CCA School News

Rick Williams, teacher at Floyd County Schools’ (FCS) College and Career Academy (CCA) and creator of the groundbreaking FAME Formula, has been awarded the prestigious Rising Star Award by the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC). Williams will be honored at the GaETC Conference this November in Atlanta, where he will also serve as a featured speaker.

Williams has gained statewide recognition for developing the FAME Formula, a reimagined approach to Georgia’s AVTF (Audio Video Technology & Film) pathway. The FAME Formula emphasizes project-based learning, independent work, scaffolding, and relationship-building, while combining filmmaking, podcasting, branding, and social media. His students’ work has collectively reached over 170,000 views across class-created media projects, showcasing the power of giving students authentic audiences.

At GaETC 2025, Williams will present not only on the FAME Formula but also debut a brand-new extension of the framework: EPIC, a student-centered approach to social media that stands for Engage, Promote, Inspire, and Captivate. EPIC equips schools to create meaningful, skill-building social media content that amplifies student voice, engages audiences, and strengthens school-community connections.

As part of the recognition, Williams was featured on GaETC: The Podcast, hosted by Dr. Lee Green. The episode is available for viewing on GaETC’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

“Being recognized by GaETC with the Rising Star Award is an incredible honor,” Williams said. “I’m excited to share how the FAME Formula has transformed my classroom and how EPIC can help schools harness social media to empower students and build authentic engagement.”

The GaETC Conference, held annually in Atlanta, is one of the premier education technology events in the Southeast, bringing together thousands of educators, administrators, and technology leaders to explore innovative teaching strategies and tools.

For more information about Rick Williams, the FAME Formula, or EPIC, follow FAME on Instagram @fame_cca or visit FAME’s Website.

About Floyd County Schools

The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.

 

### 

 

The Teacher’s Lounge with Mr. Williams, a new Instagram-based series designed as “Professional Development in disguise” for educators, is already making waves among teachers across Georgia and beyond. The series, which blends humor, empathy, and practical advice in short, digestible episodes, has sparked strong engagement since its debut last month.

With early buzz building, Mr. Williams has reached out to the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education Resource Network (CTAERN) to explore whether The Teacher’s Lounge could fit into any professional development they offer, potentially helping educators statewide engage with the series as part of their ongoing growth. 

The show is also in talks with the Georgia Film Academy to be featured in their monthly newsletter, further extending its impact within the education and creative communities.

“The goal has always been to make teachers feel seen and supported,” said host Rick Williams (known on the show as Mr. Williams). “Potentially partnering with CTAERN would give the show a greater reach, connecting not just new teachers but educators at every stage of their careers—providing support, resources, and a reminder that they’re part of a larger teaching community.”

In addition to its Instagram presence, the series is branching out to long-form content. This week, The Teacher’s Lounge has released its first special edition YouTube episode:
“Will AI Replace Teachers?” This 15-minute discussion dives deep into one of the most pressing questions in education today. Mr. Williams was joined by two special guests: Dr. John Rhodarmer, Principal of the Floyd County College & Career Academy, and John Parker, Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of Floyd County Schools. Together, they unpacked fears, misconceptions, and opportunities around artificial intelligence in the classroom, blending honest educator perspectives with forward-thinking insights.

“The Teacher’s Lounge has always been about real conversations teachers are having in the hallways and breakrooms,” Williams said. “This episode came directly from an anonymous submission, which shows us teachers are already trusting the Lounge as a space to process their hardest questions.”

The full special edition episode is available on the FAME Pathway YouTube channel, while regular episodes continue on Instagram (@fame_cca) and YouTube.

About The Teacher’s Lounge
Launched in August 2025, The Teacher’s Lounge with Mr. Williams is a social media-based series offering humor, encouragement, and professional development for educators in bite-sized form. Produced through the FAME program at Floyd County Schools’ College & Career Academy, the show blends teacher storytelling with research-based strategies, designed to support and inspire teachers at every stage of their career.

About Floyd County Schools

The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.

 

### 

 

The cameras are rolling once again at Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy (CCA) last week, as the Lifetime network returned to Rome to film their latest made-for-TV movie, bringing star power and real-world film experience to local students.

Filming took place over several days across various Rome locations, with the CCA playing a starring role. The CCA’s Healthcare building was transformed into a bustling hospital, the school’s front courtyard doubled as the hospital’s exterior, and the main office took on a new identity—as a police station.

Other filming locations around Rome included The Foundry on Fifth and Taylor Estates, highlighting the city’s growing appeal to the film industry.

FAME (Film, Arts, Media & Entertainment) instructor Rick Williams was not only behind the scenes as the project’s Location Manager, but also made an on-screen appearance as an extra. Williams, a longtime advocate for bringing industry experience into the classroom, says the shoot is a major win for both CCA and the Rome community.

“Having a national network like Lifetime return to our campus shows just how valuable our facilities and our city are to the film world,” said Williams. “It’s also incredibly inspiring for our FAME students to see their own school as an active film set—it proves that careers in media and entertainment are possible right here in Rome.”

The production is the latest example of CCA’s growing connection to the Georgia film industry, offering students in the FAME program unique exposure to real-world filmmaking. Students had opportunities to observe the set, speak with crew members, and learn what goes into transforming everyday locations into cinematic storytelling spaces.

With the film industry continuing to expand across Georgia, CCA and the FAME pathway are positioning students at the forefront of opportunity. Lifetime’s return solidifies Rome as a filming destination and strengthens CCA’s mission of providing hands-on, career-focused education.

The Floyd County College and Career Academy (CCA) campus recently transformed into a movie set as a Lifetime Channel original film was shot on location, bringing national attention and an unforgettable real-world experience to students and staff.

The production team partnered closely with FAME (Film, Arts, Media & Entertainment) instructor Rick Williams to secure access to the CCA’s state-of-the-art healthcare classroom, which was repurposed into a realistic hospital setting for several key scenes in the film.

But the collaboration didn’t stop there.

Four students from the FAME program, Rachel Usry, Creig Jones, Abbyann Holden, and FAME alumna Kirsten de Young were brought on board as official interns for some of the shoot. These budding filmmakers worked directly with the production crew, gaining valuable behind-the-scenes experience in lighting, camera operation, set design, and production management.

“This was more than just a cool opportunity, it was a genuine career-building experience for our students,” said Rick Williams. “It’s one thing to teach film in a classroom, but it’s another to stand on a professional set and be part of the action.”

Adding to the excitement, Williams and fellow CCA staff member Dr. Nancy Singh, were invited to appear as background actors in scenes filmed on campus and on Broad Street.

The production marks a rare and exciting fusion of education and entertainment, highlighting the power of community partnerships to enhance learning through real-world application. It also reinforces the value of CCA’s career pathways in preparing students for life beyond graduation, whether it’s behind the camera or in front of it.

More details about the movie, including its premiere date and title, will be announced by Lifetime later this year.

For now, the spotlight is shining bright on CCA, where learning just got a little more cinematic.

 

The FAME (Film, Arts, Media & Entertainment) Pathway at the Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy recently collaborated with the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) for the second year in a row at the CCA for a AVTF Teacher Training Program. This year the program was catered towards podcasting and empowering educators across Georgia to elevate their podcast curriculum.

The GFA's AVTF (Audio, Visual, Technology, and Film) Teacher Training program is a transformative initiative that equips educators from across the state with the skills and resources to enhance their film and media programs. This one-day intensive training, held at the CCA’s FAME Pathway classroom, brought together teachers from diverse backgrounds to immerse themselves in the world of podcasting. 

“When I was asked to host a training program again this year, I obviously said yes. It shows how the FAME program has grown and gained state-wide recognition when it comes to student filmmaking and now podcast production,” said Williams. “Teachers from all over the state can now look to Floyd County Schools as an AVTF leader for filmmaking and podcasting.”

The program's curriculum, developed by FAME teacher Rick Williams and GFA’s Secondary Schools Coordinator Cooper Fiscus-van Rossum, covers a wide range of topics, including podcasting, branding, and the fundamentals of incorporating podcasting into existing curriculum.

“Filmmaking, television, and content creation are all powerful storytelling vehicles, and podcasting is no exception,” Fiscus-van Rossum said. “While often viewed as an audio-only medium, podcasting transforms into a live or live-to-tape broadcast when enhanced with multi-camera setups, lighting and switching. This not only engages more students, but also exposes them to media careers they may never have considered.”

Because of its scalability, Fiscus-van Rossum added that, “podcasting can be seamlessly introduced at the elementary and middle school levels while offering robust live-production experiences for high school students. The medium blends English Language Arts through scriptwriting, AVTF through production and post-production, and essential soft skills like collaboration, public speaking, and communication to create an exciting opportunity for students to expand both their voice and choice.”

Participants gained hands-on experience with industry-standard podcast equipment, collaborated with fellow educators to share best practices and were given tricks and tools on how to build, maintain and market podcasting in their prospective schools. Greg Walkup, an A/V Broadcast & Film teacher at Otwell Middle School in Cumming, Georgia described the experience as, "Amazing! To be able to be surrounded by creatives across the state and have Rick's inspiring space and knowledge made for an interactive and hands-on experience that was top notch! Well done GFA & Rick!”

The impact of the AVTF Teacher Training program extends far beyond the classroom. By equipping educators with the skills and resources to elevate their film and podcast curriculum, the program is poised to inspire and engage students, fostering their creativity, critical thinking and technical proficiency. Beyond the intensive training, the program also offers an extensive retention initiative. Participants will have access to a social forum to connect with their peers, regular follow-up sessions, and ongoing support from the FAME instructor and the GFA.

The Georgia Film Academy's AVTF Teacher Training program is a testament to the state's commitment to empowering educators and preparing students for the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of film, media and podcasting. By investing in the professional development of teachers, the program ensures that students across Georgia have access to cutting-edge, industry-aligned curriculum, positioning them for success in their future endeavors.

About the Georgia Film Academy

The Georgia Film Academy (GFA) is a professional organization and unit of the University System of Georgia (USG) committed to leading and advancing the entertainment arts industry and its workforce in Georgia. GFA supports the Georgia Film Consortium (GFC), a unique-in-the-nation collaboration of the university system, the Technical College System of Georgia and independent institutions across the state. Created by state leadership to meet education and workforce needs for high demand careers in Georgia’s film and creative industries, GFC works with more than 30 partner institutions to offer

professional courses in film, television, live production, streaming and esports for college credit. Classes may also be taken through professional education programs at several partner institutions. GFC’s higher education program includes rigorous professional training and may lead to union-covered film and television production craft internships and placement in creative industry apprenticeships and associated jobs. In addition, GFA supports a graduate consortium of USG partner institutions offering master’s degrees in creative arts geared toward content creation in film, television and digital media. GFA provides professional training in the form of post-production education and AVID editing certification. GFA also offers high school teacher training in content creation, production, post-production and esports in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, providing professional film and television experiences and training as well as curriculum and resources to teachers across the state. Additionally, GFA hosts opportunities for high school students with summer camps in screenwriting, filmmaking and esports. For more information, visit https://www.georgiafilmacademy.edu/.

 

The Floyd County College and Career Academy FFA Chapter is excited to announce its annual spring plant sale, taking place from April 1st to April 4th, 2025. This highly anticipated event will offer a wide variety of beautiful and healthy plants, perfect for adding color and vibrancy to any garden or home.

The plant sale will feature a diverse selection of popular flowers and foliage, including:

• Begonias
• Petunias
• Ferns
• Marigolds
• Coleus
• Wandering Jew
• And many more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for community members to purchase high-quality plants while supporting the local FFA chapter. Proceeds from the plant sale will directly benefit the Floyd County College and Career Academy’s FFA chapter, enabling them to:

• Fund educational activities and workshops.
• Support student participation in FFA competitions and events.
• Purchase necessary supplies for agricultural projects.
• Provide scholarships for students pursuing agricultural studies.

“The annual plant sale is a crucial fundraiser for our FFA chapter,” said Gabe Blackburn. “The funds raised allow our students to gain valuable hands-on experience and participate in enriching activities that foster leadership, teamwork, and a passion for agriculture.”

Please note that information regarding the vegetable plant sale will be released at a later date.

Event Details:

• Dates: April 1st – April 4th, 2025
• Location: Floyd County College and Career Academy.
• Time: 8:00am-3:30pm

The Floyd County College and Career Academy FFA Chapter invites the community to come out and support their efforts by purchasing beautiful plants for their homes and gardens.

CCA Contact:

Scotty Rich

Ag Teacher/FFA Sponsor

scottyrich@floydboe.net

706-236-1860

 

About Floyd County Schools

The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.

###

 

FCS Flash News, an initiative of the FAME program at the FCS College & Career Academy, is proud to announce it has received a $500 grant from the Rome Area Council for the Arts as well as the Chiaha Arts Education Fund. These generous grants will directly support FCS Flash News in its mission to deliver timely, relevant, and engaging news updates for students and the community, using creative high-quality content on the Instagram-based news show.

The funds have allowed FCS Flash News to purchase essential equipment, including a class iPhone, headphones, high-quality microphones, and other accessories to elevate the quality of the program. This upgraded equipment has significantly boosted the production value of FCS Flash News, contributing to an impressive 125% increase in viewership since last school year.

With a commitment to serving five county high schools – Model, Coosa, Armuchee, Pepperell, and the College and Career Academy (CCA) – FCS Flash News is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community connection. With over 30,000 views already this year, the program’s mission is to inform, entertain, and engage the community by spotlighting student stories, achievements, and local events in a fast-paced and accessible format.

About FCS Flash News and FAME

The FCS Flash News program, part of the FAME pathway, provides a platform for high school students to explore the world of media and storytelling through real-world experiences in film production, photography, news production, and podcasting. By creating content that connects schools, families, and local businesses, FCS Flash News plays an important role in strengthening ties within the Floyd County community.

For more information about FCS Flash News or to follow their work, please visit FAME Instagram.