Devan Drew, a Thomas County Central High School senior employed by Chandler’s through the Work-Based Learning program, has been named WBL Student of the Month for January.

“He has demonstrated excellent work ethics throughout his employment with Chandler’s maintaining honesty, showing responsibility and dependability,” Drew’s Work-Based Learning coordinator, Michelle Ausley, said.

Jimmy Cantrell, owner of Chandler’s, said there are four things he likes about the WBL program.

“It gives an employer a chance to work with employees that have not been in the workforce yet, which gives us the opportunity to instill in them a good work ethic,” Cantrell said. “The program allows for the employee to come in during school hours instead of having to wait until after 3 p.m. The program provides male and female student employees. And, since each employee is graded as to how they perform, they seem to be more apt to do their jobs correctly and with pride.”

Drew said the program “has helped me to understand how to work and go to school.”

“It has taught me how to manage my time wisely,” he said. “I have grown to see how my parents have provided for me. I am now able to help provide some for myself and manage my money. WBL provides how real life will be when I graduate. It shows us how to be a leader.”

To Drew, Work-Based Learning stands for the following: Work, “applying my skills learned in the classroom at work”; Based, “completing the duties given to me at work and how hard I work at it.”

For more information or to become a Work-Based Learning partner, contact Michelle Ausley at

(229)225-5050 ext. 192, or email mausley@thomas.k12.ga.us.