When Alicia Woods started as an instructor at our Pinellas County campus in October, she was excited to have the opportunity to help students learn to be Clinical Medical Assistants (CMAs). Woods spent the last 19 years as a CMA for a medical office.

She runs her class like a doctor’s office, giving daily work orders and cross training students to help them become employable. “The trainees give me a sense of fulfillment,” said Woods. “I see me in a lot of them. If I can make a difference for one student, I’ve done my job.”

Woods began her Job Corps journey in 2001 at the Turner Job Corps Center in Georgia. She was struggling in school and Job Corps helped Woods to obtain her GED and begin training to become a Certified Nurse Assistant.  “My dependability and work ethic come from Job Corps,” added Woods.

Woods finished her CNA certification after leaving Job Corps and then trained on the job to be a CMA and determined that she liked that job better. Woods offers weekly study sessions for her students and soon plans to volunteer to start a cheerleading squad on campus.