Dougherty School Board candidate Shirlette Davis-Marcus touts career academy concept

ALBANY — As a ninth grade teacher in the Mitchell County School System, Shirlette Davis-Marcus knows her way around a classroom, and that’s a major reason she’s running for the Dougherty County School Board District 6 seat.

Davis-Marcus, who lives in Dougherty County and has two children attending Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, will face challengers Dean Phinazee and Princess Milledge in the May 20 Democratic primary. The seat came open when Darrel Ealum opted to run in the Georgia House 153 race.

“I decided to run (for the school board) because I work every day with children and am confronted with their educational shortfalls, yet at the same time am inspired by their academic accomplishments,” Davis-Marcus said Thursday. “I am dedicated to the success of each and every one of those children. Because I am in the classroom every day I have a direct connection to the students and what is needed in those classrooms.”

Davis-Marcus is a proponent of college and career academies which promote college and career pathways espoused by Gov. Nathan Deal. She calls the career academy concept “a value added component.”

“One of the strengths of the Dougherty County School system is the support for a college and career academy,” Davis-Marcus said. “We must strike a balance somewhere. What about the kids who don’t want to go to college? Dual enrollment programs with Albany Tech would work.”

Under the career academy model, students, with the help of parents, teachers and guidance counselors, choose a pathway in one of 17 careers or in the areas of Advanced Academics, Fine Arts and World Languages.

“Students select their careers based on what they want to do after graduation and take a core set of classes based on their chosen field,” Marcus said. “A career academy is not a charter school. It is a State Board of Education initiative that fits within the framework of our existing system.

“A career academy is a doable alternative for the Dougherty County School System, but it takes someone who knows it inside and out.”

And that, she said, is what makes dual enrollment with Albany Tech so important in the career academy concept.

“Dual enrollment is one of thee parts that encompass the career academy, Davis-Marcus said. “Like so many times before, and so it is again, (ATC President Anthony Parker) and Albany Technical College got it right with dual enrollment. Now it’s time for the DCSS to get it right. A career academy is a functioning organism that can thrive when the DCSS and Albany Tech work hand in hand.

“I believe that a career academy will greatly decrease dropout rates and students will once again, see value in a high school diploma. They will also see added value in the certifications that accompany a career academy.”