Letter from Kenneth H. Breeden

Greetings,

In recent years, Georgia’s system of technical colleges has been receiving national attention. Our rapid growth, our new programs, and our innovative approach to working with business and industry have inspired much interest. Many of those who have inquired about our system are curious to know the origin of the Department of Technical and Adult Education, and this report is intended to help answer that question and to acknowledge the leaders and the landmark events that have combined to shape the history of our agency.

Included in this report is a timeline of our system’s development, as well as some brief essays describing a few of the most significant aspects of our agency that make it unique. What I hope to highlight here are the three principles that are at the heart of Georgia’s technical college system.

The first of these defining principles is that we are customer focused. This means that the leadership at our technical colleges listens and responds to the needs of our constituencies. The second principle is that we are dedicated to building partnerships with the business community to better enable us to develop new programs that keep pace with the changes in our economy. The third principle is that we’re committed to quality. And underlying all these principles is our commitment to our students and the citizens of Georgia who depend on us to provide them with the skills and the training to allow fulfilling and successful careers.

Major parts of the ongoing success of our system that allow us to fulfill these principles are the members of our state board, our local boards, our foundations, and the dedicated presidents, faculty and staff of our colleges. These are the people that have helped our technical colleges become essential parts of their communities. These are the people who provide the leadership and support each day to build and grow.

We have been fortunate to have had visionary leadership since the first schools were created in the 1940s—beginning with the first technical institute in Clarkesville, and continuing through the 60s and 70s as federal and state funds for technical training were made available, allowing schools to be opened throughout the state. And since the creation of the DTAE in 1988, we have been focused on management strategies that help us increase the efficiency of our system, maximize our use of resources, and guarantee our responsiveness to the needs of our state and its people.

This report reviews the history of our technical college system. But more than that, it reviews the history of a tradition that is based on hope, dedication, and dreams.

Sincerely,

Kenneth H. Breeden, Ph.D.
Commissioner