For over a decade, Tattnall Square Academy has been home to the only Sports Medicine program of its kind in the Middle Georgia area. Led by our April Teacher of the Month, Jody Burnett, TSA Sports Medicine has inspired countless students to pursue athletic training, physical therapy, nursing, and other medical careers. In fact, Jody’s reputation in his field is so well-known, his recommendations have often been key to college acceptances and/or job offers for students desiring a career in Sports Medicine.

Jody Burnett graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University in Exercise Physiology/Health Science. After gaining invaluable experience at Piedmont Sports Medicine Complex in the rehabilitation department, Jody attended Troy State University as a graduate student where he received a MEd in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine.  Jody has been a certified Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainers Association and a Georgia Licensed Athletic Trainer since 1997. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength & Conditioning Association.

After joining the Tattnall family in 2001, Jody built the Sports Medicine program into the powerhouse that it is today.  The program boasts student athletic trainers who receive hands-on experience in various sports, a state of the art training room, opportunities for orthopedic surgery observation with Ortho Georgia, and participation in an ongoing Exertional Heat Study with UGA.  Jody also serves as a preceptor for GC&SU, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State University’s undergraduate student athletic trainers. Each semester, two new interns join the Tattnall Sports Medicine program and train under Jody’s instruction. 

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of our Sports Medicine Program is Jody’s dedication to each athlete at Tattnall. If at any time a Tattnall athlete is injured, Jody and his team of student trainers work with the athlete from the initial injury to the final day of rehab and back into active team participation.  This level of daily dedication from an athletic trainer of Jody’s expertise is priceless.

Jody and his wife, Emily, have two sons, Carson and Cade. Carson is a first grade student at TSA and is eagerly awaiting his time on the athletic field.  Tattnall is blessed to have the Burnetts as members of our family, and we are proud to call Jody our April Teacher of the Month!