School + Community Partnerships = Powerhouse; Part 4 of 4

In this special four-part series of Lead, Lift, Inspire, Dr. Tracie J. Metz explores how school and community partnerships create powerful impact across North Carolina.From elevating student voice to reaching across sectors and taking bold, sometimes unconventional risks, these conversations highlight what happens when educators and partners build trust, stretch beyond the familiar, and work together for lasting change.This episode features Crystal Folger-Hawks.Crystal Folger-Hawks serves as the Executive Director of Surry-Yadkin Works, bringing extensive experience in workforce and career development. Nationally Board-Certified in Career & Technical Education, she previously taught work-based learning and Family & Consumer Sciences courses and served as both a College Liaison and Career Coach within Surry County Schools and Surry Community College. Since 2021, she has led Surry-Yadkin Works, overseeing its continued growth and regional impact. Crystal holds degrees from Virginia Tech and UNC Greensboro and has participated in prestigious leadership programs including the Kenan Fellows Program and ElevateNC. In her role, she partners with businesses and Surry Community College to expand pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized credentialing opportunities for students across Surry and Yadkin counties.