This school year looks a little different for Westside High School senior Christopher Knight and about 30 of his classmates. Instead of spending their entire school day in a traditional classroom, they’re getting an opportunity few high school students have – hands-on experience with the technology shaping the future of manufacturing.

Knight is part of the inaugural cohort of the Advanced Manufacturing Pathway (AMP) at the Bibb County School District’s Innovation and Technology Academy (ITA).

“This makes learning so much better,” said Knight. “This will also look very good on my resume. This will give me more of an advantage.”

His classmate Teyona Williams, a senior at Howard High School, agrees.

“I like that all of this is hands-on, and knowing where the future is going, I know this will help,” said Williams.

Through AMP, students are putting down their textbooks and getting to work with state-of-the-art robots, machines, and equipment similar to what they could encounter in the manufacturing industry.

And that experience could lead directly to a career right here in Macon-Bibb County.

The pathway was developed in response to a need identified by local industries. The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority (MBCIA) heard from industry partners that there was a growing demand for skilled workers, with some manufacturers reporting average wages as high as $80,000 a year.

“We want our young people to know they don’t have to leave Macon-Bibb County to find a great career and build a successful future,” said Mayor Lester Miller. “By bringing our schools, industries, and community partners together, we’re giving students the skills and connections they need while also building the workforce our growing industries need. This is how we invest in our young people and in the future of Macon-Bibb County.”

Seeing the growing need for workers trained in advanced manufacturing and clean industrial technologies, MBCIA partnered with the W.S. Hutchings College and Career Academy and local industry leaders to help create the pathway. That collaboration helped ensure students are learning the skills and gaining the knowledge employers need today and will continue to need in the future.

“This pathway gives students the opportunity to do things that they would never get to do in a regular classroom,” said the AMP instructor and retired operations director at First Quality. “These students will be able to do all sorts of things and have a problem-solving mindset that is not typical of a graduating student.”

“He’s [Nance] an amazing person. Him telling me and breaking down the program to me made me change my whole vision of life. I said I have to make this my future,” said Knight.

Students spend half of their school day at their respective high schools and the other half at ITA, where they learn how to operate advanced equipment and technology. At the same time, they have the opportunity to earn college credits through Central Georgia Technical College.

“Advanced manufacturing is emerging as a core competency in Macon-Bibb County’s industries, and building a strong workforce starts with giving students the right skills and opportunities early,” said MBCIA Chairman Robby Fountain. “The Advanced Manufacturing Pathway provides hands-on experience while helping students better understand the opportunities available to them. Programs like this strengthen our talent pipeline, support existing industries, and help position Macon-Bibb County for continued growth.”

For students, the pathway is also a chance to see what their future could look like before they even graduate.

“Opportunities like this allow our students to see firsthand where their education can take them,” said Dr. Cassandra Washington, Executive Director and CEO of Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) and MBCIA Board Member. “By bringing students and industry leaders together, we are helping them build connections, broaden their understanding of advanced manufacturing, and recognize the meaningful careers available right here in Macon-Bibb County.”

The Advanced Manufacturing Pathway is housed at the Innovation and Technology Academy, an extension of Hutchings College and Career Academy. The Academy itself is the result of a partnership between the Bibb County School District, Macon-Bibb County, and the Urban Development Authority and was made possible through the donation of the former Butler Collision Center building.

That partnership transformed the space into a hub for workforce training, innovation, and educational opportunity, giving students like Knight and Williams a chance to begin building their futures before they ever leave high school.