<p>Georgia's technical schools, once viewed as a place for people not able to go to a traditional four-year college, have worked over the past two decades to show they are more than just a pipeline to the job market.</p><p>Through the years, the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education has changed the schools' names to include the word "college," standardized the quality of the schools' programs and renovated and upgraded facilities with a more professional look and modern equipment.</p><p>Many cite the leadership of Kenneth Breeden, who led the department from its founding in 1984 until his retirement on Wednesday, as the driving force behind the changes.</p><p>Breeden said the system's quarterly enrollment has set a new record each quarter for the past 52 quarters, and growth has recently shifted to the previously elusive young audience.</p><p>"In the last few years, for the first time in our history, our fastest growing student population group by age is the 16 to 20 group," Breeden said. "Before, that was the slowest growing group."</p><p>Before 1984, Georgia had 28 vocational colleges that were organized under the state Department of Education, and many of them were administered by local boards of education.</p><p>In 1984, Gov. Joe Frank Harris set up the state Board for Post-Secondary Technical Education and chose Breeden as director. He was previously director of Lanier Technical Institute in Gainesville. The board later became the Department of Technical and Adult Education, and gradually schools voluntarily came under its authority.</p><p>"We have gone from a group, not really a system, of trade schools scattered about Georgia and not really connected in terms of admission standards or curriculum, to a system today of technical colleges that's recognized nationally and internationally," said Craig McDaniel, president of Coosa Valley Technical College.</p><p>Another important change was that Breeden set up local boards of directors for each college, selected from locally respected leaders who also have influence with state officials. As the system's organization has improved, it has grown in size as well. There are now 35 technical colleges with about 65 campuses.</p><p>Breeden said that setting up satellite campuses also has helped the technical college system grow in success. Coosa Valley Technical College, for example, has its main campus in Rome plus satellite campuses in Gordon and Polk counties.</p><p>"One thing we've learned in the last 20 years is that a large share of our students simply wouldn't be in school if they had to drive 20 to 30 minutes each way," Breeden said.</p><p>Breeden said he is confident the department will continue to move forward and succeed without him. Coy Hodges has replaced Breeden as interim commissioner until a permanent new leader is picked.</p><p>Observers say the state's technical college system is no longer viewed as simply a place for people who are unable to go to a traditional four-year college.</p><p>"I think we've come a long way in terms of changing that image," said McDaniel. "(People) realize the connection we have to the job market. Any community in Georgia that has a technical college has a huge leg up in terms of attracting new industry."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x28651b8)</p>
