Vance County Schools has added to its leadership staff with the recent hiring of a Career and Technical Education director as well as a Safety Coordinator.
Dr. Aretha Garr is the new CTE director, according to information from VCS spokesperson Aarika Sandlin. Milton Thomas is the district’s new safety coordinator.
Garr brings to her new role at VCS more than two decades of experience of guiding students towards fulfilling and successful careers. She most recently was career development coordinator and principal designee at the Academy at Smith’s Signature Career Academy of Biomedical Sciences in Guilford County.
She also was CTE Department Chair at Parkland IB Magnet High School and Carver High School, both in Winston-Salem.
“I am excited to work towards increasing program enrollment and retention, and forging powerful community partnerships to ensure students have all the tools they need to make informed career decisions,” Garr said in a press statement.
Garr has Bachelor of Business Administration from High Point University, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Pfeiffer University and the School Administrator credential through the Master of School Administration Licensure Program at N.C. A&T State University. She graduated with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from High Point University.
As the VCS Safety Coordinator, Thomas brings vast experience in the areas of security, investigations and emergency management to his new role. With more than 30 years’ experience in the field, Thomas has been a Marine MP, criminal investigator and drill instructor, as well as additional experience as a law enforcement officer and For the last 18 years of his time with the USMC, he was a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defense Officer. In this role, Thomas focused on emergency and consequence management. Upon retirement from the service, Thomas joined Vance County Schools at Clarke Elementary as the Media and Technology Assistant.
Thomas earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and his Master of Science in Performance Improvement from the University of Arkansas Grantham.