JCTC “Fab 4” Ride Off Into Sunset

Jackson County Technology Center (JCTC) educators Gena Heffner, Kimberly Endt, Rickey Corker and Connie Goff announced their retirement in 2022 after combining for more than 132 years in education.

Heffner has taught Teacher Academy since JCTC implemented the program 10 years ago. She brought 20 years of education experience to JCTC, and her program has consistently finished top in the state and achieved dual credit status with William Carey University. Her students won the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP) scholarship 12 times.

“You do not have to win METP to be successful; some students start as teacher assistants and return to school,” Heffner said.

CTE is a lifestyle for Heffner’s family. Her children completed CTE pro- grams, and her husband teaches welding at JCTC. In her time at JCTC, she has seen the value of work-based learning and how significantly teaching skills can grow from teaching contact.

Endt served as the student services teacher for four years after teaching students in grades 7-12 for 25 years. Endt coordinated JCTC’s ACT WorkKeys efforts, helping students improve their pass rate (Silver and above) from 94% in 2020 to 100% in 2022.

Endt’s two daughters are CTE completers, and her husband works in the district in special education. The evolution of CTE surprised Endt when she joined JCTC four years ago, and she wishes every student would enroll in a CTE program.

“The staff is totally dedicated and invested in students’ futures and keeping them on the right track,” Endt said.

Corker retires after 14 years at the helm of the center’s information technology program and 28 years in Alabama as a coach, science teacher and technology trainer. He initially applied as a science teacher at St. Martin High School; luckily, when the principal viewed his résumé, it was sent directly to JCTC.

Corker reinvented his teaching style as JCTC’s IT instructor. He says he came to JCTC to teach technology, but he learned the value of CTE’s emphasis on practical application and its importance to students’ successful futures.

Under his tutelage, his students obtained more than 500 certifications in Microsoft Academy, and numerous Comp TIA certifications.

“I hope my legacy is for students to learn from hands-on troubleshooting, value each other’s opinion and work as a team,” Corker said.