Jason Van Nus is the Director of Work-Based Learning (WBL) and Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Programs for Lowndes County Schools in Valdosta, Georgia. With over 20 years of experience teaching Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) in Georgia, Jason is a content expert in multiple instructional areas of CTAE. His experience teaching Business Education, Business and Computer Science, Graphic Communication, and Work-Based Learning makes Jason very diverse in CTAE and a sought-after presenter; where he utilizes his content expertise in conjunction with his passion for technology and his skillset as an excellent recruiter, a diligent networker, and a tireless promoter for Career and Technical Education. Jason is an unapologetic advocate for the ability of the high school student to serve as a solution to the critical labor shortage that many industries face, a strategy that he has used to serve many rural communities across his state and other parts of the country.
Jason has spent the past five years coordinating the WBL/YA programs for Lowndes County Schools. Under Jason’s leadership, the WBL/YA program enrollment has grown 288%, from 51 students to 248. In a county with a population of 117,406, Lowndes County’s WBL/YA program has generated over $5.36 million in wages earned under Jason’s direction–with a total economic impact of over $21.45 million during those same school years. Jason’s Youth Apprenticeship program and creative industry partnerships have garnered national attention and presentation requests for his best practices from Iowa, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Utah, Texas, Maryland, Kansas, and New York.
Jason was named 2023 Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education. In 2020, the Georgia Department of Education recognized Jason as ‘TopGun’ for Georgia’s most accomplished Work-Based Learning Coordinators. Jason is one of the ‘Master Trainers’ for all new Georgia Work-Based Learning Coordinators. Academically, Jason’s research interests are Apprenticeships, Work-Based Learning, Career and Technical Education, Talent Pipelines, Workforce Development, and Economic Development.
Expertise
- Career and technical education and workforce development
- Partnership Development
- Talent management
Education
- Ph.D. Candidate in Career and Technical Education from Auburn University
- Ed.S. in Business and Marketing Education from Auburn University
- M.A. in Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University
- B.A. in Business Education from Valdosta State University
