programs, technical & industrial, public safety, to film and Television programs, there is no challenge finding a suitable and rewarding program to prepare for the county’s appetite as the fastest growing county in Georgia.
 
In conclusion, I felt that the experience of touring various educational institutions opened my eyes to various opportunities for my family and others I mentor. The piece of mind and convenience of taking your education to the next level in your own backyard is invaluable. I am excited about what’s to come for the future of our residents in Henry County and I am blessed and honored to be a part of it!
 

This update was provided by Geni Reed, Branch Manager at Ameris Bank in McDonough, GA and one of the Class of 2020 participants in Leadership Henry. An 8-year resident of Henry County, Geni is honored to have the ability to serve and work in her community and is committed to grow in her future leadership roles to come.