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30 Years of Professionalism 1975-2005 Vol. 27 No. 3 www.pageinc.org May/June 2005

OFFICERS CONTENTS President Dr. Diane Ray President-Elect FEATURES Ken Russell 04 Teachers Do the Darndest Things— 4 Secretary Vickie Hammond On Their Summer Vacations Treasurer by Lee Raudonis Hosie Waters Past President Deena Hoch DEPARTMENTS DIRECTORS 02 From the President: Reflection at This Time of District 1 District 8 Year is Imperative—How Will Next Year be Different? Tronya Fulcher Kathy Corwin District 2 District 9 03 From the Executive Director: Applause for the Vickie Joiner Catherine Strickland Session May Be a Bit Premature District 3 District 10 Raymechia Smith Judy Teasley 10 Foundation News District 4 District 11 Tim Mullen Lamar Scott PAGE Foundation Names 2005 PAGE STAR Student District 5 District 12 and Teacher Mary Carzoli Richard Thomas 2005 STAR Teachers—System Winners 10 District 6 District 13 Mike Smith Luann Avery Gwinnett County’s Berkmar High School is State 2005 PAGE District 7 District 14 Georgia Academic Decathlon State Champion David Brown Jan Godwin Former Governor Joe Frank Harris is Keynote at FEA in GA Day on Capitol Hill EDITORIAL STAFF PAGE Foundation to Celebrate 20th Anniversary Editor Tim Callahan 19 Professional Insights: Professional Learning Associate Editor Erica Driver Communities: Nurturing Teacher Leadership and Assistant Editor Improving Student Achievement Lynn Varner Report from the Capitol NEW SOUTH PUBLISHING 23 Legal: President Legislative Wrap-up for 2005 Larry Lebovitz 26 Publisher 26 Members In The News John Hanna Editor-in-Chief 26 PAGE Planner Riley McDermid Graphic Designer 26 PAGE Letters Jack Simonetta Production Coordinator NEWS & INFORMATION Mike Johnson Account Executive 27 TRS Introduces New Online Member and Retiree Treacy Gledhill Account Management Desktops Advertising/Sales (770) 650-1102, ext.128 28 Educational Field Trips Consultant Susan Thompson Lewis 30 There Was a Good Teacher

On the cover: 2006 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Dr. Brenda Shuman-Riley. Photo by Rod Reilly PAGE ONE magazine (ISSN 1523-6188) is mailed to all PAGE members, selected higher education units and other school-related professionals. Notice to Members An annual subscription is included in PAGE membership dues. A subscription for others is The articles published in each issue of PAGE ONE magazine rep- Contributions or gifts to the PAGE $10.00 annually. Periodicals postage paid at resent the views of the contributors and do not necessarily rep- Foundation are tax deductible as charita- Atlanta, Georgia, and additional mailing resent the views of PAGE, except where clearly stated. ble contributions for federal income tax offices. (USPS 017-347) Postmaster: Send You are invited to submit articles dealing with current educa- purposes. However, under other provi- address changes to PAGE ONE, P.O. Box 942270, tion issues. The editor reserves the right to determine the appro- sions of the IRS code, costs for PAGE lob- Atlanta, GA 31141-2270. priateness of articles for publication. Articles may be edited to bying activities on behalf of members are PAGE ONE magazine is published five times a meet space requirements. Georgia educators are encouraged to not deductible. PAGE estimates the nond- year (January, March, May, September and submit photographs for use as the cover for PAGE ONE maga- eductible portion of your 2004-2005 dues November) by New South Publishing, Inc.; 1303 zine and other photographs to illustrate story subjects. Send allocated to lobbying is .07 percent. Please Hightower Trail, Suite 101; Atlanta, GA 30350; manuscripts and photographs to: Tim Callahan, Editor, PAGE call the PAGE office at 1-800-334-6861 if 770-650-1102. Copyright ©2005 ONE magazine; PAGE; P.O. Box 942270; Atlanta, GA 31141-2270. you have questions.

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 1 From The President | DR. DIANE RAY Reflection at This Time of Year is Imperative— How Will Next Year be Different?

Have you chool is out or almost out for educators through professional learning opportunities. I evaluated the throughout the state. High stakes test had to look at doing a few things differently. impact of your Sresults are back, performance evaluations Will you look at implementing different are completed, we have had training on the new instructional strategies next year for greater most effective Georgia Performance Standards, and we have student learning? instructional learned new terminology as we unpack the Analyzing tests or assessments means setting strategy? standards. With all these demands, have you aside some powerful ego issues. Many times my carved out the time needed to reflect on instruc- initial response after identifying the items or Have you seen tion, assessments, accountability and, most criteria missed by the majority of students is, improved test importantly, student learning? Have you evalu- “Well, I taught that, they just didn’t get it!” Upon ated the impact of your most effective instruc- further reflection, however, I recognized that results, and more tional strategy? Or better yet, have you pin- effectiveness in teaching is not defined by what importantly, do pointed the strategies implemented that have we do as teachers, but rather by what students you know the had minimal impact on student achievement? are able to do. Have you seen improved test results, and more Assessments provide immediate feedback to story behind the importantly, do you know the story behind the students, and to us as teachers. Equipped with numbers? numbers? Yes, it is time for a little reflection. constructive feedback from assessments, I can After all, we need to know if our time and ener- make changes in curriculum, teaching and gy made a positive difference. And after this learning that are necessary to improve achieve- reflection it’s time to focus on how next year will ment of students. Have you analyzed the type of be different. assessments you give to your students? Next If we single out instruction within our class- year will you give common assessments to stu- rooms, we must determine the specific instruc- dents in each grade level? Will you collabora- tional strategies in teaching that are directly tively score these assessments, or will you use linked to improved achievement. Take a look at rubrics for measuring student success? What the test scores from one of your favorite units. will be different? Will assessments be used to What strategies helped your students master guide your instruction? the content? Many teachers are astonished to Accountability for all educators demands the learn that they can be poor judges of what study of practices that yield successes at other worked and what didn’t work in their teaching. schools. Lessons from other schools have a In my own teaching, I have been taken by sur- major purpose—that is to prompt educators to prise. There have been times when I thought validate actions already in place that are produc- my presentations were truly inspiring. My ing results, and consider what is not in practice delivery was animated, my examples clear and at this time but should be. Possibly studying and my insights were razor sharp. At the conclusion replicating the actions of those who are success- of the instruction, I regretted that I wasn’t being ful could lead to greater student achievement. observed or videotaped, because I thought it After all, it is our responsibility as professionals was truly one of my finest presentations. Later, to know how to gain positive results. Thus, when I asked a question about the ideas or con- resolving to increase success for students may cepts I introduced during that stellar presenta- require us to do a few things differently. tion, few could answer correctly. Our challenge is to learn from others and rec- After squelching my impulse to blame my ognize transformations that have been made DR. DIANE RAY students, I realized that it is I who must make and those that still remain to be made. If we are some changes. I took a closer look at serious about improving student learning, we researched strategies that would provide my have to move beyond our reflection of this year students with greater mastery. I tried to imple- and commit to making instruction, assessment ment some strategies that I had learned and accountability different for next year. ◆

2 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 From The Executive Director | DR. ALLENE MAGILL

Applause for the Session May Be a Bit Premature

t the conclusion of this year’s historic ses- to require teaching in “high needs” schools in sion of the Georgia General Assembly order to earn the additional stipend. What Previous leaders in A many leaders (and a few pundits) were replaced this program was a vaguely worded Atlanta were quick to heap praise on the new leadership. In Master Teacher plan contained in legislation that criticized—rightly, fact, some leaders didn’t wait for the pundits but doesn’t begin to take full effect until 2007 and began patting themselves on the back before the expires in 2009. The desire to radically reduce the in our view—for sine die confetti had hit the floor. We hope it will cost of the National Board program is clear. Less legislating with be understood if we don’t join in the cheers just clear is the long range commitment to teaching a degree of yet. The 2005 session was not, in our view, a par- excellence. ticularly good one for public education in Our members will be excused if they do not arrogance and for Georgia. applaud a two percent salary increase, accompa- being out of touch Here are some specific examples and an over- nied by a nine percent increase in the cost of all assessment of operational style: health care for themselves and their families. with local realities. In an attempt to please multiple constituen- (Rumors around the Capitol that a substantial We hope that we cies, some education legislation originally increase may be on the way in 2006 only served haven’t replaced intended to benefit public schools was broad- to stoke electoral cynicism). Equally offensive ened to include home schools and private was yet another attempt by legislators and repre- that leadership schools. While we have no reason to cast asper- sentatives of the brokerage industry to get access with a group for sions on either of these two entities, the to billions from the teacher retirement funds for inescapable fact is that the governor, the legisla- extremely risky investments. whom the ends ture and the state school superintendent are Finally, a word needs to be said about opera- justify the means, public officials with the sworn duty to attend to tional style. Far too many legislative actions came and for whom the the needs of public institutions. without full discussion and debate. In some cases Legislation, that in our view would open the legislators operated as if the committee process public schools are door to private and religious school vouchers, was something to be avoided at all costs. a minor part of its was narrowly defeated—much to the chagrin of Amendments made at the last minute, offered the governor and his supporters. While protest- only after the public input session was over, often constituency. ing to the heavens that there was no such intent, were the rule rather than the exception. the governor and some legislators balked at legis- Amendments from the floor as votes were under- lation which would have ensured no such thing way were used to try to breathe new life into pre- could happen, leaving their protestations ringing viously discredited ideas. While the “eleventh a bit hollow. hour ambush” might enhance the smooth flow of That issue exemplified one of the more trou- legislation and ensure the success of individual bling aspects of this past session. Leaders and interest group agendas, it is not, in our view, seemed to be saying one thing, yet aggressively conducive to effective public policymaking. pursuing a very different course. We had been So, we’ll reserve our applause for now. told for the past few years that, due to the eco- Previous leaders in Atlanta were criticized— nomic downturn, reduction of class sizes— rightly, in our view—for legislating with a degree which has been the law for some years now— of arrogance and for being out of touch with would be delayed. This year, with revenues local realities. We hope that we haven’t replaced improving dramatically, another two year delay that leadership with a group for whom ends jus- was granted, and the conversation began to tify the means, and for whom the public schools switch from, “We’ll do this when we can afford it” are a minor part of its constituency. We’ve heard to “We think this is a local decision.” An unbiased our share of fine and supportive language dur- DR. ALLENE MAGILL observer might be confused by the supple and ing the past few years coming from our new evolving nature of this logic. leaders. While it is no doubt pleasing to the ear, Decrying the increasing costs of the National our students and our educators deserve more Board Certification program, leaders changed it than just fine words. ◆

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 3 Teachers Do the Darndest Things— On Their Summer Vacations

By Lee Raudonis

ast summer, Mike Smith, assistant principal at Sara portation, such as a Corvette. This peaked his interest. Harp Minter Elementary in Fayetteville, Ga., and his “Since I didn’t have a Vette, our first objective was to get one. son, Michael, who had just graduated from high We looked at different years and models, researched options and school, loaded a 2004 silver Chevrolet Corvette with as used the Internet to compare prices. We finally decided on a sil- much luggage as it would hold (one large gym bag ver, 2004 hardtop. What a car! We purchased it in May of 2004 and Leach, a couple of cameras, a laptop and one bag of toiletries), and left Fayetteville, Ga., around June 15. Our itinerary took us to did what many people talk about, but never do—took off on road Graceland, St. Louis, Denver, Salt Lake, San Francisco, Los trip across the continental United States. Angeles, Venice, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Arizona, El Paso, “Since the 9th grade or so, Michael and I had talked about tak- Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. We traveled a total of 6,300 ing a trip when he graduated,” Smith explains. “My goal for this miles and saw things together that will live in our memories for- once-in-a-lifetime trip was to spend quality time with my son. If ever. A few things in particular stick in my mind. this was my last opportunity to create an everlasting bond “We were traveling through Tennessee early one Sunday morn- between dad and son, I wanted to make the most of the opportu- ing, around 10:30 a.m.. It was Father’s Day, and at home, we nity. would certainly have been at church. We both knew that we “As graduation neared, we talked more seriously about the trip, should be at a church, but when you’re driving down the inter- making the decision around November to drive cross-country to state in an unknown area it is easy to keep driving to your next California. At first, Michael thought we should buy Harleys for the destination. Fortunately, this was not our thinking. I shared with trip. I figured I would make it to the Alabama line before giving up my son that it would be right to be in church and told him that I on that adventure, and I encouraged a different mode of trans- was going to pray for direction. The prayer was no sooner off my

4 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 (left) Chad Crew, Burke County High School science teacher, putting on a Reading Magic Show at a local library for the vacation reading programs. (below) Lamar Scott, Doves Creek Elementary School principal in Lucerne, Swizerland (2004).

lips than an interstate sign appeared with the name of a town that Michael recognizes as the town where a Christian college was located (he was familiar with some mission teams from the school). We pulled off to exit, and there in front of us was a church near the campus of the college. It was 10:45 and the worship serv- (above, left) View of California ice was just starting. How great it was to have my son observe Highway 1, (above, right) Mike faith at work,” Smith commented. Smith, Sara Harp Minter “Another day, we were leaving Kansas City, Mo., and traveling Elementary School assistant west. As we entered the farm area of Kansas, the beauty of the principal at Grand Canyon, (left) wheat fields against the crisp blue sky was breathtaking. Over with son, Michael and silver each hill we were in awe with what our eyes beheld. We had the 2004 Corvette. same experience as we drove south on California Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I am not a world traveler, but I cannot imagine areas more beautiful.” the ship in South Hampton after 10 days at sea and travel back to “Our visit to the Grand Canyon was also an exceptional experi- London. The next morning we fly to Rome. ence. We caught a flight out of Las Vegas to an Indian reservation “We spend one day in Rome and then board Celebrity Galaxy located atop the Grand Canyon. I was a little nervous about the for 11 days in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will stop at the flight because the pilot was not much older than my son. We flew islands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini, and then go to over Lake Mead and through part of the Grand Canyon before Istanbul and Ephesus. We continue back to Rome with stops at landing at the reservation. Our Indian tour was very meaningful. Athens and then Naples before arriving back at Rome. We travel The guide was familiar with the area and how his tribe interacts from the ship for one night and two days on the coast near daily with the canyon. Memories like these will remain with me Naples, Positano and Sorrento. We travel back to Rome by train forever!” and fly back to London,” he adds. After school lets out this year, Smith is planning to spend a “We will spend a week in London (including my trip to the con- much more sedate summer reading and relaxing at the beach, ference in Oxford) and then travel to Paris for one day before going but many of his colleagues across Georgia, are preparing for on to Madrid. In Madrid we join a tour for 16 days through Spain, adventures that will be every bit as interesting and exciting as the Portugal and into Morocco. We will see the Rock of Gibraltar, great “Vette road trip of ’04.” Casablanca, Marrakesh and major cities in Spain and Portugal. One trip that will be hard to top is that planned by Michael Finally we return home after almost two months of travel.” Perry, a National Board Certified business education teacher at For Perry and his wife, travel has become an important part of Chapel Hill High School in Douglas County. Later in the summer, their summers. In 2003, their destination was Ireland. Last year, it Perry will present a session on electronic data integration at the was Egypt. Global Conference of Business and Economics in Oxford, “We started with a stay in Cairo and then traveled by train to England. But getting there will be more than a little adventure. Aswan.” Perry says. “On arriving at Aswan, we went by armed car- “My wife and I will travel first to London, then connect in avan to Abu Simbel, the great temple of Ramses II. We then sailed Dublin,” says Perry. “We will spend six days in Ireland, traveling up the Nile on a cruise ship stopping at many different spots for from Dublin to Shannon. Then we go back to London and on to guided tours of Edfu, Karnak, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, South Hampton, where we board the Golden Princess to travel to then by plane back to our guides in Cairo. We went to the Khal El Zeeburge, Oslo, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Le Harve. We leave Kalil Bazzar, which has been in business since the Middle Ages.

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 5 Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha near Belize from a recent trip to Western went to Plimoth Plantation and Caribbean by Jacqueline Scalia Savannah, Ga., last year for two special education teacher at Eagle’s workshops and learned mam- Landing High School. (below, left moth amounts of information.” to right) Edna Carr (former Nancy Boyle, second grade paraprofessional), Jacqueline A. teacher at Peeples Elementary in Scalia, her daughter, Diana Cowan, and Marilyn Hall (retired Fayette County, is also planning paraprofessional). to participate in NEH workshops. “I have applied for one in We toured Cairo, seeing the Maryland and one in Oklahoma. place where Jesus was hidden I will take my children and hus- from Herod, and we also saw the band along. They will site-see Citadel Mosque and the Hanging during the day, and we will Church. Our last day of the explore together in the evenings adventure was a day trip to as I relate what I learned during Alexandria, where we saw the day.” tombs, museums, the hotel Lamar Scott, principal of where Churchill and Doves Creek Elementary School Montgomery met in WWII, the in Elbert County, plans to use unearthed Roman amphitheater, as well as some of his vacation expanding his knowl- the spot where the Lighthouse of edge of European culture. Alexandria stood.” “For the last several years, I have partici- Not forgetting that a new school year pated in a 10-day tour with Lander will soon be at hand, Perry plans to share University’s Fine Arts Dept. Study Tour,” this summer’s experiences with his stu- says Scott. “Last summer we went to dents. “I plan to enjoy my hobby of pho- Switzerland where we explored art, music, tography while gone and take pictures that architecture and literature. We also went to I can use to create projects for my students the top of Mt. Polaris and a small group of in World geography, multimedia us went as high as we could near and webpage design,” he the top of the Matterhorn. This explains. Joseph Jarrel, McIntosh High School world summer we’re off to Amsterdam Other educators will also use history teacher, and and Copenhagen.” at least a portion of their sum- daughter Joanna just Traveling a bit closer to home, mer break enjoying experiences outside Napoleon’s Anne Jones, a teacher at T. J. they can share with students. tomb in Paris. Elder Middle School, will explore Jennifer Harkleroad, a media art of a different type. specialist at Thomas Crossroads “Many years ago I heard of the Elementary School in Coweta Campbell Folk School in North County, hopes to attend two Carolina and tucked the idea of National Endowment for the attending back into the recesses Humanities (NEH) workshops. of my mind,” she explains. “A “I’ll spend eight weeks at the friend of mine started talking beach, and then hopefully, go on about learning to weave on a two Landmarks in American loom. At that time I wanted to History workshops for teachers learn to spin yarn so that I could sponsored by the NEH—one to use the yarn that I spun to knit a the Cherokee Nation in sweater for myself. We Oklahoma to learn about the researched schools and found Trail of Tears, and one to St. Campbell. Since ‘spinning’ was Augustine to learn about explor- not offered during the weeks ers between 1492 and 1607. that I hoped to attend, nor was a These workshops teach teachers class on wood working (using a in-depth, and then we are lathe), my next choice was twill expected to bring the informa- basket weaving. I love to learn tion back to our students. I know from expe- new arts.” rience that the workshops are excellent! I Alisa Daniel of Screven County Elementary School in Sylvania, Ga., enjoys spending sev- Michael Perry, Chapel Hill High School business eral weeks of her summer break doing what education teacher and his wife Kim at the top of Blarney Castle. Michael Perry kisses the Blarney some would consider “work.” Stone. Kim Perry at Saint Kevin’s Cell, Ireland. “My family thinks I am a workaholic, but to

6 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 me, my teaching career is what I love Jennifer Harkleroad, media specialist at and comes just behind my love for Thomas Crossroads Elementary in my family. I am co-director of the 2004 at Plimouth Plantation, the first permanent European settlement in Georgia Southern Writing Project in southern New England (AD 1620) Statesboro, Ga., where I spend four weeks, Monday through Thursday, people or just memories of the from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with teachers moment. across all content areas and all grade “I feel that I have planted a seed levels K- 16. Before I became an offi- that will take root and grow over the cial co-director, I attended and next few years. My goal is for teach- helped with the project for three ers to become more confident in years just because I wanted other themselves as teachers of writing as teachers to experience the same well as more confident as writers,” career changing experience that I said Daniel. had only a few years before. Planting seeds of another kind, “The writing project rejuvenates some teachers plan to spend this me and helps me to get myself ready summer doing missionary work to meet my new students each fall. I through their churches. am more self-confident as a teacher, Claudia Wells, an art teacher at writer and professional. I enjoy talk- Thomson High School, plans to ing to other teachers across the area work in Alaska. about common concerns facing “My only niece at 16-years old, education today. The writing project was killed in a car accident recently, provides me with many opportuni- so family comes first,” Wells ties to travel. I have traveled across explains. “In her honor and to the the United States, meeting other glory of God, we are all going on a teachers and writers. I have attended mission trip to Alaska (my sister, her writing marathons in many cities, husband and two boys, my husband, writing about the landscape, the daughter, son and daughter-in-law, PEACE OF MIND

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May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 7 (top) Joseph Jarrel’s wife Michelle have studied at school.” and daughter, Joanna on the Rebekkah Roberts, teacher at island of Crete. (bottom left) Lorraine Elementary School in Classroom of Georgia Southern Rockdale County, is also helping Writing Project, where Alisa Daniel enjoys spending part of her take a group of high school stu- summer. (bottom right) Kim Perry dents to Europe. And when she and guide in Egypt (2004) returns, she plans to take a music discussing Greek style mummy at workshop for a week, sponsored Alexandria’s Greek-Roman by Gwinnett County and a local museum. music teacher group (Orff and four teens from my son’s Association). church youth group). We will be Pierce County High School visiting remote churches and teacher Kathryn Tison never had doing whatever they need us to the opportunity to go to Europe do—Bible school, repairs to when she was a student, so she structures, witnessing and visit- plans to make up for it this year. ing. We will be gone almost two “My daughter and I plan to go weeks. The rest of the summer to Europe for 18 days in June will be a mix of working, resting with my high school history and preparing for the next teacher, Starr Wheeler, retired school year.” educator from Glynn Academy Trista Ross, a special educa- in Brunswick. She has taken tion teacher at Edwards Middle groups of high school students School in Rockdale County, is on trips of this sort since even heading in the opposite direc- before I entered high school. I tion to do her missionary work. was not able to attend when I “The Lord has provided an was a student, so my parents opportunity for me to travel offered to send us for my 40th with a group from Heritage Hills and my daughter’s 16th birth- Baptist Church to Zimbabwe, days.” Africa to work with internation- Vilissa Talcotta, a McDuffie al missionaries Barry and County teacher, is also planning Marleen Robinson. The mission a mother-daughter trip. “My is to help establish a church in mother and I are celebrating our Nyakatora, a village on the birthdays (75 and 50) this June Zambezi Valley floor 50 miles with an Alaskan cruise. We will north of Mt. Darwin. We will be working 14, at our house on Lake Sinclair.” take the helicopter ride to a glacier, land with pastor Median Chitsere to help estab- A somewhat more traditional summer on it and walk around on the glacier. We lish a new congregation of believers in this trip for many educators is helping chaper- will take a smaller boat out to get closer to region. one high school students on trips over- the whales as they rise from the sea and “We will spend the first few days in door- seas. Joseph Jarrell, world history teacher land, using their tail to splash those of us to-door evangelism, discipleship and con- at McIntosh High School in Fayette in the boat. ducting evening meetings. We will share County, has already made 10 international “Later in the month, my older brother testimonies, music and film. Sunday we trips, including five with students. This and his family will come from Ohio, and will have morning church with new believ- year, in July, he and his family will travel we all intend to go to the Okeefeenokee ers. We will then travel to Antelope Park for with several students from McIntosh High Swamp and spend a day or two there. a day of rest. After that we will go on to School to Russia. Before June is over with, I will work with Hwange National Park for a Game Drive. “My student trips have been to Russia RESA on curriculum mapping. In July I will We will spend our final day in Victoria Falls (summer 1993), Italy, Greece and the go to Connecticut to see a friend who has and then fly back to Atlanta. This will be an Aegean Islands (summer 1994), Germany agoraphobia and has been in his apart- amazing opportunity to experience shar- (summer 1995), Egypt (summer 1996), ment for over 10 years now. I usually spend ing the gospel in the ‘real’ Africa.” and China (summer 2002) and the forth- a week with him. I have plans to stop in While venturing no further than coming trip to Russia,” Jarrell says. “All my New Jersey and spend a week on the beach Milledgeville, Ga., Suzanne Walshe and student tours are in conjunction with EF with my in-laws. And by the end of July, her husband, Michael, will reach out to Educational Tours which is headquartered right before I return for pre-planning, I will people closer to home. “My husband, also in Boston. My group is always combined finish my Specialist in Leadership. I have a a teacher, and I will continue to provide with tour groups sponsored by other full summer, but I will enjoy it. When I am care for foster children in our county this teachers from around the country. I enjoy not in class or on the road, I will be work- summer.” She says. “We will enjoy spend- the student tours because it provides a ing on my plans for the fall classes and ing time with seven children, ages four to way for students to see historical sites we catching up on my reading.”

8 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 Undoubtedly, many thousands of fourth novel and begin the ambitious task Georgia teachers look forward to summers of reading every novel in my local library. so they can spend meaningful time with I’ll be working through the ‘A’ authors and friends and family. hope to make it halfway through the C’s.” PAGE President-elect Ken Russell, social Ah, yes, an ambitious goal, indeed. studies teacher at Dalton High School and If you don’t have plans yet for your sum- his family are going on a Mediterranean mer vacation, you may want to consider the Cruise in June. advice of Don Boswell of Carroll County. “My in-laws are taking all four of us, my “Jewel and I both work at Sharp Creek wife Kathy’s sister and her husband, and Elementary School. Jewel works in the Kathy’s brother on a cruise that starts and cafeteria, and I drive a school bus and sub ends in Barcelona. This is to celebrate their teach. As soon as school is out we plan to 50th wedding anniversary and my daugh- go on our honeymoon. This is a little late, ter’s 16th birthday. When I get back I hope to because we have been married for 46 be taking a class in Asian art at the years. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.” “We plan to leave Carrollton, heading Garnett Ray, principal at New Mountain north to Chicago, east to Niagara Falls, Hill Elementary in Harris County, will be then down to Hershey, Penn. Next, we will taking his entire family to Scotland this go to Philadelphia and New Jersey, south summer to visit relatives, attend a wed- to Washington, D.C., then on to ding and hopefully take in at least one Charleston and Savannah. We plan on round of the British Open at St. Andrews. being out two weeks or to the point where Marthan Morrison, a teacher at Bowdon Jewel says, ‘lets go home.’ When Jewel and Elementary School in Bowden County, I semi retired, several retired friends gave and her husband are going to Alaska in us some good advice. They said, ‘Go while June, while Jacqueline A. Scalia, interrelat- you can because some day you’ll just be ed special education teacher at Eagle’s sitting on the front porch wishing that you Landing High School in Henry County, is Joseph Jarrel’s daughter Joanna in Paris had.’” ◆ planning to spend a week on the island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, exploring the Mayan ruins, snorkeling, and perhaps a bit of diving. ‘ Renew Your Passion “This year I am traveling with my Advance Your Career boyfriend and his brother and sister-in- law,” says Scalia. “They selected Belize and Find out what so many Georgia teachers have invited us to come along. They are really already discovered. into scuba diving, and Belize is a great spot for that activity. This will be my first •You can earn your M.Ed. in just one weekend experience scuba diving, although it will a month for 22 months near your home not be my first trip to Belize. Two years or school! ago, my daughter and I took a Western •Share ideas, address real-life issues, and learn Caribbean cruise during our fall break. We with the same group of dedicated educators in stopped in Belize City at that time and Lesley’s unique, supportive format. took a shore excursion to the Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha.” Our Master of Education programs in Georgia include: While Georgia, teachers find many Integrated Teaching through the Arts unique and productive ways to spend the Technology in Education months of June and July, few are as literal- Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy ly “magic” as that chosen by Chad Crew, Burke County High School Science We also offer Education Specialist programs. Teacher. Classes are now forming in Albany, Atlanta, “I will be doing a reading magic show Augusta, Calhoun, Columbus, Kingsland, Macon, for the vacation reading programs at Learn about our accelerated Savannah, and Temple. libraries across the Southeast,” he reports. weekend study format! (888) LESLEY-U And then there is the summer vacation Founded in 1909 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University [email protected] that is the fantasy of many teachers, as is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and described by Audrey Smith, Burke County Colleges, one of the six regional accrediting associations. www.lesley.edu/georgia High School English/Language Arts teacher. “This summer I plan to do lots of reading and writing! I plan to finish writing my Explore Lesley today!

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 9 Foundation News PAGE Foundation Names 2005 PAGE STAR Student and

Teacher (Left to▼ right) 2005 State PAGE STAR Teacher Philip Heier accepts a crystal vase from the PAGE Foundation and a $2,500 award from the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation presented by its Executive Vice President Blitch Ann Bird, and 2005 State PAGE STAR Student Lucas Bermudez receives a crystal vase from the PAGE Foundation and a BellSouth scholarship of $5,000

presented by Carolyn Lovett, BellSouth senior director for

external affairs and chair of the PAGE Foundation.

The Bermudez▼ family and Philip Heier gather in the

Green Room of WAGA-TV Channel 5 in Atlanta prior The 2005▼ State PAGE STAR Student Lucas Bronson Bermudez (left), a senior at to their appearance on the “Good Day Atlanta” news Gwinnett County’s Parkview High School, and his State PAGE STAR Teacher show. Seated are (front row, left to right) Lucas, Philip Heier (right), an Advanced Placement Physics teacher at Parkview High Sonja, his mother; Shannon Rio, his sister; and School. Diego, his father, and (second row) his STAR Teacher Philip Heier.

ucas Bermudez, a senior at Gwinnett County’s Parkview this year with the naming of 466 STAR Students selected from High School, is the 2005 State PAGE STAR (Student participating public and independent schools from across the LTeacher Achievement Recognition) Student. He named state. The STAR program is coordinated and sponsored by the his Advanced Placement Physics teacher, Philip Heier, as his PAGE Foundation. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the State PAGE STAR Teacher. Joseph Song, a senior at Gwinnett Georgia Department of Education are co-sponsors. Now in its County’s Brookwood High School, was named First Runner-up 47th year, the program has honored more than 19,000 students State PAGE STAR Student and chose Dr. Dan Rawlins, his and their teachers for academic excellence. This year, 19 of the Advanced Placement Biology teacher, as his STAR Teacher. finalists scored 1600 on a single administration of the SAT The announcement came on April 20 at the 2005 State PAGE examination. STAR Banquet held at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta. Bermudez plans to attend Yale University, where he will study Twenty-eight STAR Student Region Winners were finalists in the Literature and Mechanical Engineering. As this year’s State culminating event of the STAR program, which began earlier PAGE STAR Student, he was honored with a $5,000 scholarship

10 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 Steven Orr, Region STAR Student from St. Pius X Catholic High School▼ in DeKalb County (far left) joins (left to right) Tom Wommack, president of the PAGE Foundation; Carine Davila, Region STAR Student from Lassiter High School in Cobb County; with Doug Hopkins and Bill Covington; of The Coca-Cola Company, at the reception, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company.

PAGE President Dr.

Diane▼ Ray (center) congratulates Lucas Bermudez (left), and Philip

Heier, the 2005

State Winners Hunter▼ Hopkins, Governmental Affairs representative for the from BellSouth, presented by Chair of the neering or biology. PAGE President Dr. Diane Georgia Chamber of PAGE Foundation and Senior Director for Ray presented him with a $1,000 scholarship Commerce, a co-sponsor of the External Affairs for BellSouth Carolyn Lovett. from the PAGE Foundation. STAR program, delivers greetings from the Chamber. His chosen State PAGE STAR Teacher Philip Bill Covington, key account manager for The Heier received a $2,500 cash award from the Coca-Cola Company, also presented the First Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, presented Runner-up with The Coca-Cola Scholarship of by its Executive Vice President Blitch Ann Bird. $1,000. Mozelle Christian, the first director of First Runner-up Joseph Song plans to attend the STAR program, presented the First either Duke University or Emory University in Runner-up State PAGE STAR Teacher Dr. Dan the fall, and plans to study biomedical engi- Rawlins with the Mozelle Christian Award of

Presenting the Class of 2005 STAR Students and Teachers: 39 high school STAR Students and Teachers attended the 2005 State PAGE STAR Banquet and were presented with a memento of the evening by PAGE Foundation.

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 11 Foundation News

$500. The PAGE Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company and AGL sented each of the finalists and teachers a hand-blown glass Resources sponsored the State Banquet. The Coca-Cola star. At their region events, region winners received a $500 cash Company also sponsored the evening’s reception and awarded award from the Cecil B. Day Foundation. Sponsors of this year’s each of the 28 finalists with a $100 gift. event were represented by Georgia Chamber of Commerce Following the regional winner interviews by Nwandi Lawson, Governmental Affairs Representative Hunter Hopkins and

senior correspondent for Georgia Public Broadcasting, PAGE Director of Corporate Relations for AGL Resources and a PAGE

Executive Director Dr. Allene Magill and Carolyn Lovett pre- Foundation Trustee Rene Pennington. ◆ 2005 ▼ Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student Joseph Song (second from left), accepts a $1,000 Scholarship from The Coca-Cola Company presented by Coca-Cola representative Bill Covington

(far left) and a $1,000 Scholarship from the PAGE Foundation

presented by PAGE President Dr. Diane Ray (far right). Joining them ▼ for the presentation is Mozelle Christian (second from right), first The 2005 First Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student Joseph Song director of the STAR Program. Five years ago Christian established (right), a senior at Gwinnett County’s Brookwood High School, and the $500 Mozelle Christian Award to honor the Runner-up State his STAR Teacher Dr. Dan Rawlins, who taught Song Advanced PAGE STAR Teacher. Placement biology and was a STAR Student himself. ▼ The regional winners posed for a group photo prior to the Judge’s Luncheon. Pictured here are the 28 finalists (left from bottom of stairs to top) Carine Davilla,, of Marietta; Michelle Brouner, of Atlanta; Saranya Selvaraj, of Lilburn; Elizabeth Godbey, of St. Simons Island; Sarah Richards, of Snellville; Sarang Shah, of Acworth; Johannes Liem, of Alpharetta; Tony Fan, of Marietta; and Zach Strother, of Martinez, and (center row, from bottom to top) Jenny Zhang, of Duluth; Ginger Tanton, of Lawrenceville; Ming Jyh Lin Jr., of Valdosta; Allie Chambers, of Gray; Steven Orr, of Atlanta; Brianna Veenstra, of Columbus; Nakul Shekhawat, of Evans; and Joseph Song, of Snellville, and (right row, from bottom to top) Brad Hamilton, of Gainesville; James Hildreth, of Bremen; Marsha Kocherla, of Albany; Grant Fiddyment, of Alpharetta; Mitch Costley, of Conyers; Sylvia Richardson, of Cumming; Wei Ho, of Atlanta; Thomas Harley, of Hampton; Greg Howe, of Savannah; Lucas Bermudez, of Lilburn; and Shuo Zhang, of Duluth.

12 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 2005 STAR Teachers

* Indicates Region Winner & State Finalist System Winners

Appling County Mary Ann Ellis Crisp County Susan McKinney Irwin County Linda Roberts Richmond County Caroline Miklosovic Atkinson County Tammy Wood Dade County Jessie Potts Jackson County Chris Embrick Richmond County Debra Brigham Atlanta City Gayle Brown Dalton City Mary Ann Johnston Jasper County Doug Huff Rockdale County Dr. Charles Garner Jr.* Atlanta City Robin-Lynn Clemmons Dawson County Sherry Browning Jeff Davis County Ken Parlor Rome City Wesley Styles Bacon County Gail Williams Decatur County Roy Zimmerman Jefferson City Janet Schwartz Schley County William Rooks Baldwin County Ann Bertoli DeKalb County Barbara Broadway* Jefferson County Robert Lee Holbert Screven County Krista Aaron Banks County Lesa Duncan DeKalb County Dr. Jessica K. Hunt* Jenkins County Natalie Whittle Seminole County Ellen Skewes Barrow County Matt Perry DeKalb County Kevin Mullally* Johnson County Teresa Powell Seminole County Susan Chambliss Bartow County Sara Crews Dodge County Charlotte C. Miller Jones County Sherry Sanders* Social Circle City Constance Cannon Ben Hill County Crimora Stanley Dooly County Michelle S. Ingram Lamar County Carson Selph Spalding County Lesa Davis Berrien County Tara M. Jones Dougherty County Jaime Claymore* Lanier County Benjamin Culpepper Stephens County Donna Collins Bibb County Travis H. Dotterer Douglas County John R. Siegel Laurens County Donna Pollock Stephens County Jennie Clifton Bleckley County Andrea Williams Dublin City Susan Thornton Lee County Robby Davis Stephens County Robert Magee Brantley County Angela B. Haney Early County Tammy Taylor Kilgore Liberty County Amanda A. Durden Sumter County Matthew Cullifer Bremen City Scott Hodges* Effingham County Kristen Richards Lincoln County Kathryn P. Thomas Tattnall County Miranda Moseley Brooks County Marrion Flowers Elbert County Ronnie Kidd Long County Mike McCall Taylor County June Knight Bryan County Patrick J. Paruso Emanuel County Melanie Frye Lowndes County Margaret Y. McCranie Telfair County Jennifer A. Jones Buford City Tim Harris Evans County Teresa Perkins Lumpkin County Juanita Tipton Terrell County Don Daniel Bulloch County Lynda Webb Fannin County Sandra Burlingame Macon County Robert Belflower Thomas County Ann Larson Burke County Karen Reeves Fayette County Emily Willis Madison County Latana Coile Thomaston-Upson County Nancy Allen Butts County Marsha Williams Floyd County Ashleigh Nicole Huggins Marietta City Winona Robuck Thomasville City Lynn Stowers Calhoun City Greg Green Forsyth County Mary Moffit* Marion County Olin L. Hollomon Tift County Sandra Hunt Camden County Susan E. McMurray Franklin County John H. Beasley McDuffie County Christy Brown Toombs County Robert W. George Candler County DeWayne Collins Fulton County Carol Koenig* McIntosh County Sandra Williamson Towns County Daren King Carroll County Bobbie Emmons Fulton County Ross Friedman* Meriwether County Noel Jordan Treutlen County Janice H. Walden Carrollton City Jan Watts Gainesville City Michael McCann Miller County Leigh Ann Walton Trion City Allen Hayes Cartersville City Jeri-Lyn Flowers Gilmer County Dan Worley Mitchell County Betsy H. Caldwell Troup County Natalie Givins Catoosa County Linda H. West Glascock County Dale Garner Monroe County Susan Meacham Turner County Vicki Sherling Charlton County Shirley Crews Glynn County Williard Owen Pool* Montgomery County Anne L. Smith Twiggs County Yvonne Butler Chatham County Kevin Gavin* Gordon County Alan Hughes Morgan County Pam Turner Union County Laureen Karen Batchelor Chattooga County Steven J. Hayes Grady County Kaye G. Helms Murray County Charles Longmire Valdosta City Charlotte Duplantis* Cherokee County Kit Miller Greene County James M. Eaton Muscogee County Claire Derr* Vidalia City Cheryl Williams Chickamauga City Ed Clendenen Gwinnett County Becky Duvall* Newton County Eric Adams Walker County Justin Keith City of Decatur Jeanne Duncan Lee Gwinnett County Dr. Dan R. Rawlins* Oconee County Dr. Betty Jo Wallace Walton County Caroline Roberts Clarke County Elaine Pappas* Gwinnett County Joe S. O’Neal* Oconee County Randy Reid Ware County Ricky Harwood Clayton County Robert Alan Putnam Gwinnett County Philip Heier* Oglethorpe County David Roper Warren County Jeanie Joesbury Clinch County Mary Ruth Harper Gwinnett County Susan Henderson* Paulding County Veronica Cook Washington County Eloise Adams Cobb County Dr. Cheryl Crooks* Gwinnett County Terry Nicholson* Peach County Mary Jean Banter Wayne County Betty Benner Cobb County Dr. Tengiz Shonia* Habersham County Martha K. Cantrell Pelham City Michael Boyd Wheeler County Renae Evans Cobb County Dr. Wylie Brown* Hall County Margaret Ensley* Pickens County Suzette Hermann White County Sara Kennedy Coffee County Dana Davenport Hancock County Adrienne Harris Pierce County Anna Lewis Whitfield County Michelle Bailey Colquitt County Kathy D. Wright Hancock County Doris Garland Pike County Elaine F. Mangham Wilcox County Carla G. Brooks Columbia County Charles P. Heywood* Haralson County Paul Ramsey Pike County Harold Yancey Wilkes County Debbie Mcleod Columbia County John Cato* Harris County Elizabeth Brooks Polk County Carol Fugelsoe Wilkinson County Eleanor Angles Commerce City Steve Savage Hart County Eric Berryman Pulaski County Dawne Bryan Worth County Donna C. Daughtry Cook County Debra Ragland Heard County Paul Mixon Putnam County Jose DeLoach Coweta County Robert Patrick Henry County Dr. Salvatore Angelica* Rabun County Marion “Hap” Truslow Crawford County Michael Yaughn Houston County Jennifer Bowers Randolph County Victoria Beard

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 13 Foundation News Gwinnett County’s Berkmar High School is PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon State Champion

Academic Decathlon Founding State Director Howard Stroud (back row, far left) joins PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon State Champions Berkmar High School following the awards presentation. Team members include (back row, left to right) Brandon Ball, Matthew Caldwell, Greggory Rothmeier, Stewart Barnes and Coach IV Bray, and (front row, left to right) Matthew Treager, Michael Brown, Chris Knight, Jami Mathewson and Katie Harazin.

or the third consecutive year Gwinnett County’s Berkmar Jenkins High School, coached by William Avila, and Second High School, coached by IV Bray, is the overall PAGE Runner-up Muscogee County’s Hardaway High School, coached FGeorgia Academic Decathlon (GAD) State Champion and by Carmen Kimsey. In Division II (small school), Bibb County’s the Division I (large school) winner. Muscogee County’s Central High School, coached by Ira Joseph, was named First Columbus High School, coached by Lina Yates, is the Division II Runner-up and Walton County’s Monroe Area High School, (small school) champion. The announcement came Saturday evening, Feb. 26, 2005, at the PAGE GAD Awards Banquet, the Columbus High School’s Decathlon team is the 2005 PAGE culminating event of the two-day academic competition. Georgia Academic Decathlon Division II Champion and Second Berkmar High School’s team scored the highest points overall in Runner-up in the Apple Computer Super Quiz Oral Relay. Team members include (left to right), Coach Lina Yates, Matt Lord, Division I and II, and was awarded the Howard Stroud Brianna Veenstra , Julian Hernandez, Tiffanee Huling , Emily Championship trophy. The team represented Georgia at the Burden , Cathryn McCrimmon, Joyce Gallatin, Savannah United States Academic Decathlon National Donahue, Cameron Tommey and Assistant Coach Jan Carter. Finals held in Chicago, Il., in April. The PAGE Foundation, The UPS Foundation, Apple Computer, Inc., the Georgia Power Foundation, the Georgia Department of Education and The Coca-Cola Company sponsor the Decathlon. The competition takes place at Berkmar High School and is hosted by the Gwinnett County Public School System. Other winners include, in Division I (large school), First Runner-up Chatham County’s

Chatham County’s Jenkins High School is Division I First Runner- up. Team members include (front row, left to right) GAD Coach Jan Avila, Cordae Latson, Julia Degon, Julia Yu and Annie Bockius-Suywn, and (back row, left to right) Chris Sams, Chris Champagne, Billy Bishop and GAD Coach Bud Avila (not pictured, teammate Luci Mesco).

14 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 Hardaway High School’s Decathlon team is the 2005 PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon Division I Second Runner-up and First Runner-up in the Apple Computer Super Quiz Oral Relay. Team members include (left to right) Justin di Feliciantonio, Jamie Williams, Kayla Horofker, Josh Rizzo, Preethi Chidambaram, Tonya Gilmartin, Rachel Cabarrus, Archana Chidambaram, Luyando Handia, and Coach Carmen Kimsey.

Bibb County’s Central High School is the Division II First Runner-up. Team members include: (front row, left to right) Lisa Bui, Julie Bui, Taylor Willingham, Bo Brown and coach Ira Joseph, and (back row, left to right) Sameer Gupta, Coty Jones, Jeremy Jones and Andrew Conn. coached by Mindy Dess and Brad Williford, was named as Second Runner-up. More than 240 high school students from 27 high schools, representing 23 school districts, competed in the academic event. During the competition, students were tested in seven content areas: economics, art, language and literature, mathematics, social science, music and written Super Quiz. In addition, students Walton County’s Monroe Area High School is the Division II Second Runner-up. Team earned points individually in members include: (front row, left to right) Mondrekio Robertson, Matthew Chapman, Kacie three communication events: Milligan, Tara Queen and Alice Richardson and (back row, left to right) Coach Brad Williford, public speaking, a personal inter- Joel Cofield, Stephen Noble, Kyle Queen, Kevin Spears, Billy Diehl and Coach Mindy Dess. view and a written essay. The program is unique because each nine-member team is made up of Banquet held Saturday evening at the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett three “A” students, three “B” students and three “C” students. Place, during which the highest-scoring students were awarded Each year the program features a different overall curriculum both team and individual medals in the various competition cat- topic. This year’s topic was “Exploring the Ancient World.” egories and the state champion was announced. In addition, a On Saturday afternoon, students participated in the exciting special award was presented to The UPS Foundation Program Super Quiz Oral Relay, sponsored by Apple Computer, Inc. During Manager Scott Fasnacht acknowledging the years of support, the relay, team members competed in a quiz bowl format, keying through financial donation and volunteer involvement, given by in answers to questions regarding this year’s topic, “Astronomy— The UPS Foundation to the PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon From Empty Space to Incredible Universe: The Sky is Not the program. Berkmar High School’s Coach IV Bray was also cited Limit.” Gwinnett County’s Berkmar High School, coached by IV with a special presentation as a dedicated and inspirational Bray, was named this year’s Apple Computer Super Quiz Oral Relay Decathlon coach. David Chandley, meteorologist for Atlanta’s Champion; Muscogee County’s Hardaway High School, coached Channel 2, WSB-TV, served as master of ceremonies for the by Carmen Kimsey, was First Runner-Up; and Muscogee County’s awards banquet. Columbus High, coach by Lina Yates, was Second Runner-Up. The decathlon culminated with the PAGE GAD Awards Continued on page 16

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 15 Foundation News

THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL PAGE GEORGIA ACADEMIC DECATHLON IN PICTURES

The 2005 Speech Competition gold medal recipients present their award- winning speeches during the GAD Awards Banquet. This year’s winners include (left to right): Caitlin Dorne, Cook High School, Honors Division; Alice Richardson, Monroe Area High, Scholastic Division; and Dondy Aponte, Cook High School, Varsity Division.

PAGE GAD State Coordinator Dr. Ruth Cowan (left) joins Scott Fasnacht, The UPS Foundation program director, following the presentation of a special award to The UPS Foundation acknowledging the years of financial support and volunteer involvement given to the PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon program by UPS and its employees.

Muscogee County’s Columbia High School student Brianna Veenstra (right) earned special honors as the highest individual scorer in the Honors Division of the Decathlon. Tim Chason, PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon advisory board member, presents her with her award. In recognition of his dedicated and inspirational leadership as a Decathlon coach, Berkmar High School GAD Coach IV Bray (right) receives a special award from PAGE GAD State Coordinator Dr. Ruth Cowan.

16 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 Former Governor Joe Frank Harris is Keynote at FEA in GA Day on Capitol Hill

n March 15, 2005, Future Educators of America in Winners of the chapter display competition are: Hardaway Georgia (FEA in GA) chapter members converged for High School, first place; and Lowndes County High School Otheir annual Day on Capitol Hill. More than 300 FEA second place. members representing 23 Georgia high schools gathered at the Continued on page 18 Georgia Railroad Depot in Atlanta, where they had the opportunity to meet with their legislators, visit the Capitol and attend a workshop presented by Deputy Superintendent for Information Technology Dr. Mike Hall. His session focused on how technology is changing Georgia’s classrooms, and he spoke with the future educators about how their careers will differ from those of today’s teachers. The day’s event culminated in a luncheon with legislators and many of Georgia’s educational leaders. Kennan Ducey, a high school senior and FEA member from Harris County High School, served as emcee for the event. Barbie Rainwater, an FEA member from Lee County High School, delivered the inspira- tion and invocation, and Nicobia Johnson, a member of The Lee County High School FEA in GA Chapter captured first place Norcross High School’s FEA chapter, led the Pledge of honors in this year’s Scrapbook Competition. Chapter members Allegiance. Athena Alexander, an FEA member from White include: (front row, left to right) Tori Oxford, Corinne Ellis, Katie County High School, shared her reflections on the 2004 FEA Woodward, Barbie Rainwater, FEA Advisor Kim Hopkins and Summer Institute and encouraged FEA members and advisors Amanda McNeal, and (back row, left to right) Samantha Shelton, to attend this year’s FEA Summer Training (FEAST) to be held Randi Dean, Ashley Chatman, Anna Gamache and Sara Wells. June 6-8, 2005, at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. Following an introduction by Arn st. Cyr, a member from Booker T. Washington High School’s FEA chapter, former Governor Joe Frank Harris delivered the keynote address. Governor Harris inspired the future teachers with his thoughts regarding the impact teachers have on students’ lives. While the students enjoyed the various activities of Day on the Hill, a panel of judges reviewed entries in the annual scrapbook competition as well as the new chapter display competition. The scrapbook competition winners are: Lee County High School, first place; Hardaway High School (Muscogee County), second place; and South Gwinnett High School, third place. Muscogee County’s Hardaway High School FEA in GA Chapter won second place honors in the Scrapbook Competition and first place honors in the Chapter Display Competition. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Sonjanique Bennett, Philandria Williams, Anna Rolling and Meredith Welch, and (back row, left to right) Andrea Goldring, Dennis Chauvey, Ashley Sias, Tonya Woodard, Brian Jones, Amy Mikulecky, Sung Kwon, Craig Parker and FEA Advisor Wendy Harding.

Third place honors in the Scrapbook Contest were awarded to South Gwinnett High School’s FEA in GA Chapter. Chapter members include: (front row seated, left to right) Ayanna Courtney, Belinda Dennis, Courtnay Bell and Skye Mendelson, and (second row, left to right) Nicole Osborne, Simone Jameson, Kristen Williams, Chadeesia Dunkley, Shonitria Anthony and Jasiyah Lowndes County High School’s Chapter Display “rocketed” them to Khalil, and (back row, left to right) Nina Ely, Stephanie Childs, second place honors. Chapter members include: (left to right) FEA Libby Redditt, Molly Redditt, Brett Richards, Ashley Ahmed, Grace Advisor Anglia Webb-Crosby, Katie Faulkenhausen, Kendra Johnson, Dupe Adebayo and FEA Advisor Stacy McLean. McKenzie, Keeli Cason, Lauren Coats, Lee Green and James Howel.

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 17 Foundation News

The next statewide FEA in GA event will be the 2005 FEAST (FEA Summer Training) to be held June 6-8, 2005, at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. Chapters will spend three days with educational and community leaders such as Dr. Betsy Harris County High School FEA in Georgia Chapter Rogers, 2003 National (left to right) PAGE Foundation President Tom members (left to right) Cecily Swecker, Megan Wommack and PAGE Executive Director Dr. Allene Henderson, History teacher and chaperone Teacher of the Year; Randy Magill welcome Governor Joe Frank Harris as Rwanda Gates, Serena Mills and Kim Logue Scott, 2003 Florida Teacher Keynote Speaker for the FEA in GA Day on Capitol participated in FEA Day on Capitol Hill activities. of the Year; Chase Puckett, Hill Luncheon. 2005 Georgia Teacher of the Year (invited); Dr. Dorothy Leland, President of Georgia College & State University and Ben Boswell, senior vice president of Wachovia. Information about FEAST is available at www.pagefoundation.org in the FEA in GA section. A partnership of the PAGE Foundation and Phi Delta Kappa International, FEA in GA is the state’s program for Georgia middle and high students who plan to become educators. Information about FEA in GA can be found at www.pagefoundation.org. For information about starting an FEA in GA chapter in Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mike middle or high school, contact the PAGE Hall talked about how Foundation’s Manager of Student Groups, Mary Ruth technology is changing Georgia’s Ray, at [email protected] or toll-free, (888) classrooms during his workshop 413-1078. ◆ presentation. During his remarks, former Governor Joe Frank Harris spoke about the important role teachers play in the lives of their students.

grand and public way,” said Foundation 20th Anniversary President Tom Wommack. “With support from the corporate community we hope Celebration to be to make this event a very special affair that pays tribute to the teachers, business “PAGE Turning” leaders, foundation executives and elect- ed officials who have made it possible for Event the PAGE Foundation to exist and be of service to students and teachers. We are very excited to have Phil Jacobs chair the The PAGE Foundation will celebrate its 20th Host Committee, because he is enor- anniversary on Sept. 19, 2005, at a gala banquet to be mously respected in the business com- held at the Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom in down- munity, which we hope will support this town Atlanta. BellSouth-Georgia President Phil event.” Wommack added that a primary Jacobs will chair the Host Committee for the signa- purpose of the anniversary celebration is ture event, which is designed to recognize the people BellSouth-Georgia President to raise money for the Foundation and and the programs that have contributed to the Phil Jacobs professional learning programs such as Foundation’s success. Singled out for special recogni- the PAGE Teacher Academy. tion during the banquet will be Georgia-Pacific Betsy Palmer, PAGE Foundation trustee and AT&T’s regional Foundation President and former PAGE Foundation Chair Curley vice president for public affairs, is chairing the committee plan- M. Dossman, Jr. ning the gala. Details regarding the purchase of tickets will be “The banquet on Sept. 19 is the first time the PAGE made available through the PAGE Foundation website, which is Foundation has been introduced to the community in such a www.pagefoundation.org. ◆

18 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 Professional Insights | DR. EDIE BELDEN Professional Learning Communities: Nurturing Teacher Leadership and

Improving Student Achievement DR. EDIE BELDEN

ith accountability and annual yearly progress weighing heavily on the W shoulders of administrators and teachers, is it time to for schools and school systems to give serious consideration to professional learning communities?

WHAT A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY IS AND IS NOT The concept and term of professional learning community has been mitigated, perhaps even compromised, to mean any number of things, such as extending classroom practices into the community, bringing community personnel into the school to connect the curriculum to real-life experiences and implementing parent-faculty advisory councils. While all of these are worthy efforts, they do not constitute professional learning communities. In its purest form, a professional learning community is a group of adults in a school who bond together for the purpose of pursuing a clear and shared vision for student learning, engage in individual and collective collabora- 4. Shared leadership where the professional tive activities to achieve their purpose and take staff plays a strong role and where paraprofes- collective responsibility for student learning. sionals and families help lead the learning com- Learning The purpose is simple: to improve the learning munity. communities are and achievement of every student. (Learning Communities: A New Definition of Learning communities are built around the Professional Development, built around the needs of students. Faculty, staff and parents Massachusetts ASCD FOCUS, Winter 2004. needs of students. work to create a learning climate that focuses on www.mascd.org/docs/focwin04.htm. Faculty, staff and reflective practice, collegiality, professional Another group has identified 10 qualities nec- development and shared accountability. essary for building a professional learning com- parents work to munity. create a learning CREATING A CLIMATE AND CULTURE FOR 1. Safety and Trust: Participants reveal their BUILDING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES concerns, problems, and weaknesses in an climate that Professional learning communities emerge atmosphere of safety and trust. focuses on when there is a nurturing and nourishing envi- 2. Openness: Participants share their thoughts reflective practice, ronment. To build a climate that fosters learn- and feelings without retribution. ing, certain conditions must be present. 3. Respect: Members feel they are valued and collegiality, Cambridgeport School (K-8) in Cambridge, respected. professional Massachusetts found these conditions to be 4. Responsiveness: Members respond respect- essential to the development and sustainability fully to each other and the facilitator responds development and of their professional learning community: quickly to participants. shared 1. Purposeful, thoughtful, school-wide values 5. Collaboration: Collaborative activities, pro- accountability. developed by the professional community with grams, projects and discussions are the building input from families and students; blocks of success. 2. Respect for the work that teachers do; 6. Relevance: Relating subject matter and 3. Time to work and reflect together; and teaching practices enhances learning outcomes.

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 19 RESOURCES DuFour, Richard. Building a Professional Learning Community: Learning Communities: A New Definition of Professional For System Leaders, It Means Allowing Autonomy Within Development. Massachusetts ASCD FOCUS, Winter, 2004. Defined Parameters, The School Administrator, May 2003. www.mascd.org/docs/focwin04.htm www.findarticles.com. In the Advanced Search/Free Articles Learning Communities. National Staff Development Council. Only, type in Richard DuFour, School Administrator, click on Contains an excellent annotated bibliography. search. www.nsdc.org/standards/learningcommunities.cfm DuFour, Richard. What is a Professional Learning Community? Professional Development Strategies that Improve Instruction: Educational Leadership, 61(8), May 2004, 6-11. Professional Learning Communities. www.annenberg Faculty Learning Communities: Ten Necessary Qualities for institute.org/publications/plc.html Building Community. Click on PDF at the bottom of displayed document. www.units.muohio.edu/flc/qualities.shtml Professional Learning Communities Hold Promise for Schools, Hord. S. M. Professional Learning Communities: Communities November 2004. Web Edition. of Continuous Inquiry and Improvement. Southwestern www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/education Educational Development Laboratory, 1997. upclose.phtml/50 www.sedl.org/pubs/change34/plc-cha34.pdf Queensland School Reform Longitudinal Study. The State of Jolly, Ann. A Facilitator’s Guide to Professional Learning Teams. Queensland, Department of Education, 2004. Southeastern Region Vision for Education (SERVE), 2005. 192 www.education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/ pages. curriculum-framework/qsrls www.serve.org/Products/ProdPub.php Scroll down to pub- Richardson, Joan. Team Learning: Teachers Who Learn lication. Together Improve Together. National Staff Development LaFee, Scott. Professional Learning Communities, The School Council, March, 2001. Administrator. May 2003. Web Edition. www.nsdc.org/library/publications/results/ www.aasa.org/publications/sa/2003_05/LaFee.htm res3-01rich.cfm

7. Challenge: Expectations for personal and learner outcomes are high and create a sense of progress, accomplishment and scholarship. 8. Enjoyment: Activities include opportunities to celebrate, lighten-up, or bond. 9. Esprit de Corps Sharing: Grade-level, team, school and system outcomes builds pride, loyalty and understanding. 10. Empowerment: Participants gain a new sense of worth—effectiveness, confi- dence and competence. (Faculty Learning Communities: Ten Necessary Qualities for Building Community. www.units.muohio.edu/flc/ qualities.shtml ).

CHANGING ROLES Many authors reference role changes that must take place in the school for professional learning communities to thrive.

TEACHERS: Teachers must not only see themselves as leaders, but they must also act as leaders. Not only must they be able to identify their problems, they must also be willing to share it with the group. They must share their successes too. They must make a conscious effort to shift away from their isolationism to visit other classrooms, evaluate and support their colleagues.

20 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 They must know what they are teaching, the important role they play each day in critical questions: why they are teaching it, and how each students’ lives. Hungry children cannot • What do we want students to learn? student for whom they are responsible is learn. Proper nutrition is essential to the • How will we know when each student progressing. They must feel they are physical and mental growth of the stu- has learned it? responsible for the total development and dents. The preparation of the schoolhouse • How will we respond when a student success of their students. by the custodians is one of the most visible experiences difficulty in learning? For teachers to be successful in this role, signs that students and learning are It is the answer to the third question agreeing on a vision of authentic and important; and the school secretary and that separates learning communities from intellectually challenging work and expec- nurse have more firsthand information traditional schools. It is the answer to the tations for students is essential. Reflecting about students and their well-being than third question that constitutes the core on their practice, knowledge and beliefs most other individuals in school. This mission of professional learning commu- about learning and teaching must be con- information is often not sought as teach- nities, defines their way of work and tinuous. Responsibility for students’ ers struggle to better understand a child builds the professional bonds of under- learning, both individually and collective- and his/her circumstances. standing, respect and appreciation. In a ly, is mandatory. Interdependent teaching professional learning community, the roles facilitate mutual responsibility and THREE CRITICAL QUESTIONS response to the third question is: What respect. With the passage of No Child Left intervention is needed to help this student Professional learning communities are Behind, the mantra of educators has learn this concept or skill? In a traditional not complete without counselors and become “no child will be left behind,” “all school, the answer would be to send the media specialists. Their perspectives pro- children will learn” or “all children will student to a remediation session or place- vide new dimensions and insights. As pro- achieve.” These words or similar phrases ment in a basic skills class, perhaps with fessionals, they too must share the vision have been written into every mission different teachers, rather than the same and be held accountable for student statement or set of goals in school systems group of teachers assuming the responsi- achievement. nationwide. bility for developing a new strategy to help According to Richard DuFour, when the student learn the concept or skill. (R. PRINCIPALS: educators embody the words in their DuFour. What is a Professional Learning The role of the principal must change everyday teaching practices and no longer Community?, Educational Leadership, too. Administrators must be learners. The focus on political ramifications, the teach- 61(8), May 2004, 6-11). traditional pattern that teachers teach, ing of students begins to center on three Continued on page 22 students learn and administrators manage is completely altered. No longer is there a hierarchy of who knows more than someone else, but rather the need for everyone to contribute. In a professional learning community, a principal must be willing to share authority, facilitate the work of the staff and participate without dominating. It also is important for principals to believe that teachers are capable of making decisions just as it is important for superintendents to believe that principals can be effective and accountable in this new role. Because communities, superintendents Advanceyour leadership beyond the classroom. and teachers have traditionally viewed the principal as the “head of the school,” it is difficult to create a rapid paradigm shift. Earn an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Even though the principal may be willing at Mercer University. and desirous of a different role, other stakeholders may be reticent to let • New Cohorts begin this fall For more information, call him/her assume a different role or may (678) 547-6100 • Designed for in-service teachers wanting or visit online at even view the principal as being incompe- www.mercer.edu/education tent once the new role has been assumed. to move into administrative roles .

OTHER ROLES: • Offered in Macon, Atlanta and McDonough The school building houses many other • “Add-on”certification available for educators and staff members who also TIFT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION need to be brought into the learning com- candidates currently holding an M.Ed. Atlanta • Macon • McDonough munity. The cafeteria staff should know

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 21 TOOLS USEFUL IN ADVANCING THE 1. What do we want AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY ON WORK OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING students to learn? PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES The Annenberg Institute for School 2. How will we know The Department of Education, State of Reform has, in their work with various when each student has Queensland, Australia completed and school systems across the nation, created, learned it? published in 2004 a three year study on adapted and identified tools that are use- Professional Learning Communities. The ful in starting and maintaining the devel- 3. How will we study concluded that most teachers opment of professional learning commu- respond when a reported low levels of organizational sup- nities. port for their efforts. The teachers also • Rubrics describing key indicators are student experiences experienced varying degrees of teacher needed to identify, assess and analyze difficulty in learning? empowerment; however, there was greater progress. It is the answer to use of more productive classroom prac- • Frameworks are needed for content tices. The use of best practices correlated and group process. the third question that highly with the teachers’ acceptance of • Central office review should be conduct- separates learning their collective responsibility for student ed to assess the capacity of the central office learning; the overall level of professional to support schools in student achievement. communities from learning within a school; and the intensity • Research frameworks of broadly traditional schools. of leadership focused on teaching. These accepted ideas on student learning, teacher findings are consistent with the body of collaboration, pedagogical practices and fied to give participants access to the lat- research conducted in the United States organizational change are needed to pro- est research and practices nationwide. on professional learning communities. vide a sound base for initiating change. (Professional Development Strategies (Queensland School Reform Longitudinal • Video packages on topics such as peer that Improve Instruction: Professional Study, the State of Queensland, observation, reviewing student work, and Learning Communities. www.annenberg Department of Education, 2004. leadership development should be pur- institute.org/publications/plc.html). www.education.qld.gov.au/public_media chased or developed. Click on PDF at the bottom of displayed /reports/curriculum-framework/ Web-based resources should be identi- document. qsrls).

HOW-TO PUBLICATIONS There are two documents that are especially helpful in starting up professional learning communities and in monitoring their development and progress. Each document is in a PDF format and can be downloaded in it is entirety. Both documents are lengthy and have graphics. A printed document may also be ordered. Professional Learning Communities: Communities of Continuous Inquiry and Improvement (1997) is available from Southwestern Educational Development Laboratory and provides a succinct overview of the research on the topic. It is 72 pages in length. It is available at www.sedl.org/pubs/change34/plc-cha 34.pdf A very recent publication by Southeastern Region Vision for Education (SERVE), A Facilitator’s Guide to Professional Learning Teams (2005) is an excellent source for those responsible for developing professional learning communities. It is available at www.serve.org /Products/ProdPub.php. Scroll down and click on document. It is 192 pages in length. ◆

22 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 Legal | BY MARGARET PRICE, LEGISLATIVE SERVICES MANAGER & STAFF ATTORNEY

Report from the Capitol – Legislative Wrap-up for 2005 MARGARET PRICE

he Georgia General Assembly recessed Coaches. In order to receive the pay incentive, one day early this year, wrapping up a coaches must serve schools who have received Twhirlwind session that included the pas- an unacceptable rating for two or more consecu- sage of several important pieces of education tive years. The governor will appoint a Master and retirement legislation. Teacher and Academic Coach Implementation Committee to advise the PSC and the State Board GOVERNOR PERDUE’S of Education on the development and imple- EDUCATION PACKAGE mentation of the two programs. • Senate Bill 33, Virtual School Bill: Enables National Board Certification: SB 34 also students to enroll in state-funded online courses. aligns the policies regarding National Board All students in Georgia who are age 21 or younger Certification with the are eligible, though public school students will be Academic Coach Program. given enrollment priority for the 2,667 spots. Grandfathered into the old Students may take up to six courses a year, free of law are teachers who receive charge. In order to fund the Virtual High School, initial certification before July the State Department of Education will establish 1, 2006, or who are enrolled in a grant account with funds appropriated by the the process of attaining their Georgia General Assembly. The amount of funds National Certification (as requested by the State Board of Education for the determined by the PSC) on or grant account will be the amount that virtual stu- before March 1, 2005. These dents would have earned had they been enrolled teachers may receive the 10 in equivalent classes in local systems. All teach- percent pay incentive, regard- ers providing instruction for the Virtual School less of what schools they are will be certified by the Professional Standards in, even after subsequent Commission (PSC). renewals of certification. • Senate Bill 34, Master Teacher Bill: However, teachers who did Master Teacher Program: The PSC is charged not enroll in the process by with establishing criteria for the program which, March 1, 2005, must teach at a at a minimum, will include evidence of student high needs school in order to achievement and progress. Eligible public school earn the 10 percent pay teachers must have three or more years of expe- incentive. High needs schools rience and must submit an application to the are those which receive unac- PSC for Master Certification. If the PSC bestows ceptable ratings for a period this honorary certification, Master Certification of two of more consecutive will last for no more than seven years. years. Academic Coach Program: SB 34 also author- Professional Liability izes creation of the Academic Coach Program, to Insurance: The legislation be established by the State Board of Education. authorizes the Department of The program will provide financial reward for Administrative Services to provide professional public school teachers who exhibit excellence in liability insurance to certified personnel who are the classroom and mentor other public school employed by a local system and to student teach- teachers. Academic Coaches must first achieve ers enrolled in Georgia’s public and private col- Master Certification before becoming Academic leges or universities. The state is now in the

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 23 process of seeking bids for a liability policy. be comprised of all the schools in a high A state liability policy would provide the school cluster which means a high school same coverage most school districts already and all of the middle and elementary provide. It would not provide protection for schools which contain students who educators in criminal, certification or matriculate to such high schools. The bill employment-related matters. also gives charter schools a blanket • Senate Bill 35, Funding Flexibility & exemption from Title 20 and any state or Class-Size Bill: local rule or regulation. In exchange for Program Weights: The state authorized such a waiver, the charter school agrees to slight changes in education program meet or exceed the performance based weights in several areas. goals included in the charter. This bill also Fiscal Transparency: The legislation sets forth enrollment preferences, makes mandates that the State Board of Education changes to amendment and renewal pro- develop rules no later than Oct. 1, 2005, visions, and makes changes to the funding requiring local boards to provide informa- provisions for charter schools. tion on school site budget and expenditure information and site average class size by FY 2006 EDUCATION grade to members of the school council BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS and the general public. (Amounts in parenthesis notate reductions Spending Flexibility: SB 35 extends the from the FY 2005 budget, while other amounts flexibility on expenditure controls that was represent additions to FY 2005 budget) initially implemented in the 2003-04 school Academic Coach Program year for one more year. Systems shall spend • Creation of Science Teacher Mentor 100 percent of funds designated for direct Program $2,000,000 instructional costs on direct instructional State Liability Policy costs at the system level. One hundred per- • Liability insurance for educators cent of funds designated for EIP shall be $1,300,000 spent on EIP at the system level. One hun- Georgia Virtual School dred percent of funds designated for media • Provide Funding for the GA Virtual center costs shall be spent for such costs at School Initiative $1,385,000 the system level. Ninety percent of funds National Board Certification designated for professional development • Increase funding for National Board shall be spent on professional develop- Certification to provide 10 percent ment at the system level. bonuses for teachers earning new certifi- Class Size Reduction Delay: SB 35 cation $635,000 allows the state to delay mandatory class- Salary Increase size reduction in grades 4-12 for two more • Provide for a two percent increase for bus years. PAGE advocated strongly against the drivers and lunchroom workers, effective two-year delay, noting the improvement in 7/1/05 $2,314,506 state revenues and the need for a delay of • Provide a two percent increase in state only one more year. salary scale for teachers, effective System Averaging & Class-Size 9/1/05 $103,545,317 Expansion: SB 35 allows the State Board of Health Insurance Education to provide for a system average • Adjust QBE to reflect an adjustment in maximum class size that shall not exceed the employer share of the State Health the funding class size by more than 20 per- Benefit Plan $21,576,229 cent for math, science, social studies or lan- Public School Employees Retirement guage arts. For each instructional program, System the maximum number of students may not • Increase funding for benefits from $13 to exceed the system average maximum class $13.50 per month, per year of service size by more than two students. $2,801,300 Charter Schools: SB 35 places all of the Three O’Clock Project responsibility for promulgating rules and • Eliminate deferred funds for the Three regulations that govern the contents of a O’Clock Project contract ($100,000) charter petition in the hands of the State Global Achievers Project Board of Education rather than designat- • Eliminate the Global Achievers ing the requirements in law. The bill also International contract ($139,750) provides that a group of two or more local Southern Center for International schools may petition as a single charter Studies petitioner. A group charter petition may • Eliminate the Southern Center for

24 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 International Studies contract and trans- public disclosure (home addresses, home study committee on Agricultural fer fund to the Career/Tech program telephone numbers, social security numbers Education. ($960,232) or medical information) of teachers, and SR 453 provides for the creation of a Charter School Planning Grants employees of public schools to include Senate Study Committee on the • Reduce funding for charter school plan- “public employees.” Elementary School Foreign Language ning grants ($4,491) HB 553 prevents colleges and universi- Program. K-12 Internet Access ties from requiring students to join a pro- School Boards • Reduce funding for K-12 Internet Access fessional organization as a condition of SB 98 authorizes school systems to offer ($109,330) enrollment in a degree program. a more extensive menu of insurance bene- Migrant Education HB 678 allows private schools to con- fits to school board members. • Reduce funding for Migrant Education duct prayer before athletic events held on Pre-K ($8,026) the campus of the private school when SR 21 creates the Joint Early Learning Pay for Performance such school is hosting an event with a pub- Initiative Commission to study quality • Eliminate funding for Pay for lic school. early care and learning opportunities for all Performance to reflect final year of pro- SB 272, called the Ryan Boslet Bill, directs children, especially at-risk children from gram phase out in FY ’05 ($2,667,165) the State Board of Education to develop a birth to age five. State Reading & Math single, comprehensive form for use in phys- Antiquated Education Laws Repealed • Reduce non-designated funds for the ical examinations before students partici- HB 26 repeals the Governor’s authority Reading & Math Program to reflect pate in interscholastic extracurricular activ- to suspend compulsory attendance laws. receipt of over $200,000,000 in federal ities. The form will be used at the elemen- HB 27 repeals provisions relating to ele- funds over next six years ($3,326,913) tary and secondary levels. mentary and secondary education grants. HB 217 requires that athletic trainers in HB 372 repeals a law allowing the OTHER SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION elementary and secondary public and pri- Georgia Education Authority to lease to pri- Tax Breaks vate schools be licensed. An exception is vate schools. HB 5 provides for a sales tax holiday for provided for educators and volunteers who HB 373 repeals a provision relating to the certain school supplies, footwear, comput- do not hold themselves out to be athletic eligibility of public school teachers and ers, and computer-related accessories. The trainers and for student and assistant train- employees who are covered by a local holiday will last from July 28, 2005, to July ers. retirement fund who accept employment 31, 2005. HR 50 provides for the creation of a joint with nonsectarian schools. ◆ HB 263 allows teachers to deduct up to $250 on their Georgia income taxes for the purchase of certain classroom supplies, equipment and material. Governor Perdue ONLINE ADVANCED signed this legislation into law before the DEGREES AND end of the 2005 session to enable teachers COURSES FOR to being taking the deduction immediately. TEACHERS Retirement HB 495 expands the applicability of last session’s Return to Work law. RESA employ- • Master of Science ees and improvement specialists are added in Education–M.S.Ed. to the list of retired educators who may • Doctor of Education– return to work if they retired under TRS Ed.D. before Dec. 31, 2003. • Ph.D. in Education HB 460 makes many innocuous changes in the laws of Georgia’s public retirement • Graduate Courses systems to ensure that such systems are aligned with the Internal Revenue Code. You need ways to help more students HB 319 allows Georgia’s large retirement As your succeed. Our online programs are systems to invest in Exchange Traded Funds developed specifically to help you (ETF’S). ETF’S own a collection of stocks knowledge grows, reach this goal. Continue teaching which can be bought and traded throughout while you learn new skills you can the whole day and allow for greater trading your influence apply immediately in your classroom. flexibility, unlike mutual funds, which may multiplies. only be traded at the end of the day. PAGE Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission lobbyists fought diligently and successfully and a member of the North Central Association. www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org; to prevent the attachment of amendments 312-263-0456 to HB 319 which would have allowed TRS to be invested in venture capital. Call now. Ask for Marcus. Teachers & Students 888-627-1153 HB 437 expands the exemption from www.degrees4teachers.net/apo5

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 25 Members in the News

THE 2006 GEORGIA TEACHER PAGE Planner OF THE YEAR 2004-05 Dr. Brenda Shuman-Riley, English and honors literature/writing teacher at June 2005 Dublin High School in Dublin City, was honored last month as the 2006 Georgia 6-8 FEA Summer Training (FEAST), GA College Teacher of the Year. & State University, Milledgeville, GA A veteran teacher who began her career 21-23 Pre-Conference (Mentoring)—Atlanta, in 1972, Dr. Shuman-Riley says that her Mariott Gwinnett Place greatest accomplishment has been “push- ing my own personal envelope.” Believing 24-25 Summer Conference—Atlanta, that she could impact education as an Mariott Gwinnett Place administrator, Dr. Shuman-Riley pursued her advanced degrees and later became * For a complete listing of topics, speakers and an assistant principal, principal and edu- locations go to www.pageinc.org and click on the heading Conferences. cational consultant. After working for years in administration, Dr. Shuman-Riley went back to teaching. “I returned to the classroom because I have been first and foremost a teacher,” she says. “I love my Dublin High School English teacher students the way my mother loved me— and 2006 Georgia Teacher of the Year with high expectations, discipline and Dr. Brenda Shuman-Riley pride.” Dublin High School Principal William The Georgia Teacher of the Year is an Nisbet describes Dr. Shuman-Riley as a educational ambassador for all Georgia teacher’s teacher. “She is a teacher who public schools. The winner advocates for works with all students and one who has all school systems, students and teachers. the ability to get her students involved, The winner goes on a one-year sabbatical interested and most importantly, gets during which he or she speaks throughout them to learn and understand the materi- the state. The teacher also conducts staff al being taught.” development activities for teachers and Dr. Shuman-Riley has discovered inno- parents, serves on statewide committeesb vative ways to challenge her students. One and participates in a number of statewide unique project had students research and conferences. ◆ design time capsules that are currently displayed at the school. Students have also created Memory Books, personal nar- PAGE Letters ratives of 16 chapters that include artifacts and anecdotes tracing their lives from Dear PAGE Academic Bowl mended for the professional and effi- birth to graduation. Coordinator: cient coordination of all aspects of The veteran teacher says her greatest On Behalf of Brookstone Middle each tournament. It is apparent that rewards come when “parents welcome me School Academic Team, I would like to your emphasis is on the students. You as their child’s teacher because they heard express appreciation for your coordi- have made every effort not only to I was a good teacher, or when a colleague nation of the 2005 Academic Bowl for highlight their achievements, but also asks to observe my classroom, or when I Middle Grades. We have enjoyed every to focus on the benefits of participa- have a yearbook dedicated to me in just tournament throughout the season tion. Your overall concern is for the stu- my second year at the school. Then I know that culminated in our winning the dents as children as well as competi- my mother was right; there is no higher Georgia State Championship. tors. calling than to be a teacher.” Your organization is to be com- We thoroughly enjoyed the program Equally important to Dr. Shuman-Riley at The 755 Club at Turner Field. What is her work in the community. She volun- an exciting venue for the students as teers at local hospitals, and coordinates a well as their parents and teachers! gift drive for underprivileged children Again, thank you for a wonderful sea- around the world. She also encourages her son and for all you do to provide such a students to get involved in community beneficial program for our students. activities. “I firmly believe that I can never Sincerely, ask of my students that which I am unwill- Mrs. Linda Wallman ing to do.” J Academic Team Sponsor

26 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 TRS Introduces New Online Member and Retiree Account Management Desktops

With the launch of these new self-serv- With this new addition, ice websites, located on the TRS website members can now view their www.trsga.com, members and retirees account information and can manage their accounts online via a print a copy at any time. secure internet connection, from any- Ezell explains, “TRS receives where at anytime. All they will need is a about 15,000 requests a year to print and computer with Internet access and, with mail out mid-year account balance state- just a few clicks of a mouse, they can view ments and this site will allow our mem- and maintain information previously bers to print them on demand.” Members received from the retirement survey we requiring a phone call, form or written will also have the ability to generate retire- distribute to all new retirees is that they acknowledgement. ment benefit estimates using their input want the ability to view their TRS account. The TRS Member and Retiree Desktops and the actual data contained in their TRS We took it a step further and built a self- were designed with one goal in mind—to account. Another benefit is the inclusion service website that not only allows our make doing business with TRS as easy as of a service purchase calculator allowing retirees to view their account, but to man- possible. Jeffrey L. Ezell, TRS executive members to calculate or to estimate vari- age certain aspects of it as well,” says Ezell. director, states, “We understand the need ous service purchase costs, initially TRS Retirees now have the ability to view their our members and retirees have to access withdrawn service and airtime. Address personal and account information, cur- their accounts at their convenience. We information and changes, data we previ- rent and past 1099R’s, current payments, listened to those needs and responded by ously did not capture from our members, payment history and beneficiary informa- developing a robust online application will be captured through our new online tion, as well as the ability to update that allows them to view the information employer reporting process. address, EFT and federal and state tax we have on file and manage certain “One of the most frequent comments information. ◆ aspects of their accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week without having to speak directly with a TRS representative.” With the click of a mouse, both mem- Where are you going? bers and retirees can register for an account that allows them to securely view and manage their information. “They will appreciate how easy it is to navigate through the site. And, when changes or Explore the Troy Campus in Phenix City, additions are made to an account, they AL that offers master’s and specialist can immediately see the results and walk degrees in Elementary Education and away knowing that their information has Educational Leadership. been automatically updated in the TRS database,” Ezell explains. To access the Account Management • Classes are offered by tape and on the section of the site, members and retirees weekends simply go to the TRS website and click on their respective tab (Active Members or • These degrees qualify you for Retirees), and then click on the Account certification in Georgia and Alabama Management button. The user will then be prompted to sign up for an account, including creating a user ID and pass- word. These will be required each time a user logs in to the site. Because we are enabling the management of sensitive and confidential information via the Internet, we have gone to great lengths to install a A future of opportunities. network security software program that safeguards members and retirees account Contact Jack Miller, Director of Distance Learning information from theft, loss and/or dam- age. Toll Free 866-876-9787 EXT 5129/5106 or e-mail [email protected]

May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 27 Looking for some great places to take Georgia State Parks and your students for fun Historical Sites 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Suite 1354 and educational field Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-2770 trips this year? GeorgiaStateParks.org Here’s a list of exciting and Imagine It!— interesting field trip destinations in Children’s Museum of Atlanta the Georgia and Atlanta area: 275 Centennial Olympic Drive Atlanta, GA 30313 404-659-KIDS childrensmuseumatl.org Atlanta Braves CNN Studio Tours Turner Field Jimmy Carter Presidential One CNN Center Library and Museum Atlanta, GA 30302 Atlanta, GA 30348 441 Freedom Parkway (404) 614-2310 (877) 4 CNN TOUR Atlanta, GA 30307 atlantabraves.com cnn.com/StudioTour/ (404) 865-7101 Atlanta Symphony Elachee Nature Science Center jimmycarterlibrary.org 1292 Peachtree Street 2125 Elachee Drive Port Columbus Suite 300 Gainesville, GA 30504 Columbus, GA 30075 Atlanta, GA 30309 (770) 535-1976 (706) 327-9798 (404) 733-4870 elachee.org atlantasymphony.org portcolumbus.org Roswell Magnolia Storytelling Festival 617 Atlanta Street Roswell, GA 30075 (770) 640-3253 Southeastern Railway Museum Duluth, GA 30096 (770) 476-2013 srmduluth.org Stone Mountain Park Stone Mountain, GA (770) 498-5636 stonemountainpark.com U.S. Space Camp One Tranquility Base Huntsville, AL 35805 (800) 637-7223 spacecamp.com World of Coca-Cola 55 Martin Luther King Drive Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 676-6074 woccatlanta.com Zoo Atlanta 800 Cherokee Avenue Atlanta, GA 30315 (404) 624-5822 zooatlanta.org. ◆

28 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 ADVERTISEMENT

Graduate Programs • Bagwell College of Education Kennesaw State University • 1000 Chastain Road Box #0120 • Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-5591

About KSU Kennesaw State University is a dynamic, rapidly growing institution that is committed to excellence in teaching research and service. KSU currently has an enrollment of over 17,000 students. With a long- standing tradition of outstanding education. KSU is an institution committed to serving the continuing academic, professional, cultural and social needs of local, state, national and international communities. The Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University is the second largest teacher preparation of teachers and has one of the largest number of Educational Leaders graduates in the state of Georgia. Education is a rapidly changing profession – and the graduate programs in education in the Bagwell College of Education and the Professional Teacher Education Unit at Kennesaw State University offer you the Professional Teacher Unit, is committed to opportunity to learn the latest strategies to be developing expertise among all candidates an effective expert in learning to bring stu- in intial and advanced programs as teachers dents to high levels of learning through and leaders who possess the capability, effective, research-based practices in class- intent, and expertise to facilitate high levels room instruction, and who enhance the of learning in all of their students. structures that support all learning. Finally, the Bagwell College of The Collaborative Development of Education and the Professional Teacher Expertise in Teaching and Learning Education Unit recognizes, values and The Master of Education degree program demonstrates collaborative practices across at the Bagwell College of Education is deliv- the college and university and extends col- ered through a conceptual framework laboration to the community at large. known as the Collaborative Development of Through this collaboration with profession- Expertise in Teaching and Learning. This als in the university, the public and private model is designed to enhance the profes- schools, parents and other partners, the sional knowledge, skills and dispositions of graduate students in ultimate goal is to assist Georgia Schools in bringing all students to education. To that end, the Bagwell College of Education and the high levels of learning.

The Bagwell College of Education • Learning Disabilities (LD) • The availability of faculty to work offers the following Programs in • Behavior Disorders (BD) with students in need of assistance. Graduate Education: • Mental Retardation (MR) • The highest degree of competency • M.Ed. Adolescent Education (4-12) • Preschool Special Education demonstrated by the Bagwell • M.Ed. Educational Leadership • Reading • College of Education faculty in stu- • M.Ed. Elementary and Early Benefits of the M.Ed. Program dents after graduation. Childhood Education (P-5) • The diversity of practical training • Classes scheduled to accommodate • M.Ed. Special Education available at the Bagwell College of working and non-traditional age stu- Education. Non-Degree Programs dents. • Certified teachers may apply for • Many classes scheduled for one Graduate programs in education at admission to pursue non-degree night a week. Kennesaw State University are fully course work leading to endorse- • Expert Advisement. accredited by the National Council for ments or add-ons in the following • Timely completion of your degree- the Accreditiation of Teacher Education course work: usually within two years. and meet the Georgia Professional • Educational Leadership Praise for M.Ed. Programs at Standards Commission Program • English to Speakers of other the Bagwell College of Education Standards (PSC). Source: Kennesaw Languages (ESOL) • The high quality of relationships at State University 2004-2005 Graduate • Interrelated Special Education (IRR) the Bagwell College of Education. Catalog. www.kennesaw.edu

For further information contact: Graduate Studies in Education, (770) 423-6122 or www.kennesaw.edu/education There Was a Good Teacher

By Lynn Waldron, teacher at Carter Elementary School, Bibb County

Reading, spelling, phonics, They get through one by one. They’ve worked so hard this morning. Their lessons are all done.

Now it’s almost lunchtime. She lines them up by choice. Nine sandwiches first, then Twelve fish, mostly boys.

She gets to the lunchroom. The menu has changed. She takes five more minutes. To stop and rearrange…

So there’s six hot dogs in front And 15 tacos behind This is so frustrating. It’s hard to be kind.

There was a good teacher, Her students are learning. She stands with her class. Who taught in a grade school. The lessons are engaging, “Don’t forget your fork She was so overwhelmed, But for the tenth time that morning Johnny, stop shouting.” She didn’t know what to do. Johnny is misbehaving. (I wish I had a cork.)

She’d greet her class warmly The principal comes on She heads to the freezer With great hope for each day. The PA to say, To find her ice cream But the morning would wear on “We have more test skills and test drills She sorts through the bags And it didn’t turn out that way. to send down your way.” Until she wants to scream.

It started with parents A parent barges in She finds hers at the bottom Who hadn’t cut that apron string, Without calling ahead. She passes it out. They’d come in every morning And yells at the teacher She has 20 minutes to eat. To discuss every little thing. About something she said. She’ll eat fast, there’s no doubt.

The announcements would start, An email from the state On the way to the lounge The day would officially begin. Said the budget is tight, As she flies down the hall, She’d ask for homework and notes, “No raise for the teachers. The PA shouts her name See if shirts were tucked in. Heck, they won’t put up a fight.” That she has a phone call.

Log on to SASI. She’d had a child tested Fifteen minutes left, Get attendance done. Who was two years behind. She hurries to eat, Collect money for ice cream. “No services for him, Use the restroom, check her mail, Isn’t this part fun? Catch him up on the side.” She does it, no small feat.

The disruptions would start “What about the law, She gathers her students, By those who didn’t care No child left behind?” And heads back to the room. Whether they learned or not “Get him on grade level To read to her children. It didn’t seem fair… If you do not mind.” Her favorite thing to do.

To those who were sweet The PA again, It’s time to go out And wanted to learn “We just want to say, For music, P.E. or art; To have to put up with kids Guess how many cookies She sure needs a break. Who did not give a durn. They’ll bake for lunch today?” But, oh, where to start!”

30 PAGE ONE May/June 2005 She makes phone calls, checks papers, The dismissal bell rings. To soccer practice, Run copies and such. The kids head down the halls. Go back home, cook some more, Before she knows it, There still more to do Go back and get him. Her time is all up. As bus duty calls. At 5:54.

She picks up her students The kids are all gone now. Supper is over. And heads back to class She goes back to her room. Her chores are all done. For focus objectives, To straighten up things She sits down and hopes for Science and then math. “Now, where is my broom?” A few moments alone.

“Let’s practice some more,” She puts her head in her hands As she settles in bed She says cheerfully, She’s so tired and so weary. At the end of the day “For the super fun “Did I make any difference?’ She asks God to bless Test, the CRCT!” Her eyes are all teary. Every child as she prays.

It’s afternoon now She gathers the papers She’s up the next morning. With no end in sight. To take home and grade With new hope for the day. Oh, to use the restroom. She has that to do, She does so love those children. She holds it with all her might. Plus get dinner made… ‘Cause God made her that way. ◆

The PA again, But, first, stop at the bank “We need someone with a mop.” Oh, and pick up some cat food She could get much more done Go by Wal-Mart or Kroger If the PA would stop! And pick up something good…

The day’s winding down. To cook for supper. The teacher’s so tired. After she starts a load “I hope they learned today, Of laundry and takes her son ‘Cause Lord knows, I’ve tried.” Down the road… Through all life’s stages …

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May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 31 DON’T BE MISLED ABOUT STATE LIABILITY!

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