Volunteer State Community College has named long-time Putnam County School Employee Sam Brooks as its new Upper Cumberland Regional Director.
Brooks spent almost 33 years in the Putnam County School System, with his most recent role serving as the future-ready supervisor. Brooks said the position is a new and exciting opportunity.
“Work with that team to create an atmosphere that creates, you know, really good culture in a working environment, that will end up being transferred to the students that attend the schools,” Brooks said. “So I am really looking forward to that.”
Brooks said he is ready to take on the challenges that come with the position. Brooks said one challenge he wants to tackle is doing more to spread the word about post-secondary opportunities to students in the region.
“There are a lot of great opportunities for students in the Upper Cumberland area, and some situations where schooling can be paid for,” Brooks said. “And I think getting that information across to the families around the Upper Cumberland area, to the great opportunities that exist for these students. And I think the information is somewhat out there, but sometimes it’s not getting to the family level. And so when these students leave high school, and they make a decision or a decision to go to the workforce or a decision to go to further schooling, you know, they need to have that information available so they can make the best choice that they can.”
Brooks said his administrative experience from working in the county school system will help him transition into the new role. However, Brooks said there is still some learning to do.
“You know it’s really invigorated me, and I’m learning things in the higher ed world,” Brooks said. “After being in the K-12 world, you would figure there would be a lot of crossover, and there is, but there are also a lot of new things I am getting to experience on this side.”
Brooks said he has been visiting the Gallatin campus to see how they operate. Brooks said he wants to instill the same great experience at the Cookeville and Livingston campuses.