Alumni Pr<strong>of</strong>ile:Jody Carter ’12Marine and former local business owner turns his focus to teachingJody Carter heard a calling: To teach or to preach.“I heard it just as plain as <strong>the</strong> conversation you and I are having,”<strong>the</strong> summa cum laude graduate with <strong>the</strong> perfect 4.0 average said.“I believe kids are important, so I started working on my BS ineducation.” But for <strong>the</strong> non-traditional student and Marine, <strong>the</strong>path was not straight to <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong>.“I was just an average student at Wayne County HighSchool, taking college prep courses and vocational coursesin drafting,” Jody admitted. “Even in high school, I likedpractical application – drafting – better than <strong>the</strong>ory. We canall sit around and talk <strong>the</strong>ory, but it’s putting it into action,testing <strong>the</strong> observations, that appeals to me. That’s why Ilike science and math – and teaching.”When Jody graduated from high school in 1996, he thoughthis only options were military. “I had a career mindset and Icould picture myself with a military career in <strong>the</strong> infantry.”He had an uncle who served in <strong>the</strong> Marines and <strong>of</strong>ten spoke<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rhood he had shared in <strong>the</strong> corps, as well as <strong>the</strong>challenges. So Jody enlisted, but two years into his service, adislocated shoulder shattered his plans.Jody moved on to computer information systems,enrolling at Altamaha Tech. With <strong>the</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong> his Marinetraining and discipline to guide him, he earned his CISdiploma with honors and was one <strong>of</strong> 12 in <strong>the</strong> state that yearto win <strong>the</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> Occupation Award for Leadership, basedon his character and grades. But no job was forthcoming.2 <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>
“By <strong>the</strong>n, I had a family to support. So I combined mydrafting skills from high school with <strong>the</strong> document designI learned in my CIS courses and bought a printing and signbusiness in Brunswick,” he explained. But after two years,<strong>the</strong> primary sourcefor Jody’s business –contractors – beganto fail as <strong>the</strong> economystarted to slump.That was when Jodyheard <strong>the</strong> call, loud andclear.“I had hired some kidsat <strong>the</strong> print shop fromBrunswick High Schooland I discovered I reallyliked working with<strong>the</strong>m. But I also sawsome things that clashedwith <strong>the</strong> values I grewup with and what I hadexperienced in <strong>the</strong> Marines– things like honor,courage and commitment– aspects missingin <strong>the</strong>ir lives because<strong>the</strong>y didn’t have malerole models. Being a rolemodel was a new challenge.I decided, if I was supposed to choose, I’d answer thatcall by becoming a teacher and an advocate,” he said.Jody enrolled at <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong>. Finally,<strong>the</strong> timing was right. <strong>The</strong> new BS programs in educationand teacher preparation had been announced. Jody couldstay in Brunswick. And he could work in child advocacyand intervention with Morningstar Family and ChildrenServices in Brunswick. Morningstar serves children withspecial needs.“Kids need advocates – people who will respect <strong>the</strong>mand be genuinely concerned about <strong>the</strong>m personally. <strong>The</strong>ywill form a relationship once <strong>the</strong>y realize you sincerelycare. Positive relationships are missing in <strong>the</strong>ir lives.” Jodyinsisted, ”Kids don’t care about what you know; <strong>the</strong>y wantto know that you care.”Jody pursued a BS in Middle Grades Education.He threw himself into his studies, managing 16 to 18 credithours each semester plus observations in an actual schoolenvironment, as well as working and tutoring for extra cash.“Too many teachers quit within <strong>the</strong>ir first five years.Wanting <strong>the</strong> summer <strong>of</strong>f is absolutely <strong>the</strong> wrong reasonto take up teaching,” he said, shaking his head incredulously.“At <strong>Coastal</strong><strong>Georgia</strong>, we’re put in<strong>the</strong> real world from<strong>the</strong> beginning to makesure we are temperedand prepared. Everyday is hands on. Bybeing constantly observedand peer reviewed,every day isdemanding. Teachingin <strong>the</strong> middle gradesrequires learning allsubjects plus socialand life skills. I gotthose challenges I hadbeen seeking.”This time, whenJody completed hisprogram <strong>of</strong> study,a new career waswaiting for him. Jodyis now a teacher at<strong>Coastal</strong> Academy, aprogram that serveschildren in grades PK-12 with emotional behavioraldisorders and autism.“I start <strong>the</strong>ir day by making <strong>the</strong>m smile,” Jody said. “We allneed more smiles. If I can get <strong>the</strong>m to change <strong>the</strong>ir attitudebefore <strong>the</strong>y come to class, <strong>the</strong> day starts <strong>of</strong>f better for all <strong>of</strong> us.”This summer, he taught science in <strong>the</strong> field with 4 thgraders, creating a “critters notebook.”“We went for walks and we looked really closely – scientificobservations <strong>of</strong> animal behavior, which we <strong>the</strong>n comparedto human behaviors – experientially covering <strong>the</strong> requiredstandards ra<strong>the</strong>r than through <strong>the</strong>oretical learning. We’reoutdoors, we’re moving, and <strong>the</strong>y’re learning as <strong>the</strong>y lookat <strong>the</strong> world around <strong>the</strong>m,” he concluded.He has also identified his next challenge. He agreed toserve as testing coordinator for <strong>Coastal</strong> Academy - ra<strong>the</strong>rdaunting for a first-year teacher.“I’ve learned to be joyful even during trials andtribulations,” he laughed. uDuring his commencement remarks in May, Jody challenged hisclassmates to persevere, “to find joy in failure with <strong>the</strong> hope and beliefthat success will be found in <strong>the</strong> next attempt,” to have courage, and toseek bro<strong>the</strong>rhood “because toge<strong>the</strong>r we are stronger.”<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 3