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Supporting Farmers of Tomorrow: The Mission Behind HireSmart Cares
Anne Lackey rises early each morning to tend her chickens, a daily ritual that connects her to the agricultural heritage of Madison County. It's a small but meaningful practice for someone who once lived surrounded by the concrete and commerce of Gwinnett County. "I love my chickens!" said Anne, whose egg-laying crew all have Flintstone-themed…
Grants Boost Construction and STEM Programs at Danielsville Elementary
At Danielsville Elementary School, learning isn't confined to textbooks and computer screens. And with support from HireSmart Cares, students are getting hands-on experience with construction and STEM skills that could lead to future careers. Construction and STEM teacher Christy Hanson recently received two grants from HireSmart Cares, a Madison County-based nonprofit, to ensure students continue…
HireSmart Founders Share Job-Seeking Tips with MCHS Construction Students
"How am I going to support myself as an adult?" This question looms large for high school students contemplating their futures. While many teens consider college as their best path, others are discovering rewarding careers in trades and agriculture — sectors experiencing significant workforce shortages. In Madison County, Georgia, HireSmart Cares founders Mark and Anne…
Welding a Bright Future: HireSmart Founders Offer Job Tips for Local Trade Students
When Mark and Anne Lackey, Co-founders of HireSmart Cares, recently visited the welding program at Foothills Regional High School in Barrow County, Georgia, they brought more than just business experience — they brought practical wisdom for students preparing to enter the workforce with their new welding certifications. Mark shared his personal journey of struggling in…
From Kitchen to Cafeteria: Jackson County Students Cook Up Innovation in School Nutrition
When Brooke Curtis's food science students at Jackson County High School step into their classroom kitchen, they're not just learning to cook – they're potentially shaping the future of school nutrition across Georgia. Thanks to a $700 grant from HireSmart Cares, these aspiring culinary innovators get hands-on experience in recipe development, mass food production, and…
First Graders Plant the Seeds of Agricultural Learning with Pizza Garden Project
When you ask a first grader where pizza comes from, they might say "the delivery guy" or "the grocery store." But in Stephanie Westhafer's first-grade classroom at West Jackson Elementary School, students are about to discover the real journey from farm to pizza box, thanks to a $500 grant from HireSmart Cares. Westhafer's class is…
Texas Teacher’s Vision for Drone Program Takes Flight with HireSmart Grant
Instructor Terry Andre Hayes has personally paid for drones for students to fly at his alma mater, Evan E. Worthing Early College High School in Houston. The 1979 Worthing graduate and Naval Science instructor at the school sees drones as a pathway to success for his students, but the financial burden of supplying equipment has…