Students interested in pursuing veterinary science as a career have an improved local pathway to assist their education toward making that happen. Thomas County Central High School’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education Veterinary Science program now has its industry certification from the Georgia Department of Education, which means it has cutting-edge trade equipment, exemplary curriculum, and a well-trained instructor to offer the highest learning level it can achieve.
The last of the school’s CTAE departments without industry certification, the agriculture program completed the process for the veterinary science pathway this December, a five-year adventure that included purchasing all necessary equipment and various documentation. The accomplishment marks TCCHS as the only school in the state’s southern region to hold this specific industry certification.
Veterinary science teacher Nikki Smith, who joined TCCHS in 2017 when the school first began its vet science program, spearheaded the effort. Her vet science appreciation stems from childhood: she grew up on her family’s farm that bred and raised horses and worked at the local veterinary hospital.
“I have always had a passion for veterinary science and wanted our program to excel and give students hands-on opportunities that might spark a passion in them like I had throughout high school,” Smith said. “Mrs. [Beth] Adams and I agreed that there is a need in our community, as well as state, for employees in the vet industry.”
Beth Adams, CTAE director, is very proud of Smith and her hard work throughout this process.
"She has really put a lot of thought and effort into her program, and it showed as she reviewed her standards with her certification team," Adams said.
The certification process includes the following phases: initial application, self-evaluation, onsite team evaluation, and re-certification. TCCHS began from the ground up, including curriculum and equipment.
“Before the evaluation team can come together for the formal evaluation, I had to acquire documentation for six standards (performance indicators, administration, instruction, facilities and equipment, instructional staff, and veterinary science specialty area) and 94 substandards,” Smith said. “There were also 83 pieces of equipment to be purchased.”
After procuring these documents and all equipment, Smith had a pre-evaluation meeting with Georgia FFA South Region Animal Science Teacher Todd Claxton to review the program’s efforts and discuss the formal evaluation, which took place a month later and included, Claxton, Adams, Dr. Jenifer Mason, an industry leader and professor at Southern Regional Technical College, and community leader Sydni Ingram, the Georgia Farm Bureau Women's Committee Representative and Thomas County Agriculture Extension agent.
“We all met together where I presented our classroom, lab, equipment and all documentation needed for certification,” Smith said. “We discussed how industry certification has and will impact our classes in the future and how we can continue to grow.”
This industry certification allows TCCHS to partner with the SRTC Veterinary Technology program and the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, too. Students may continue learning through SRTC’s program or start entry-level jobs in the industry after high school graduation.
“I am most excited about the relationships we have built with industry members and businesses in the community,” Smith said. “We were able to take the vet science students on a field trip recently to both programs, and it was a great learning opportunity for students. At SRTC, students could view different surgeries and talk with professors and students about their program. At the humane society, students were able to socialize with animals and learn how valuable our shelter is and how we can help in the future.”
Achieving industry certification means a great deal to Smith and is a massive accomplishment.
“This has been one of the biggest goals I have set for myself since starting at TCCHS, and now to have achieved that goal, I have an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement for what is to come,” she said. “It has been a long process, but I am overjoyed to have been able to work with everyone on this and finally see it through. I hope that through this achievement, others can see the passion that I have for veterinary science and [for] wanting our students to have the best opportunities to learn. To now be able to provide students with the best there is to offer and show that we are dedicated to their learning and sparking their passion is a great feeling.”
TCCHS must undergo re-evaluation every five years to maintain its industry certification. For more information, visit www.georgiaffa.org.