Renee Kelly turns career coaching into a blueprint for student success

Augusta Technical College workforce development coordinator Renee Kelly is using workshops, mentorship, and her Blueprint Framework to help students and job seekers in Georgia prepare for careers and life after graduation. Her work links education, employer access, and personal development as labor markets shift and young people need clearer paths forward.

Why it matters: - Renee Kelly is helping students and job seekers build practical plans for work and life, not just earn credentials. - Her approach connects education with hiring needs in Augusta and the broader region, including access to jobs at the Savannah River Site. - Kelly’s work arrives as careers change quickly and more young people need guidance on skills, training, and next steps.

What happened: - Renee Kelly serves as workforce development coordinator at Augusta Technical College in Augusta, Georgia. - Kelly leads workshops in résumé writing, interviewing, career readiness, and professional development. - Kelly also connects community members with employment opportunities and mentors students through speaking, coaching, and education work. - Kelly’s mission centers on the idea that every student deserves a blueprint.

The details: - Kelly has more than 20 years of education experience. - Her Blueprint Framework asks three core questions: Who am I? What could I explore? What will I do next? - The framework is designed to move students from self-reflection to research, planning, and action. - Kelly received Augusta Technical College’s 2025 President’s Award for Innovative and Operational Excellence. - Kelly was also honored through the 2026 NISOD Excellence Awards from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. - Kelly founded On The Hardwood with Renee Kelly, SEC Legend, LLC. - Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia, a master’s degree in education from Troy University, and an education specialist degree in educational leadership from Cambridge College. - Kelly has worked as a teacher, basketball coach, and high school principal. - Kelly also holds a Mental Health First Aid certification. - Her personal advice to young women in workforce development and education includes setting a vision, seeking mentors, embracing change, and leading with integrity.

Between the lines: - Kelly’s career blends athletics, education, and workforce development into one message: preparation matters before opportunity arrives. - Her experience as a student-athlete and professional basketball player in Italy, Brazil, and Taiwan shaped her focus on discipline, adaptability, and cultural awareness. - Kelly also sees students as people first, not just résumés or report cards, and says mental health awareness belongs in career preparation. - The article frames collaboration among schools, businesses, and communities as essential for helping students build leadership, communication, critical thinking, and adaptability.

What’s next: - Kelly wants to expand the Blueprint Framework so more high school students can use it. - She will continue using Augusta Technical College as a place where education and employers meet. - Kelly’s long-term goal is to help students not only graduate, but thrive in their careers and lives.

The bottom line: - Kelly’s message is simple: purpose, preparation, and follow-through turn potential into opportunity. - More information is available in Renee Kelly’s profile.