GDC Hosts 14th Annual Correctional Education Region VIII Conference

Commissioner: Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Finding the Hidden Treasure in Correctional Education

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) hosted the Correctional Education Association Regional VIII Education Conference in Savannah, Georgia on August 13-14, 2018. The Conference allowed correctional educators from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico to share ideas and insights with other correctional education professionals. 

“With Governor Deal’s efforts toward criminal justice reform our educators are working hand-in-hand with security to help create a safer Georgia,” said Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier. “The GDC has made education a priority of our offender population to help them become productive members of society upon release.”

The over two hundred and seventy conference attendees were treated to various workshops ranging from instructional strategies to making the thinking process visible. The Educators were allowed the opportunity to collaborate and explore new and proven educational practices during the conference. 

The GDC offers educational opportunities to offenders in General Equivalency Diploma (GED), High School Diploma, On-the Job (OTJ) Training Certificates and Vocational Programming. At the end of Fiscal Year 18, the GDC, along with the assistance of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), was able to assist over 3,000 offenders in obtaining their GED and over 9,850 offenders in earning vocational certificates. In conjunction with Foothills Education Charter High School, the GDC awarded 101 High School Diplomas to offenders. 

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.