Margaret Sayre and Valdosta Animal Hospital
Valdosta Animal Hospital has become an invaluable partner to the Lowndes County Work-Based Learning (WBL) program. They have demonstrated a clear vision and dedication to the development of the students whom they employ through hands-on mentoring and guidance. Most recently, Valdosta Animal Hospital has embraced an opportunity to work with a non-traditional student in the WBL arena and get creative in finding a way to meet the career development needs for Margaret Sayer, a Senior at Lowndes High School. Most WBL students have their placement linked to a Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) Pathway at Lowndes High School. However, while Margaret, who aspires to be a Veterinarian, has taken the necessary CTAE classes such as Animal Science & Biotechnology in the Forestry & Animal Science Systems Pathway in Ag. Education, she has also taken a heavy load of AP Science courses in her academic preparation for a career as a Veterinarian such as Zoology, Environmental Science, and Biology. In this placement, Margaret will be afforded the opportunity to work closely with the Doctors, learning how a veterinarian must relate not only the patient but also the owner of the patient. Margaret will also be able to apply the content that she learned from her Biology, Zoology, and Animal Science classes when she is provided the opportunity to observe and assist in routine surgical procedures. The Lowndes High School Work-Based Learning program is dynamic due to partnerships such as this one, as well as motivated students and creative employers, like Margaret Sayre and Valdosta Animal Hospital respectively.