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December 13, 2022
December 13, 2022
Scholastic Art and Writing Award
National Gold Medal Winner
Scholastic Art and Writing Award
National Gold Medal Winner
Leila Hill - Columbia Virtual Academy
Leila Hill - Columbia Virtual Academy
Last March, Leila Hill was recognized for being selected as a gold key winner at the state level for her drawing “The Heart of a Papa.”
On June 9, 2022, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Ceremony was held at Carnegie Hall in New York. National Gold Medal winners were invited to the awards ceremony with guest speakers and highlight reels of each winner's artwork and writing samples. During the ceremony, the Art gold medal winners were recognized as a group.
Lelia is such a talented artist who in 2021, won the Congressional Art Award for Senator Rick Allen. Leila’s awarded piece was featured in Congressman Allen’s office in Washington DC for a year. Leila has also submitted a portfolio for the 100th anniversary of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)/Scholastic Art competition in hopes of winning another gold medal and a scholarship to SCAD.
Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association
Cheerleader of the Year
Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association
Cheerleader of the Year
Caroline Hilley - Lakeside High
Caroline Hilley - Lakeside High
Coaches nominate their outstanding senior athletes, who then go through an application process, which is scored on the student’s academic achievements, community service, school activities, and their passion for the sport of cheerleading.
From the application, the top 30 athletes are selected for their division. Caroline Hilley was one of 30 selected from regions 5A- 7A. She and other selected athletes in each division went on to compete in both an interview and performance competition. The pool was narrowed down to the top 16 athletes in each division, who were named to the GCCA All-State Team and received a scholarship. The overall highest score in each division is named the GCCA Cheerleader of the Year for their respective division.
Caroline was the overall winner for regions 5A-7A.
Georgia Department of Education
Title I Distinguished School
Martinez Elementary
Georgia Department of Education
Title I Distinguished School
Martinez Elementary
Martinez Elementary has been named a 2021-2022 Title I Distinguished School.
This designation recognizes the highest-performing Title I schools in Georgia, and Martinez Elementary is one of only 71 schools to earn the recognition this year.
The Distinguished Schools designation recognizes Title I schools that ranked in the top five percent based on combined English Language Arts (ELA) and Math Achievement Rate scores from FY2021 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) Content Mastery data. While a full CCRPI report was not available in 2021 due to data limitations resulting from the pandemic and an associated federal waiver, Content Mastery data was available since students took state assessments in 2021.
Schools must be Title I to be eligible for the Distinguished School designation and must not currently be identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI).
Georgia Council Teachers of Mathematics Award Winners
Georgia Council Teachers of Mathematics Award Winners
Several Columbia County School District educators participated in and were recognized for excellence at the 63rd Annual Georgia Council Teachers of Mathematics (GCTM) Georgia Math Conference in Eatonton, Georgia.
Teacher of Excellence in Secondary Mathematics
Teacher of Excellence in Secondary Mathematics
Stefanie Frey - Greenbrier High
Stefanie Frey - Greenbrier High
This award is given to a teacher who is a member of GCTM; has taught mathematics at least three years in Georgia; has strong content foundation in mathematics appropriate for their teaching level; shows evidence of growth in teaching of mathematics, and shows evidence of professional involvement in Georgia Council Teacher Mathematics and National Counsel Teacher Mathematics, and who has not received the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics award the past five years. Congratulations, Ms. Frey.
Dwight Love Award
Dwight Love Award
Taylor Thompson - Evans High
Taylor Thompson - Evans High
This award is presented to a teacher in Georgia who models excellence in the profession and in life; gives much to others beyond the classroom as mentor, teacher, and leader; is a member of Georgia Council Teacher of Mathematics; is a master teacher; is professionally active; and promotes GCTM and its mission.
Thanks to our 4-H Presidents from Blue Ridge Elementary for leading the Pledge at the Board of Education meeting. Great job, student leaders!
November 8, 2022
November 8, 2022
State School Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
State School Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
Two Lakeside High School students, Hudson Burch, a junior, and Millie Jane Mobley, a senior, were selected for the prestigious honor of serving on the State School Superintendent's Advisory Council for the 2022-2023 academic year. Only 67 students from the state were selected to serve on the council. It is rare for a student to be selected to represent a school district, but to have two is exceptional, particularly with both representing the same school.
The State School Superintendent's Student Advisory Council is a group of students in grades 10-12 who discuss how decisions made at the state level are affecting students throughout Georgia. Members meet throughout the school year with State Superintendent Richard Woods and serve advisors who act as liaisons between the Department of Education and the students of Georgia.
Hudson and Millie Jane will travel to Atlanta four times this school year to meet with Superintendent Woods at the Georgia Department of Education. As members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, Hudson and Millie Jane will serve as ambassadors for Lakeside High, provide feedback on how state policies impact students in the classroom, discuss other education-related issues, and participate in service projects to benefit Georgia schools and students.
Georgia Association of Middle School Principals Awards
Georgia Association of Middle School Principals Awards
Two Columbia County School District school leaders were recently recognized for their leadership and service by the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP). GAMSP is the organization of and state voice for middle grades school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders in Georgia.
Jerry Davis Georgia Distinguished Principal Award
Jerry Davis Georgia Distinguished Principal Award
Dr. Holly Barnes, Principal - Columbia Middle
Dr. Holly Barnes, Principal - Columbia Middle
Dr. Holly Barnes received The Jerry Davis Georgia Distinguished Principal Award from the GAMSP in recognition of her outstanding leadership and service to middle school students. The award was established in 2011 to honor outstanding middle school principals in Georgia.
Dr. Barnes is one of four principals in the state selected by a committee of peers from the association. She was honored at the annual GAMSP Fall Conference that was held in October.
Hal Beaver Outstanding Assistant Principal Award
Hal Beaver Outstanding Assistant Principal Award
Blake Stitcher, Assistant Principal at Harlem Middle
Blake Stitcher, Assistant Principal at Harlem Middle
Blake Stitcher received the Hal Beaver Outstanding Assistant Principal Award from the GAMSP at the Fall Conference. This award is presented to an assistant principal in Georgia who has demonstrated strong leadership in guiding his or her school as an effective middle school as defined by state and national standards.
Mr. Stitcher was selected by a committee of GAMSP peers as one of the three recipients from the state for his leadership and service to middle school students.
4-H Presidents
4-H Presidents
Thank you to the 4-H Presidents from Riverside Elementary for leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
October 11, 2022
October 11, 2022
The Augusta Chronicle Cyber City's Best
The Augusta Chronicle Cyber City's Best
Public School Winner 2022
Public School Winner 2022
North Columbia Elementary
North Columbia Elementary
North Columbia Elementary was named the Best Public School by the August Chronicle’s Cyber City's Best Awards 2022. The contest receives nominations and then allows the public to vote on “the best” representative in each category. The Official Community Choice Awards is a one-of-a-kind contest where locals choose the best businesses and services in their city or town.
Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School 2022
Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School 2022
North Columbia Elementary
North Columbia Elementary
On Friday, September 16, 2022, North Columbia Elementary School was announced a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School. The U.S. Department of Education began the National Blue Ribbon Schools program in 1982. The program seeks out and celebrates great American schools that demonstrate that all students can achieve high levels. It recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools in two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools.
North Columbia Elementary was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School and is one of only 297 schools nationwide, and only one of six schools in Georgia, selected this year.
The process began back in February when North Columbia Elementary was notified that they had been nominated by the Georgia Department of Education as a candidate for the national award. Each school that is selected, both public and private, are invited to submit an application. Principal Tonya Gambrell and a team of teacher-leaders worked diligently to submit the application.
Ms. Gambrell and Tiffany Eargle, a fourth grade ELA teacher at North Columbia Elementary, will represent the school at the National Blue Ribbon Recognition Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on November 3-4, 2022.
The coveted National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
GHSA Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award 2021-2022
GHSA Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award 2021-2022
Harlem High
Harlem High
The Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award program was introduced in 2006 to reinforce GHSA’s philosophy which states: “Student athletes, coaches, spectators and all others associated with high school activities should adhere to the fundamental values of respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.” This award honors schools that demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship during competitive events and is sponsored by Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations.
Only one school in each division in each region is chosen to receive this annual award. The GHSA takes into consideration all aspects of sportsmanship during events. They look at how student athletes interact on the field, and how well fellow students, school staff, parents and game spectators demonstrate spirit and sportsmanship.
4-H Presidents
4-H Presidents
Thank you to the 4-H Presidents from Martinez Elementary for leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
August 9, 2022
August 9, 2022
Crystal McDowell - Greenbrier High School
Crystal McDowell - Greenbrier High School
Toshiba America Foundation Grant Publication Case Study
Toshiba America Foundation Grant Publication Case Study
Greenbrier High School AP Biology teacher, Crystal McDowell, was awarded a grant for a case study submitted to the Toshiba America Foundation.
In January 2022, the Toshiba America Foundation awarded Greenbrier High School a grant for $8,981.00 for Crystal McDowell’s proposal, “Developing STEM Literacy and Applied Science through Biotechnology.” The purpose of this grant is to integrate biotechnology into multiple disciplines using real-world applications that provide a relevant context for student learning. The equipment and lab kits for implementation were purchased through MiniOne Systems.
However, one of the lab kits related to Hypercholesterolemia did not include a lab protocol to accompany the lab. Given Mrs. McDowell’s family history of cardiovascular disease, bringing awareness to this genetic condition and its effect on the human body has special meaning; therefore, Mrs. McDowell wrote a case study to accompany the lab that correlated to GA Standards of Excellence for Human Anatomy and Physiology. After attending a training session at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in Houston, TX last spring, Ms. McDowell, shared her plan with MiniOne. MiniOne was so impressed with Mrs. McDowell’s case study they asked if they could use it with their lab kit so other teachers and students could use the “story” in their classrooms.
In recognition of Mrs. McDowell’s work, MiniOne is sponsoring her at the National Association of Biology Teachers Conference in Indianapolis in November. In addition, she has been invited to present the case study at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in Atlanta in March of 2023.
Valery Dinkins - Martinez Elementary School
Valery Dinkins - Martinez Elementary School
STEM/STEAM Professional Learning Innovation Competitive Grant
STEM/STEAM Professional Learning Innovation Competitive Grant
Valery Dinkins, the STEM Coordinator at Martinez Elementary, received the STEM/STEAM Professional Learning Innovation Competitive Grant through the GA Department of Education to help expand science, technology, engineering, and math opportunities for Martinez Elementary students. Teams of teachers will attend the Georgia STEM/STEAM Forum and the Georgia Educational Technology Conference. Students will be impacted as teachers come back into the classroom with new ideas to expand and integrate STEM into their daily learning objectives. This professional development will have a lasting effect on student achievement as they work on year-long STEM projects and tasks.
The goal of the STEM/STEAM Professional Learning Grant is to expand access to the STEM/STEAM education through project-based learning, content integration, process-based thinking, collaborative planning, and other STEM and STEAM professional learning. To ensure funds are used as intended, the GaDOE STEM/STEAM team will monitor the implementation of grant proposals by reviewing mid-year and annual reports.
Mrs. Dinkins and Martinez Elementary was one of only 15 districts selected and will be awarded $9,800.00 for the programming innovations!
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