About Us - Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy (2024)

Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy

2300 Maddox Chapel Road
Dalton, GA 30721
(706) 876-3600
(706) 876-3602 - Fax

The mission of Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy is "to develop a 21st century workforce through world-class Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE)".

About Us

Opened in the fall of 2005 as an LEA Start-up charter school, the Whitfield County Career Academy focused on helping high schools students achieve success through an individualized program of study that included rigorous and relevant instruction in academic and career/technical courses, planned and structured work based learning opportunities, and a seamless transition to post-secondary education and the workforce.

Over the past years, new partnerships have been forged with:

• Both Dalton State Collegeand Georgia Northwestern Technical Collegethat have reinforced our mission “to develop a 21st century workforce through world-class Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE).” In an effort to focus on post-secondary transition, and establish a base that is more regional in nature, the Whitfield County Career Academy has changedits name to the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy (NWGCCA).

As we now move forward, NWGCCA will work in partnership with Dalton State College, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, neighbouring school systems, the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce, and local and regional business and industry. By blending the rigor of high school curricula, the relevance of real work experiences, and the relationships forged between all stakeholders, students will be able to transition successfully and more rapidly to attain their professional goals. The opportunities Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy will be able to provide students, beginning in middle school, continuing through high school and further into post-secondary, will assist them to pursue the knowledge and skills necessary for career readiness and success, and over time, provide a better quality of life for the people of Whitfield County, the northwest Georgia region and beyond.

IMPACT AND BENEFIT

Building on these previous accomplishments, NWGCCA will create an innovative curriculum that will focus on the integration of core academics and advanced career-technical education programs. With integrated learning and collaborative teaching, NWGCCA will strive to improve student achievement, create a stronger sense of affiliation and better prepare students for post-secondary and career choices. This will be accomplished by creating an innovative educational environment that identifies, encourages, and develops each student’s career interests and abilities. NWGCCA will help direct students to focus on their future and to help students apply academic and technical skills and abilities into career experiences. Along with the partnerships established with Georgia Northwestern Technical College and Dalton State College, NWGCCA will work to create a seamless transition to students’ desired post-secondary choices. Using the academic and CTAE knowledge and content, together with work readiness foundational skills, and on the job and/or career pathway experience, NWGCCA will work to link education with economic and workforce development to support the northwest Georgia region. The success of NWGCCA lies in the vision and guidance of its leadership, the commitment of the entire faculty, across all levels – middle school, high school, post-secondary – to collaborate and connect the content to real world problems and experiences, and the desire of its students to become the best educated and trained individual they can be. The impact and benefit of such a success on the region of northwest Georgia will be immeasurable and will create a stronger, more vibrant community in which to live.

(706) 876-3603
david.moeller@wcsga.net

Mr. David Moeller

CEO

David Moeller, a native of New York City, served in the United States Air Force for 8 years. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University with an emphasis in city and county management.

After his military service, he moved to Ringgold, Georgia. David was a Court Administrator in Whitfield County for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. He has served on many committees in Whitfield/Murray Counties, and served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Georgia Council of Court Administrators. In 2018, David was appointed to the State Charter School Committee by Speaker

Currently, David is the CEO for the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy and Director for Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) for Whitfield County Schools. As CEO, he has worked to develop critical partnerships with local manufacturing industries, and implement the Advanced Manufacturing and Business Academy. The academy is designed to address the gap in workforce development affecting Northwest Georgia.

David is serving his third term representing district 4 as an elected school member for Catoosa County Public Schools. He holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Board.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Association of Career, Technical Education (ACTE)
Georgia Association of Career, Technical Education (GSBA) Georgia College and Career Academies (GCCA)
Georgia School Board Association (GSBA)

(706) 876-3605
sherri.travisano@wcsga.net

Degrees and Certifications:

• M.Ed Educational Leadership, University of Phoenix
• M. Ed Education, University of Phoenix
• B.A. Elementary Education, Arizona State University

Mrs.Sherri Travisano

Principal

I have had the opportunity to serve as principal at the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy and Phoenix High School since 2017. I joined Whitfield County Schools in 2007 as an elementary principal. I have worked as a principal, district administrator, instructional coach, college professor, and teacher in my 30+ years in education.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Association of Career and TechnicalEducation , ACTE
Association of Supervision of Curriculum Development, ASCD
Georgia Association of Alternative Education, GAAE

(706) 876-3606
amy.fossett@wcsga.net

Mrs.Amy Fossett

Assistant Principal (Curriculum)

I have worked in Whitfield County Schools since 1993 as a classroom teacher, resource teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal at all three levels: elementary, middle and high. I joined the administrative team as an assistant principal at Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy and Phoenix High School in 2021.

I earned myEd.S. in Educational Leadership fromLiberty University, an Administrative Certification from Kennesaw State University, a M.Ed from Berry College, and B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Georgia.

706-876-3611
patrick.bates@wcsga.net

Degrees and Certifications:

• Post Graduate studies in Instructional Leadership at the University of Alabama
• EdS in Education in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University
• MS in Education in Instructional Media from Jacksonville State University
• BS in Education in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University

Mr.Patrick Bates

Assistant Principal

I have been in the teaching profession for 28 years. I have been with Whitfield County Schools for 24 of those years. I have worked at Dug Gap Elementary, Southeast High School, Phoenix High School and Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy. I am beginning my 10^thyear with Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy and Phoenix High School. This is my first year as Assistant Principal. I am looking forward to the many challenges of this new school year.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Association of Career and TechnicalEducation , ACTE
Association of Supervision of Curriculum Development, ASCD
Georgia Association of Alternative Education, GAAE