Rockdale’s former fire chief, who resigned in June after less than a year in the role, is still in the public service sector, but this time as an instructor at the Rockdale Career Academy.
Franklin Wilson applied for the position of public safety instructor at RCA in April when former instructor Matt Mahathey decided to go back to the public safety field, said RCA CEO Miki Edwards.
“We are very glad that he has joined our team,” said Edwards. “Frank’s expertise will help us further develop the Homeland Security and Emergency services pathways and will also allow us to develop the state’s Firefighter pathway... His rich experience in the field allows him to provide relevant information to our students. He also has very high expectations for people pursuing a career in public safety and his students will benefit from that. He is very dynamic and brings a lot of excitement to the classroom.”
Wilson was interviewed in May with several other candidates for the position, which was advertised through the Teach Georgia website and through the public safety advisory council, said Edwards. He attended the new teacher orientation in mid-July and his contract is effective July 23.
As a charter career academy, RCA is able to hire instructors without a teaching certificate for the CTAE classes as long as they meet other requirements, Edwards explained. Wilson has a bachelor’s in fire services administration and more than 20 years experience in the field.
RCA is currently constructing a new wing, due to open in January 2013, to house the new Public Safety Academy. The two-story wing will include a courtroom style classroom, a forensic science lab, a 911 call center and simulator lab, along with other classrooms for college classes for Georgia Perimeter Technical College.
Wilson, who came from a deputy fire chief position in Idaho, started in August of 2011 with Rockdale County Fire and Rescue and reportedly left for a change in personal direction.
The search for a new fire chief is still pending, according to the county.
