Not ‘Just Doing the Minimum’

Southwest Georgia, like so many other regions around the Peach State, has a significant need for construction professionals. At Albany’s Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy – commonly referred to as 4C Academy – Construction Technology Instructor Randin Burley has built a strong pipeline to get students and graduates into those jobs.

“With this program helping students get the credentials they need,” explains Burley, “they can go right into the workforce, or pursue degrees and [return to] our area to use the skills we teach. Our goal is to make a permanent impact on the construction industry in the Southwest Georgia area.”

The 2025-26 schoolyear produced a successful group of seniors in the 4C Construction Pathway, including (pictured left to right) Aubree Charles, Alexander Charles, Jaylen Wallace, and Takhia Penn. All gained valuable hands-on experience in various jobs, and three competed in SkillsUSA contests during their high school careers (Aubree in electrical, Alexander in plumbing, and Takhia in masonry).

Burley says their growth and maturation process has been a joy to watch.

“This was one of my most challenging groups, but they wound up becoming one of the best,” Burley said as the schoolyear drew to a close in May 2026. “When they first came in, they were not always the best students, but they really blossomed over time, and that’s what we like to see.

“Takhia placed third in the AGC Skills Challenge in Moultrie,” he added. “Aubree refined her skills in electrical and found a passion for doing so. Alex can be rambunctious, but look at him now – he’s blossomed and is holding a job and doing well. I’m going to miss these kids.”

All of Burley’s students spend considerable time outside the classroom, connecting the theoretical to the practical through projects that benefit the community. During the three-year span they spent in the program, the 2026 graduates constructed playhouses at a local pre-school, an accessibility ramp at Cheehaw (a popular wildlife park), and a mural display on the 4C campus. And those are just three examples.

“He helped me realize that I could do more, instead of just doing the minimum,” Penn says.

Following are excerpts from a conversation with the four seniors as they discussed their classroom and work experiences, their post-high school plans, and more.

How did you get interested in construction and become a student in the 4C Construction Pathway?
Aubree: When I first came here, I wanted to do [a different program], but I didn’t like it, so I moved to construction. That was one of my second choices, because I wanted to go into architecture. I came to construction to learn what it’s all about, and I ended up liking it.

Alexander: I always knew I wanted to do construction. I was a Boy Scout, and we did a lot of [hands-on] projects.

Takhia: I wanted to do construction because I like hands-on work. I just like building; I like touching stuff.

Jaylen: The main thing that pulled me into construction was, as I was going around visiting the different classes, seeing all the gear and [tools] – that caught my attention and made me want to be in this field.

How did Mr. Burley impact you as a student?
Alexander: Mr. Burley has been very influential on my journey in the construction field. When I first joined his program, I was very – I don’t want to call myself undisciplined, but I definitely had to learn to focus a little bit more – and he made me settle down and take it more seriously.

Aubree: He’s very hands-on and he’s always welcoming and willing to help us learn what to do.

Jaylen: Whenever we’re working on a site, he makes it actually fun. Some of it won’t always be fun, but he makes it [feel that way].

Alexander: It’s really more than just building, too. He taught us things like how to put on a helmet, how to strap on a harness. And tools – when I started, I could not keep a drill on the screw.

What kind of jobs did you have during your high school careers?
Aubree: This year I’ve been at Cheehaw Park; I basically just take care of animals there, but last year we all worked on [construction projects at 4C] and got paid for it through Work Based Learning.

Alexander: I had an internship with Newell Construction, doing general construction every day. The classroom helped me understand the basics and fundamentals of my job. It definitely helped me with my internship, even though we don’t do everything here that we do on the jobsite.

What’ s next after your high school graduation?
Aubree: I’m going to Albany State University. I’m planning on majoring in Forensic Science, but if that doesn’t work out, the construction field is definitely something I would want to go into. I did electrical work for SkillsUSA and I think that could be a good backup option for me, because I thought it was really cool.

Alexander: I’m going to Georgia Southern to major in Construction Management. I want to become a project manager, building schools, libraries, banks, hospitals, things like that. But I also want to go further, like become a superintendent or some kind of executive – whatever the highest level is that I can get to.

Jaylen: I’m going to Georgia Southwestern for Construction Management. It’s very similar to what Alexander is going to at Georgia Southern.

Takhia: I’ll be attending Kennesaw State for Business Management, but if that doesn’t work out, then construction is definitely a second option.