05/24/2017
Gwinnett’s reigning Teacher of the Year on Thursday was named among the top 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Department of Education.
The 10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 150 applicants, and all were previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others.
The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ TOTY, Jamie Lynn McFarland, who teaches third through fifth grade Severe/Profound Intellectual Disabilities at Rock Springs Elementary, was given the district award in November.
05/24/2017
More than 12,000 students plan to graduate in the coming days from Gwinnett County Public Schools as the district described the class of 2017 as the largest and most decorated to date.
“They are among the best prepared of any graduating class and are prepared for the next chapter in their lives,” CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said in a press release. “We wish them well and congratulate them on their hard work and persistence, knowing they are ready for the future. And, while the focus is on the graduates at this time of year, I also would like to thank their families, the thousands of dedicated teachers, and the committed administrators who provided support and guidance to them throughout the years.”
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05/16/2017
Shiloh Middle School recently received validation that was three years in the making.
The school is certified as an International Baccalaureate World School for a three-year Middle Years Programme. IB World Schools feature programmes of international education that its staff describes as developing the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a globalizing world.
“The IB program is a tremendous teaching tool and that will help prepare our students for our rapidly changing world,” Shiloh Principal Eli Welch said in a press release, and added that staff worked on research, training and planning for three years.
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05/16/2017
When they say Louise Radloff has broken her neck working on behalf of the Salvation Army, they mean it.
For those who don’t know Radloff well, it may seem like a shock, but to those who understand her volunteer spirit over more than four decades, particularly related to education and health, it’s perfectly acceptable.
That was the case in 2013 when Radloff suffered a broken neck in early September when she missed a step and fell off a loading dock while picking up bread for the Salvation Army. She had surgery the next day, and except for some limited range of motion, has returned to normal.
Radloff, who has served on the Gwinnett Board of Education for more than 40 years, was among the honorees on Friday at the annual “Doing The Most Good” Salvation Army luncheon at the Infinite Energy Center.
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05/16/2017
Pharr Elementary has developed a reputation around the state for its school garden, and recently, the school celebrated its third annual garden night with a host of festivities.
Among the events during the night were a scavenger hunt through the indoor ponics lab and outdoor gardens, and the garden club talked to families in the garden about the new sensory garden, African Keyhole garden, greenhouse, Loofah gourds, Cabbage Patch and the Math Garden.
In the ponics lab, families learned about hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. Students worked to complete math problems in the STEAM lab and did leaf rubbings from plants in the garden in the art room. Second-grade students concluded their study of plants with a plant sale that will benefit new garden projects.
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05/16/2017
As a teacher at Chesney Elementary, Kara Cowdrick saw a need that stretched beyond the school year. It took some help from her mom’s van, but they eventually met the need.
“Every year, I noticed that kids weren’t excited about going home for the summer,” Cowdrick said. “When we dug a little deeper, they were bored. We see this every year, and we’re not doing anything about it?”
That inspired Cowdrick to apply for a grant two years ago from Atlanta Families for Excellence in Education. She won the grant for $7,500, with $3,500 going toward a bookmobile, to better serve students throughout the summer with reading books. This summer, a local car dealership has come along and offered help, and beginning May 31 and occuring on Wednesdays throughout the summer, students will have access to a host of books to encourage reading.
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