2006 Georgia Teacher of the Year(May/June 2005) - Ciclt.net

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From The President | DR. DIANE RAYReflection at This Timeof Year is Imperative—How Will Next Year be Different?Have youevaluated theimpact of yourmost effectiveinstructionalstrategy?Have you seenimproved testresults, and moreimportantly, doyou know thestory behind thenumbers?DR. DIANE RAYSchool is out or almost out for educatorsthroughout the state. High stakes testresults are back, performance evaluationsare completed, we have had training on the newGeorgia Performance Standards, and we havelearned new terminology as we unpack thestandards. With all these demands, have youcarved out the time needed to reflect on instruction,assessments, accountability and, mostimportantly, student learning? Have you evaluatedthe impact of your most effective instructionalstrategy? Or better yet, have you pinpointedthe strategies implemented that havehad minimal impact on student achievement?Have you seen improved test results, and moreimportantly, do you know the story behind thenumbers? Yes, it is time for a little reflection.After all, we need to know if our time and energymade a positive difference. And after thisreflection it’s time to focus on how next year willbe different.If we single out instruction within our classrooms,we must determine the specific instructionalstrategies in teaching that are directlylinked to improved achievement. Take a look atthe test scores from one of your favorite units.What strategies helped your students masterthe content? Many teachers are astonished tolearn that they can be poor judges of whatworked and what didn’t work in their teaching.In my own teaching, I have been taken by surprise.There have been times when I thoughtmy presentations were truly inspiring. Mydelivery was animated, my examples clear andmy insights were razor sharp. At the conclusionof the instruction, I regretted that I wasn’t beingobserved or videotaped, because I thought itwas truly one of my finest presentations. Later,when I asked a question about the ideas or conceptsI introduced during that stellar presentation,few could answer correctly.After squelching my impulse to blame mystudents, I realized that it is I who must makesome changes. I took a closer look atresearched strategies that would provide mystudents with greater mastery. I tried to implementsome strategies that I had learnedthrough professional learning opportunities. Ihad to look at doing a few things differently.Will you look at implementing differentinstructional strategies next year for greaterstudent learning?Analyzing tests or assessments means settingaside some powerful ego issues. Many times myinitial response after identifying the items orcriteria missed by the majority of students is,“Well, I taught that, they just didn’t get it!” Uponfurther reflection, however, I recognized thateffectiveness in teaching is not defined by whatwe do as teachers, but rather by what studentsare able to do.Assessments provide immediate feedback tostudents, and to us as teachers. Equipped withconstructive feedback from assessments, I canmake changes in curriculum, teaching andlearning that are necessary to improve achievementof students. Have you analyzed the type ofassessments you give to your students? Nextyear will you give common assessments to studentsin each grade level? Will you collaborativelyscore these assessments, or will you userubrics for measuring student success? Whatwill be different? Will assessments be used toguide your instruction?Accountability for all educators demands thestudy of practices that yield successes at otherschools. Lessons from other schools have amajor purpose—that is to prompt educators tovalidate actions already in place that are producingresults, and consider what is not in practiceat this time but should be. Possibly studying andreplicating the actions of those who are successfulcould lead to greater student achievement.After all, it is our responsibility as professionalsto know how to gain positive results. Thus,resolving to increase success for students mayrequire us to do a few things differently.Our challenge is to learn from others and recognizetransformations that have been madeand those that still remain to be made. If we areserious about improving student learning, wehave to move beyond our reflection of this yearand commit to making instruction, assessmentand accountability different for next year. ◆2 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

From The Executive Director | DR. ALLENE MAGILLApplause for the SessionMay Be a Bit PrematureAt the conclusion of this year’s historic sessionof the Georgia General Assemblymany leaders (and a few pundits) werequick to heap praise on the new leadership. Infact, some leaders didn’t wait for the pundits butbegan patting themselves on the back before thesine die confetti had hit the floor. We hope it willbe understood if we don’t join in the cheers justyet. The 2005 session was not, in our view, a particularlygood one for public education inGeorgia.Here are some specific examples and an overallassessment of operational style:In an attempt to please multiple constituencies,some education legislation originallyintended to benefit public schools was broadenedto include home schools and privateschools. While we have no reason to cast aspersionson either of these two entities, theinescapable fact is that the governor, the legislatureand the state school superintendent arepublic officials with the sworn duty to attend tothe needs of public institutions.Legislation, that in our view would open thedoor to private and religious school vouchers,was narrowly defeated—much to the chagrin ofthe governor and his supporters. While protestingto the heavens that there was no such intent,the governor and some legislators balked at legislationwhich would have ensured no such thingcould happen, leaving their protestations ringinga bit hollow.That issue exemplified one of the more troublingaspects of this past session. Leadersseemed to be saying one thing, yet aggressivelypursuing a very different course. We had beentold for the past few years that, due to the economicdownturn, reduction of class sizes—which has been the law for some years now—would be delayed. This year, with revenuesimproving dramatically, another two year delaywas granted, and the conversation began toswitch from, “We’ll do this when we can afford it”to “We think this is a local decision.” An unbiasedobserver might be confused by the supple andevolving nature of this logic.Decrying the increasing costs of the NationalBoard Certification program, leaders changed itto require teaching in “high needs” schools inorder to earn the additional stipend. Whatreplaced this program was a vaguely wordedMaster Teacher plan contained in legislation thatdoesn’t begin to take full effect until 2007 andexpires in 2009. The desire to radically reduce thecost of the National Board program is clear. Lessclear is the long range commitment to teachingexcellence.Our members will be excused if they do notapplaud a two percent salary increase, accompaniedby a nine percent increase in the cost ofhealth care for themselves and their families.(Rumors around the Capitol that a substantialincrease may be on the way in 2006 only servedto stoke electoral cynicism). Equally offensivewas yet another attempt by legislators and representativesof the brokerage industry to get accessto billions from the teacher retirement funds forextremely risky investments.Finally, a word needs to be said about operationalstyle. Far too many legislative actions camewithout full discussion and debate. In some caseslegislators operated as if the committee processwas something to be avoided at all costs.Amendments made at the last minute, offeredonly after the public input session was over, oftenwere the rule rather than the exception.Amendments from the floor as votes were underwaywere used to try to breathe new life into previouslydiscredited ideas. While the “eleventhhour ambush” might enhance the smooth flow oflegislation and ensure the success of individualand interest group agendas, it is not, in our view,conducive to effective public policymaking.So, we’ll reserve our applause for now.Previous leaders in Atlanta were criticized—rightly, in our view—for legislating with a degreeof arrogance and for being out of touch withlocal realities. We hope that we haven’t replacedthat leadership with a group for whom ends justifythe means, and for whom the public schoolsare a minor part of its constituency. We’ve heardour share of fine and supportive language duringthe past few years coming from our newleaders. While it is no doubt pleasing to the ear,our students and our educators deserve morethan just fine words.◆Previous leaders inAtlanta werecriticized—rightly,in our view—forlegislating witha degree ofarrogance and forbeing out of touchwith local realities.We hope that wehaven’t replacedthat leadershipwith a group forwhom the endsjustify the means,and for whom thepublic schools area minor part of itsconstituency.DR. ALLENE MAGILLMay/June 2005 PAGE ONE 3

Teachers Do theDarndest Things—On TheirSummerVacationsBy Lee RaudonisLast summer, Mike Smith, assistant principal at SaraHarp Minter Elementary in Fayetteville, Ga., and hisson, Michael, who had just graduated from highschool, loaded a 2004 silver Chevrolet Corvette with asmuch luggage as it would hold (one large gym bageach, a couple of cameras, a laptop and one bag of toiletries), anddid what many people talk about, but never do—took off on roadtrip across the continental United States.“Since the 9th grade or so, Michael and I had talked about takinga trip when he graduated,” Smith explains. “My goal for thisonce-in-a-lifetime trip was to spend quality time with my son. Ifthis was my last opportunity to create an everlasting bondbetween dad and son, I wanted to make the most of the opportunity.“As graduation neared, we talked more seriously about the trip,making the decision around November to drive cross-country toCalifornia. At first, Michael thought we should buy Harleys for thetrip. I figured I would make it to the Alabama line before giving upon that adventure, and I encouraged a different mode of transportation,such as a Corvette. This peaked his interest.“Since I didn’t have a Vette, our first objective was to get one.We looked at different years and models, researched options andused the Internet to compare prices. We finally decided on a silver,2004 hardtop. What a car! We purchased it in May of 2004 andleft Fayetteville, Ga., around June 15. Our itinerary took us toGraceland, St. Louis, Denver, Salt Lake, San Francisco, LosAngeles, Venice, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Arizona, El Paso,Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. We traveled a total of 6,300miles and saw things together that will live in our memories forever.A few things in particular stick in my mind.“We were traveling through Tennessee early one Sunday morning,around 10:30 a.m.. It was Father’s Day, and at home, wewould certainly have been at church. We both knew that weshould be at a church, but when you’re driving down the interstatein an unknown area it is easy to keep driving to your nextdestination. Fortunately, this was not our thinking. I shared withmy son that it would be right to be in church and told him that Iwas going to pray for direction. The prayer was no sooner off my4 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

(left) Chad Crew, Burke County High School scienceteacher, putting on a Reading Magic Show at a locallibrary for the vacation reading programs.(below) Lamar Scott, Doves Creek Elementary Schoolprincipal in Lucerne, Swizerland (2004).lips than an interstate sign appeared with the name of a town thatMichael recognizes as the town where a Christian college waslocated (he was familiar with some mission teams from theschool). We pulled off to exit, and there in front of us was a churchnear the campus of the college. It was 10:45 and the worship servicewas just starting. How great it was to have my son observefaith at work,” Smith commented.“Another day, we were leaving Kansas City, Mo., and travelingwest. As we entered the farm area of Kansas, the beauty of thewheat fields against the crisp blue sky was breathtaking. Overeach hill we were in awe with what our eyes beheld. We had thesame experience as we drove south on California Highway 1 fromSan Francisco to Los Angeles. I am not a world traveler, but I cannotimagine areas more beautiful.”“Our visit to the Grand Canyon was also an exceptional experience.We caught a flight out of Las Vegas to an Indian reservationlocated atop the Grand Canyon. I was a little nervous about theflight because the pilot was not much older than my son. We flewover Lake Mead and through part of the Grand Canyon beforelanding at the reservation. Our Indian tour was very meaningful.The guide was familiar with the area and how his tribe interactsdaily with the canyon. Memories like these will remain with meforever!”After school lets out this year, Smith is planning to spend amuch more sedate summer reading and relaxing at the beach,but many of his colleagues across Georgia, are preparing foradventures that will be every bit as interesting and exciting as thegreat “Vette road trip of ’04.”One trip that will be hard to top is that planned by MichaelPerry, a National Board Certified business education teacher atChapel Hill High School in Douglas County. Later in the summer,Perry will present a session on electronic data integration at theGlobal Conference of Business and Economics in Oxford,England. But getting there will be more than a little adventure.“My wife and I will travel first to London, then connect inDublin,” says Perry. “We will spend six days in Ireland, travelingfrom Dublin to Shannon. Then we go back to London and on toSouth Hampton, where we board the Golden Princess to travel toZeeburge, Oslo, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Le Harve. We leave(above, left) View of CaliforniaHighway 1, (above, right) MikeSmith, Sara Harp MinterElementary School assistantprincipal at Grand Canyon, (left)with son, Michael and silver2004 Corvette.the ship in South Hampton after 10 days at sea and travel back toLondon. The next morning we fly to Rome.“We spend one day in Rome and then board Celebrity Galaxyfor 11 days in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will stop at theislands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini, and then go toIstanbul and Ephesus. We continue back to Rome with stops atAthens and then Naples before arriving back at Rome. We travelfrom the ship for one night and two days on the coast nearNaples, Positano and Sorrento. We travel back to Rome by trainand fly back to London,” he adds.“We will spend a week in London (including my trip to the conferencein Oxford) and then travel to Paris for one day before goingon to Madrid. In Madrid we join a tour for 16 days through Spain,Portugal and into Morocco. We will see the Rock of Gibraltar,Casablanca, Marrakesh and major cities in Spain and Portugal.Finally we return home after almost two months of travel.”For Perry and his wife, travel has become an important part oftheir summers. In 2003, their destination was Ireland. Last year, itwas Egypt.“We started with a stay in Cairo and then traveled by train toAswan.” Perry says. “On arriving at Aswan, we went by armed caravanto Abu Simbel, the great temple of Ramses II. We then sailedup the Nile on a cruise ship stopping at many different spots forguided tours of Edfu, Karnak, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings,then by plane back to our guides in Cairo. We went to the Khal ElKalil Bazzar, which has been in business since the Middle Ages.May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 5

Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha nearBelize from a recent trip to WesternCaribbean by Jacqueline Scaliaspecial education teacher at Eagle’sLanding High School. (below, leftto right) Edna Carr (formerparaprofessional), Jacqueline A.Scalia, her daughter, Diana Cowan,and Marilyn Hall (retiredparaprofessional).We toured Cairo, seeing theplace where Jesus was hiddenfrom Herod, and we also saw theCitadel Mosque and the HangingChurch. Our last day of theadventure was a day trip toAlexandria, where we sawtombs, museums, the hotelwhere Churchill andMontgomery met in WWII, theunearthed Roman amphitheater, as well asthe spot where the Lighthouse ofAlexandria stood.”Not forgetting that a new school yearwill soon be at hand, Perry plans to sharethis summer’s experiences with his students.“I plan to enjoy my hobby of photographywhile gone and take pictures thatI can use to create projects for my studentsin World geography, multimediaand webpage design,” heexplains.Joseph Jarrel, McIntoshHigh School worldOther educators will also usehistory teacher, andat least a portion of their summerbreak enjoying experiences outside Napoleon’sdaughter Joanna justthey can share with students. tomb in Paris.Jennifer Harkleroad, a mediaspecialist at Thomas CrossroadsElementary School in CowetaCounty, hopes to attend twoNational Endowment for theHumanities (NEH) workshops.“I’ll spend eight weeks at thebeach, and then hopefully, go ontwo Landmarks in AmericanHistory workshops for teacherssponsored by the NEH—one tothe Cherokee Nation inOklahoma to learn about theTrail of Tears, and one to St.Augustine to learn about explorersbetween 1492 and 1607.These workshops teach teachersin-depth, and then we areexpected to bring the informationback to our students. I know from experiencethat the workshops are excellent! IMichael Perry, Chapel Hill High School businesseducation teacher and his wife Kim at the top ofBlarney Castle. Michael Perry kisses the BlarneyStone. Kim Perry at Saint Kevin’s Cell, Ireland.went to Plimoth Plantation andSavannah, Ga., last year for twoworkshops and learned mammothamounts of information.”Nancy Boyle, second gradeteacher at Peeples Elementary inFayette County, is also planningto participate in NEH workshops.“I have applied for one inMaryland and one in Oklahoma.I will take my children and husbandalong. They will site-seeduring the day, and we willexplore together in the eveningsas I relate what I learned duringthe day.”Lamar Scott, principal ofDoves Creek Elementary Schoolin Elbert County, plans to usesome of his vacation expanding his knowledgeof European culture.“For the last several years, I have participatedin a 10-day tour with LanderUniversity’s Fine Arts Dept. Study Tour,”says Scott. “Last summer we went toSwitzerland where we explored art, music,architecture and literature. We also went tothe top of Mt. Polaris and a small group ofus went as high as we could nearthe top of the Matterhorn. Thissummer we’re off to Amsterdamand Copenhagen.”Traveling a bit closer to home,Anne Jones, a teacher at T. J.Elder Middle School, will exploreart of a different type.“Many years ago I heard of theCampbell Folk School in NorthCarolina and tucked the idea ofattending back into the recessesof my mind,” she explains. “Afriend of mine started talkingabout learning to weave on aloom. At that time I wanted tolearn to spin yarn so that I coulduse the yarn that I spun to knit asweater for myself. Weresearched schools and foundCampbell. Since ‘spinning’ wasnot offered during the weeksthat I hoped to attend, nor was aclass on wood working (using alathe), my next choice was twillbasket weaving. I love to learnnew arts.”Alisa Daniel of Screven County ElementarySchool in Sylvania, Ga., enjoys spending severalweeks of her summer break doing whatsome would consider “work.”“My family thinks I am a workaholic, but to6 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

me, my teaching career is what I loveand comes just behind my love formy family. I am co-director of theGeorgia Southern Writing Project inStatesboro, Ga., where I spend fourweeks, Monday through Thursday,from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with teachersacross all content areas and all gradelevels K- 16. Before I became an officialco-director, I attended andhelped with the project for threeyears just because I wanted otherteachers to experience the samecareer changing experience that Ihad only a few years before.“The writing project rejuvenatesme and helps me to get myself readyto meet my new students each fall. Iam more self-confident as a teacher,writer and professional. I enjoy talkingto other teachers across the areaabout common concerns facingeducation today. The writing projectprovides me with many opportunitiesto travel. I have traveled acrossthe United States, meeting otherteachers and writers. I have attendedwriting marathons in many cities,writing about the landscape, theJennifer Harkleroad, media specialist atThomas Crossroads Elementary in2004 at Plimouth Plantation, the firstpermanent European settlement insouthern New England (AD 1620)people or just memories of themoment.“I feel that I have planted a seedthat will take root and grow over thenext few years. My goal is for teachersto become more confident inthemselves as teachers of writing aswell as more confident as writers,”said Daniel.Planting seeds of another kind,some teachers plan to spend thissummer doing missionary workthrough their churches.Claudia Wells, an art teacher atThomson High School, plans towork in Alaska.“My only niece at 16-years old,was killed in a car accident recently,so family comes first,” Wellsexplains. “In her honor and to theglory of God, we are all going on amission trip to Alaska (my sister, herhusband and two boys, my husband,daughter, son and daughter-in-law,PEACE OF MINDUp to 15% Premium SavingsProvided to educatorsand their family membersif purchased from an authorized agent.Up to 50% Premium SavingsFor second insured livingin same household andcovered under same policy.LTC-287withLong Tererm m Care are InsuranceIn North Georgia:Marsha Whelpley (toll free) 1-866-680-2749from Lincoln Benefit Life CompanyEndorsed by PAGE and Administered byCOPELAND INSURANCE SERVICESwww.ltcgeorgia.comIn Central or South Georgia:Arthur Loewen (toll free) 1-800-964-4305Coverage provided by Policy Forms LB-6301-P-GA (Q & NQ), LB-6302-P-GA (Q & NQ), and LB-6303-P-GA (Q & NQ), underwritten by Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Lincoln, Nebraska. For costs and further details of cverage,including exclusions and reductions or limitations and the terms under which this policy may be continued in force, pleasecontact Lincoln Benefit Life Company or you agent. A licensed insurance agent will contact you.May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 7

(top) Joseph Jarrel’s wife Michelleand daughter, Joanna on theisland of Crete. (bottom left)Classroom of Georgia SouthernWriting Project, where Alisa Danielenjoys spending part of hersummer. (bottom right) Kim Perryand guide in Egypt (2004)discussing Greek style mummy atAlexandria’s Greek-Romanmuseum.and four teens from my son’schurch youth group). We will bevisiting remote churches anddoing whatever they need us todo—Bible school, repairs tostructures, witnessing and visiting.We will be gone almost twoweeks. The rest of the summerwill be a mix of working, restingand preparing for the nextschool year.”Trista Ross, a special educationteacher at Edwards MiddleSchool in Rockdale County, isheading in the opposite directionto do her missionary work.“The Lord has provided anopportunity for me to travelwith a group from Heritage HillsBaptist Church to Zimbabwe,Africa to work with internationalmissionaries Barry andMarleen Robinson. The missionis to help establish a church inNyakatora, a village on theZambezi Valley floor 50 milesnorth of Mt. Darwin. We will be workingwith pastor Median Chitsere to help establisha new congregation of believers in thisregion.“We will spend the first few days in doorto-doorevangelism, discipleship and conductingevening meetings. We will sharetestimonies, music and film. Sunday wewill have morning church with new believers.We will then travel to Antelope Park fora day of rest. After that we will go on toHwange National Park for a Game Drive.We will spend our final day in Victoria Fallsand then fly back to Atlanta. This will be anamazing opportunity to experience sharingthe gospel in the ‘real’ Africa.”While venturing no further thanMilledgeville, Ga., Suzanne Walshe andher husband, Michael, will reach out topeople closer to home. “My husband, alsoa teacher, and I will continue to providecare for foster children in our county thissummer.” She says. “We will enjoy spendingtime with seven children, ages four to14, at our house on Lake Sinclair.”A somewhat more traditional summertrip for many educators is helping chaperonehigh school students on trips overseas.Joseph Jarrell, world history teacherat McIntosh High School in FayetteCounty, has already made 10 internationaltrips, including five with students. Thisyear, in July, he and his family will travelwith several students from McIntosh HighSchool to Russia.“My student trips have been to Russia(summer 1993), Italy, Greece and theAegean Islands (summer 1994), Germany(summer 1995), Egypt (summer 1996),and China (summer 2002) and the forthcomingtrip to Russia,” Jarrell says. “All mystudent tours are in conjunction with EFEducational Tours which is headquarteredin Boston. My group is always combinedwith tour groups sponsored by otherteachers from around the country. I enjoythe student tours because it provides away for students to see historical sites wehave studied at school.”Rebekkah Roberts, teacher atLorraine Elementary School inRockdale County, is also helpingtake a group of high school studentsto Europe. And when shereturns, she plans to take a musicworkshop for a week, sponsoredby Gwinnett County and a localmusic teacher group (OrffAssociation).Pierce County High Schoolteacher Kathryn Tison never hadthe opportunity to go to Europewhen she was a student, so sheplans to make up for it this year.“My daughter and I plan to goto Europe for 18 days in Junewith my high school historyteacher, Starr Wheeler, retirededucator from Glynn Academyin Brunswick. She has takengroups of high school studentson trips of this sort since evenbefore I entered high school. Iwas not able to attend when Iwas a student, so my parentsoffered to send us for my 40thand my daughter’s 16th birthdays.”Vilissa Talcotta, a McDuffieCounty teacher, is also planninga mother-daughter trip. “Mymother and I are celebrating ourbirthdays (75 and 50) this Junewith an Alaskan cruise. We willtake the helicopter ride to a glacier, landon it and walk around on the glacier. Wewill take a smaller boat out to get closer tothe whales as they rise from the sea andland, using their tail to splash those of usin the boat.“Later in the month, my older brotherand his family will come from Ohio, andwe all intend to go to the OkeefeenokeeSwamp and spend a day or two there.Before June is over with, I will work withRESA on curriculum mapping. In July I willgo to Connecticut to see a friend who hasagoraphobia and has been in his apartmentfor over 10 years now. I usually spenda week with him. I have plans to stop inNew Jersey and spend a week on the beachwith my in-laws. And by the end of July,right before I return for pre-planning, I willfinish my Specialist in Leadership. I have afull summer, but I will enjoy it. When I amnot in class or on the road, I will be workingon my plans for the fall classes andcatching up on my reading.”8 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

Undoubtedly, many thousands ofGeorgia teachers look forward to summersso they can spend meaningful time withfriends and family.PAGE President-elect Ken Russell, socialstudies teacher at Dalton High School andhis family are going on a MediterraneanCruise in June.“My in-laws are taking all four of us, mywife Kathy’s sister and her husband, andKathy’s brother on a cruise that starts andends in Barcelona. This is to celebrate their50th wedding anniversary and my daughter’s16th birthday. When I get back I hope tobe taking a class in Asian art at theUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga.”Garnett Ray, principal at New MountainHill Elementary in Harris County, will betaking his entire family to Scotland thissummer to visit relatives, attend a weddingand hopefully take in at least oneround of the British Open at St. Andrews.Marthan Morrison, a teacher at BowdonElementary School in Bowden County,and her husband are going to Alaska inJune, while Jacqueline A. Scalia, interrelatedspecial education teacher at Eagle’sLanding High School in Henry County, isplanning to spend a week on the island ofAmbergris Caye, off the coast of Belize,exploring the Mayan ruins, snorkeling,and perhaps a bit of diving.“This year I am traveling with myboyfriend and his brother and sister-inlaw,”says Scalia. “They selected Belize andinvited us to come along. They are reallyinto scuba diving, and Belize is a greatspot for that activity. This will be my firstexperience scuba diving, although it willnot be my first trip to Belize. Two yearsago, my daughter and I took a WesternCaribbean cruise during our fall break. Westopped in Belize City at that time andtook a shore excursion to the Mayan Ruinsof Altun Ha.”While Georgia, teachers find manyunique and productive ways to spend themonths of June and July, few are as literally“magic” as that chosen by Chad Crew,Burke County High School ScienceTeacher.“I will be doing a reading magic showfor the vacation reading programs atlibraries across the Southeast,” he reports.And then there is the summer vacationthat is the fantasy of many teachers, asdescribed by Audrey Smith, Burke CountyHigh School English/Language Arts teacher.“This summer I plan to do lots of readingand writing! I plan to finish writing my‘Joseph Jarrel’s daughter Joanna in Parisfourth novel and begin the ambitious taskof reading every novel in my local library.I’ll be working through the ‘A’ authors andhope to make it halfway through the C’s.”Ah, yes, an ambitious goal, indeed.If you don’t have plans yet for your summervacation, you may want to consider theadvice of Don Boswell of Carroll County.“Jewel and I both work at Sharp CreekElementary School. Jewel works in thecafeteria, and I drive a school bus and subteach. As soon as school is out we plan togo on our honeymoon. This is a little late,because we have been married for 46years.“We plan to leave Carrollton, headingnorth to Chicago, east to Niagara Falls,then down to Hershey, Penn. Next, we willgo to Philadelphia and New Jersey, southto Washington, D.C., then on toCharleston and Savannah. We plan onbeing out two weeks or to the point whereJewel says, ‘lets go home.’ When Jewel andI semi retired, several retired friends gaveus some good advice. They said, ‘Go whileyou can because some day you’ll just besitting on the front porch wishing that youhad.’”◆Renew Your PassionAdvance Your CareerFind out what so many Georgia teachers havealready discovered.•You can earn your M.Ed. in just one weekenda month for 22 months near your homeor school!•Share ideas, address real-life issues, and learnwith the same group of dedicated educators inLesley’s unique, supportive format.Our Master of Education programs in Georgia include:Integrated Teaching through the ArtsTechnology in EducationCurriculum and Instruction: LiteracyWe also offer Education Specialist programs.Classes are now forming in Albany, Atlanta,Augusta, Calhoun, Columbus, Kingsland, Macon,Savannah, and Temple.Founded in 1909 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley Universityis accredited by the New England Association of Schools andColleges, one of the six regional accrediting associations.Explore Lesley today!Learn about our acceleratedweekend study format!(888) LESLEY-Ulearn@lesley.eduwww.lesley.edu/georgiaMay/June 2005 PAGE ONE 9

Foundation NewsPAGE FoundationNames 2005PAGE STARStudent andTeacher▼(Left to right) 2005 State PAGE STAR Teacher Philip Heieraccepts a crystal vase from the PAGE Foundation and a$2,500 award from the Frances Wood WilsonFoundation presented by its Executive Vice PresidentBlitch Ann Bird, and 2005 State PAGE STAR Student LucasBermudez receives a crystal vase from the PAGEFoundation and a BellSouth scholarship of $5,000presented by Carolyn Lovett, BellSouth senior director forexternal affairs and chair of the PAGE Foundation.▼The 2005 State PAGE STAR Student Lucas Bronson Bermudez (left), a senior atGwinnett County’s Parkview High School, and his State PAGE STAR TeacherPhilip Heier (right), an Advanced Placement Physics teacher at Parkview HighSchool.▼The Bermudez family and Philip Heier gather in theGreen Room of WAGA-TV Channel 5 in Atlanta priorto their appearance on the “Good Day Atlanta” newsshow. Seated are (front row, left to right) Lucas,Sonja, his mother; Shannon Rio, his sister; andDiego, his father, and (second row) his STAR TeacherPhilip Heier.Lucas Bermudez, a senior at Gwinnett County’s ParkviewHigh School, is the 2005 State PAGE STAR (StudentTeacher Achievement Recognition) Student. He namedhis Advanced Placement Physics teacher, Philip Heier, as hisState PAGE STAR Teacher. Joseph Song, a senior at GwinnettCounty’s Brookwood High School, was named First Runner-upState PAGE STAR Student and chose Dr. Dan Rawlins, hisAdvanced Placement Biology teacher, as his STAR Teacher.The announcement came on April 20 at the 2005 State PAGESTAR Banquet held at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta.Twenty-eight STAR Student Region Winners were finalists in theculminating event of the STAR program, which began earlierthis year with the naming of 466 STAR Students selected fromparticipating public and independent schools from across thestate. The STAR program is coordinated and sponsored by thePAGE Foundation. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and theGeorgia Department of Education are co-sponsors. Now in its47th year, the program has honored more than 19,000 studentsand their teachers for academic excellence. This year, 19 of thefinalists scored 1600 on a single administration of the SATexamination.Bermudez plans to attend Yale University, where he will studyLiterature and Mechanical Engineering. As this year’s StatePAGE STAR Student, he was honored with a $5,000 scholarship10 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

Steven Orr, Region STAR Studentfrom St. Pius X Catholic HighSchool in DeKalb County (far left)joins (left to right) Tom Wommack,president of the PAGE Foundation;Carine Davila, Region STAR Studentfrom Lassiter High School in CobbCounty; with Doug Hopkins andBill Covington; of The Coca-ColaCompany, at the reception,sponsored by The Coca-ColaCompany.▼▼PAGE President Dr.Diane Ray (center)congratulatesLucas Bermudez(left), and PhilipHeier, the 2005State Winners▼Hunter Hopkins, GovernmentalAffairs representative for theGeorgia Chamber ofCommerce, a co-sponsor of theSTAR program, deliversgreetings from the Chamber.from BellSouth, presented by Chair of thePAGE Foundation and Senior Director forExternal Affairs for BellSouth Carolyn Lovett.His chosen State PAGE STAR Teacher PhilipHeier received a $2,500 cash award from theFrances Wood Wilson Foundation, presentedby its Executive Vice President Blitch Ann Bird.First Runner-up Joseph Song plans to attendeither Duke University or Emory University inthe fall, and plans to study biomedical engineeringor biology. PAGE President Dr. DianeRay presented him with a $1,000 scholarshipfrom the PAGE Foundation.Bill Covington, key account manager for TheCoca-Cola Company, also presented the FirstRunner-up with The Coca-Cola Scholarship of$1,000. Mozelle Christian, the first director ofthe STAR program, presented the FirstRunner-up State PAGE STAR Teacher Dr. DanRawlins with the Mozelle Christian Award ofPresenting the Class of 2005 STAR Students and Teachers: 39 high school STAR Students and Teachers attended the 2005 State PAGESTAR 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 AGLResources sponsored the State Banquet. The Coca-ColaCompany also sponsored the evening’s reception and awardedeach of the 28 finalists with a $100 gift.Following the regional winner interviews by Nwandi Lawson,senior correspondent for Georgia Public Broadcasting, PAGEExecutive Director Dr. Allene Magill and Carolyn Lovett presentedeach of the finalists and teachers a hand-blown glassstar. At their region events, region winners received a $500 cashaward from the Cecil B. Day Foundation. Sponsors of this year’sevent were represented by Georgia Chamber of CommerceGovernmental Affairs Representative Hunter Hopkins andDirector of Corporate Relations for AGL Resources and a PAGEFoundation Trustee Rene Pennington.◆▼The 2005 First Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student Joseph Song(right), a senior at Gwinnett County’s Brookwood High School, andhis STAR Teacher Dr. Dan Rawlins, who taught Song AdvancedPlacement biology and was a STAR Student himself.▼2005 Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student Joseph Song (secondfrom left), accepts a $1,000 Scholarship from The Coca-ColaCompany presented by Coca-Cola representative Bill Covington(far left) and a $1,000 Scholarship from the PAGE Foundationpresented by PAGE President Dr. Diane Ray (far right). Joining themfor the presentation is Mozelle Christian (second from right), firstdirector of the STAR Program. Five years ago Christian establishedthe $500 Mozelle Christian Award to honor the Runner-up StatePAGE STAR Teacher.▼The regional winners posed for a groupphoto prior to the Judge’s Luncheon.Pictured here are the 28 finalists (leftfrom bottom of stairs to top) CarineDavilla,, of Marietta; Michelle Brouner,of Atlanta; Saranya Selvaraj, of Lilburn;Elizabeth Godbey, of St. Simons Island;Sarah Richards, of Snellville; SarangShah, of Acworth; Johannes Liem, ofAlpharetta; Tony Fan, of Marietta; andZach Strother, of Martinez, and (centerrow, from bottom to top) Jenny Zhang,of Duluth; Ginger Tanton, ofLawrenceville; Ming Jyh Lin Jr., ofValdosta; Allie Chambers, of Gray;Steven Orr, of Atlanta; BriannaVeenstra, of Columbus; NakulShekhawat, of Evans; and Joseph Song,of Snellville, and (right row, frombottom to top) Brad Hamilton, ofGainesville; James Hildreth, of Bremen;Marsha Kocherla, of Albany; GrantFiddyment, of Alpharetta; MitchCostley, of Conyers; Sylvia Richardson,of Cumming; Wei Ho, of Atlanta;Thomas Harley, of Hampton; GregHowe, 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 WinnersAppling County Mary Ann EllisAtkinson County Tammy WoodAtlanta CityGayle BrownAtlanta City Robin-Lynn ClemmonsBacon County Gail WilliamsBaldwin County Ann BertoliBanks County Lesa DuncanBarrow County Matt PerryBartow County Sara CrewsBen Hill County Crimora StanleyBerrien County Tara M. JonesBibb County Travis H. DottererBleckley County Andrea WilliamsBrantley County Angela B. HaneyBremen City Scott Hodges*Brooks County Marrion FlowersBryan County Patrick J. ParusoBuford CityTim HarrisBulloch County Lynda WebbBurke County Karen ReevesButts County Marsha WilliamsCalhoun CityGreg GreenCamden County Susan E. McMurrayCandler County DeWayne CollinsCarroll County Bobbie EmmonsCarrollton CityJan WattsCartersville City Jeri-Lyn FlowersCatoosa County Linda H. WestCharlton County Shirley CrewsChatham County Kevin Gavin*Chattooga County Steven J. HayesCherokee County Kit MillerChickamauga City Ed ClendenenCity of Decatur Jeanne Duncan LeeClarke County Elaine Pappas*Clayton County Robert Alan PutnamClinch County Mary Ruth HarperCobb County Dr. Cheryl Crooks*Cobb County Dr. Tengiz Shonia*Cobb County Dr. Wylie Brown*Coffee County Dana DavenportColquitt County Kathy D. WrightColumbia County Charles P. Heywood*Columbia County John Cato*Commerce City Steve SavageCook County Debra RaglandCoweta County Robert PatrickCrawford County Michael YaughnCrisp County Susan McKinneyDade County Jessie PottsDalton City Mary Ann JohnstonDawson County Sherry BrowningDecatur County Roy ZimmermanDeKalb County Barbara Broadway*DeKalb County Dr. Jessica K. Hunt*DeKalb County Kevin Mullally*Dodge County Charlotte C. MillerDooly County Michelle S. IngramDougherty County Jaime Claymore*Douglas County John R. SiegelDublin City Susan ThorntonEarly County Tammy Taylor KilgoreEffingham County Kristen RichardsElbert County Ronnie KiddEmanuel County Melanie FryeEvans County Teresa PerkinsFannin County Sandra BurlingameFayette County Emily WillisFloyd County Ashleigh Nicole HugginsForsyth County Mary Moffit*Franklin County John H. BeasleyFulton County Carol Koenig*Fulton County Ross Friedman*Gainesville City Michael McCannGilmer County Dan WorleyGlascock County Dale GarnerGlynn County Williard Owen Pool*Gordon County Alan HughesGrady County Kaye G. HelmsGreene County James M. EatonGwinnett County Becky Duvall*Gwinnett County Dr. Dan R. Rawlins*Gwinnett County Joe S. O’Neal*Gwinnett County Philip Heier*Gwinnett County Susan Henderson*Gwinnett County Terry Nicholson*Habersham County Martha K. CantrellHall County Margaret Ensley*Hancock County Adrienne HarrisHancock County Doris GarlandHaralson County Paul RamseyHarris County Elizabeth BrooksHart County Eric BerrymanHeard County Paul MixonHenry County Dr. Salvatore Angelica*Houston County Jennifer BowersIrwin County Linda RobertsJackson County Chris EmbrickJasper CountyDoug HuffJeff Davis County Ken ParlorJefferson City Janet SchwartzJefferson County Robert Lee HolbertJenkins County Natalie WhittleJohnson County Teresa PowellJones County Sherry Sanders*Lamar County Carson SelphLanier County Benjamin CulpepperLaurens County Donna PollockLee CountyRobby DavisLiberty County Amanda A. DurdenLincoln County Kathryn P. ThomasLong County Mike McCallLowndes County Margaret Y. McCranieLumpkin County Juanita TiptonMacon County Robert BelflowerMadison County Latana CoileMarietta City Winona RobuckMarion County Olin L. HollomonMcDuffie County Christy BrownMcIntosh County Sandra WilliamsonMeriwether County Noel JordanMiller County Leigh Ann WaltonMitchell County Betsy H. CaldwellMonroe County Susan MeachamMontgomery County Anne L. SmithMorgan County Pam TurnerMurray County Charles LongmireMuscogee County Claire Derr*Newton County Eric AdamsOconee County Dr. Betty Jo WallaceOconee County Randy ReidOglethorpe County David RoperPaulding County Veronica CookPeach County Mary Jean BanterPelham City Michael BoydPickens County Suzette HermannPierce County Anna LewisPike County Elaine F. ManghamPike County Harold YanceyPolk County Carol FugelsoePulaski County Dawne BryanPutnam County Jose DeLoachRabun County Marion “Hap” TruslowRandolph County Victoria BeardRichmond County Caroline MiklosovicRichmond County Debra BrighamRockdale County Dr. Charles Garner Jr.*Rome CityWesley StylesSchley County William RooksScreven County Krista AaronSeminole County Ellen SkewesSeminole County Susan ChamblissSocial Circle City Constance CannonSpalding County Lesa DavisStephens County Donna CollinsStephens County Jennie CliftonStephens County Robert MageeSumter County Matthew CulliferTattnall County Miranda MoseleyTaylor County June KnightTelfair County Jennifer A. JonesTerrell County Don DanielThomas County Ann LarsonThomaston-Upson County Nancy AllenThomasville City Lynn StowersTift CountySandra HuntToombs County Robert W. GeorgeTowns County Daren KingTreutlen County Janice H. WaldenTrion CityAllen HayesTroup County Natalie GivinsTurner County Vicki SherlingTwiggs County Yvonne ButlerUnion County Laureen Karen BatchelorValdosta City Charlotte Duplantis*Vidalia City Cheryl WilliamsWalker County Justin KeithWalton County Caroline RobertsWare County Ricky HarwoodWarren County Jeanie JoesburyWashington County Eloise AdamsWayne County Betty BennerWheeler County Renae EvansWhite County Sara KennedyWhitfield County Michelle BaileyWilcox County Carla G. BrooksWilkes County Debbie McleodWilkinson County Eleanor AnglesWorth County Donna C. DaughtryMay/June 2005 PAGE ONE 13

Foundation NewsGwinnett County’s Berkmar High School isPAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon State ChampionAcademic DecathlonFounding State DirectorHoward Stroud (back row,far left) joins PAGE GeorgiaAcademic Decathlon StateChampions Berkmar HighSchool following theawards presentation. Teammembers include (backrow, left to right) BrandonBall, Matthew Caldwell,Greggory Rothmeier,Stewart Barnes and CoachIV Bray, and (front row, leftto right) Matthew Treager,Michael Brown, ChrisKnight, Jami Mathewsonand Katie Harazin.For the third consecutive year Gwinnett County’s BerkmarHigh School, coached by IV Bray, is the overall PAGEGeorgia Academic Decathlon (GAD) State Champion andthe Division I (large school) winner. Muscogee County’sColumbus High School, coached by Lina Yates, is the Division II(small school) champion. The announcement came Saturdayevening, Feb. 26, 2005, at the PAGE GAD Awards Banquet, theculminating event of the two-day academic competition.Berkmar High School’s team scored the highest points overall inDivision I and II, and was awarded the Howard StroudChampionship trophy. The team represented Georgia at theUnited States Academic Decathlon NationalFinals held in Chicago, Il., in April. The PAGEFoundation, The UPS Foundation, AppleComputer, Inc., the Georgia PowerFoundation, the Georgia Department ofEducation and The Coca-Cola Company sponsorthe Decathlon. The competition takesplace at Berkmar High School and is hosted bythe Gwinnett County Public School System.Other winners include, in Division I (largeschool), First Runner-up Chatham County’sJenkins High School, coached by William Avila, and SecondRunner-up Muscogee County’s Hardaway High School, coachedby Carmen Kimsey. In Division II (small school), Bibb County’sCentral High School, coached by Ira Joseph, was named FirstRunner-up and Walton County’s Monroe Area High School,Columbus High School’s Decathlon team is the 2005 PAGEGeorgia Academic Decathlon Division II Champion and SecondRunner-up in the Apple Computer Super Quiz Oral Relay. Teammembers include (left to right), Coach Lina Yates, Matt Lord,Brianna Veenstra , Julian Hernandez, Tiffanee Huling , EmilyBurden , Cathryn McCrimmon, Joyce Gallatin, SavannahDonahue, Cameron Tommey and Assistant Coach Jan Carter.Chatham County’s Jenkins HighSchool is Division I First Runnerup.Team members include(front row, left to right) GADCoach Jan Avila, Cordae Latson,Julia Degon, Julia Yu and AnnieBockius-Suywn, and (back row,left to right) Chris Sams, ChrisChampagne, Billy Bishop andGAD Coach Bud Avila (notpictured, teammate Luci Mesco).14 PAGE ONEMay/June 2005

Hardaway High School’s Decathlonteam is the 2005 PAGE GeorgiaAcademic Decathlon Division I SecondRunner-up and First Runner-up in theApple Computer Super Quiz OralRelay. Team members include (left toright) Justin di Feliciantonio, JamieWilliams, Kayla Horofker, Josh Rizzo,Preethi Chidambaram, TonyaGilmartin, Rachel Cabarrus, ArchanaChidambaram, Luyando Handia, andCoach Carmen Kimsey.Bibb County’s CentralHigh School is theDivision II First Runner-up.Team members include:(front row, left to right)Lisa Bui, Julie Bui, TaylorWillingham, Bo Brownand coach Ira Joseph, and(back row, left to right)Sameer Gupta, CotyJones, Jeremy Jones andAndrew Conn.coached by Mindy Dess and BradWilliford, was named as SecondRunner-up.More than 240 high school studentsfrom 27 high schools, representing23 school districts, competedin the academic event.During the competition, studentswere tested in seven contentareas: economics, art, languageand literature, mathematics,social science, music and writtenSuper Quiz. In addition, studentsearned points individually inthree communication events:public speaking, a personal interviewand a written essay. The programis unique because each nine-member team is made up ofthree “A” students, three “B” students and three “C” students.Each year the program features a different overall curriculumtopic. This year’s topic was “Exploring the Ancient World.”On Saturday afternoon, students participated in the excitingSuper Quiz Oral Relay, sponsored by Apple Computer, Inc. Duringthe relay, team members competed in a quiz bowl format, keyingin answers to questions regarding this year’s topic, “Astronomy—From Empty Space to Incredible Universe: The Sky is Not theLimit.” Gwinnett County’s Berkmar High School, coached by IVBray, was named this year’s Apple Computer Super Quiz Oral RelayChampion; Muscogee County’s Hardaway High School, coachedby Carmen Kimsey, was First Runner-Up; and Muscogee County’sColumbus High, coach by Lina Yates, was Second Runner-Up.The decathlon culminated with the PAGE GAD AwardsWalton County’s Monroe Area High School is the Division II Second Runner-up. Teammembers include: (front row, left to right) Mondrekio Robertson, Matthew Chapman, KacieMilligan, Tara Queen and Alice Richardson and (back row, left to right) Coach Brad Williford,Joel Cofield, Stephen Noble, Kyle Queen, Kevin Spears, Billy Diehl and Coach Mindy Dess.Banquet held Saturday evening at the Atlanta Marriott GwinnettPlace, during which the highest-scoring students were awardedboth team and individual medals in the various competition categoriesand the state champion was announced. In addition, aspecial award was presented to The UPS Foundation ProgramManager Scott Fasnacht acknowledging the years of support,through financial donation and volunteer involvement, given byThe UPS Foundation to the PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlonprogram. Berkmar High School’s Coach IV Bray was also citedwith a special presentation as a dedicated and inspirationalDecathlon coach. David Chandley, meteorologist for Atlanta’sChannel 2, WSB-TV, served as master of ceremonies for theawards banquet.Continued on page 16May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 15

Foundation NewsTHE NINETEENTH ANNUAL PAGE GEORGIA ACADEMIC DECATHLON IN PICTURESThe 2005 Speech Competition goldmedal recipients present their awardwinningspeeches during the GADAwards Banquet. This year’s winnersinclude (left to right): Caitlin Dorne,Cook High School, Honors Division; AliceRichardson, Monroe Area High,Scholastic Division; and Dondy Aponte,Cook High School, Varsity Division.PAGE GAD State Coordinator Dr. Ruth Cowan (left) joinsScott Fasnacht, The UPS Foundation program director,following the presentation of a special award to The UPSFoundation acknowledging the years of financial supportand volunteer involvement given to the PAGE GeorgiaAcademic Decathlon program by UPS and its employees.In recognition of hisdedicated andinspirationalleadership as aDecathlon coach,Berkmar High SchoolGAD Coach IV Bray(right) receives aspecial award fromPAGE GAD StateCoordinator Dr. RuthCowan.Muscogee County’s Columbia High School studentBrianna Veenstra (right) earned special honors asthe highest individual scorer in the Honors Divisionof the Decathlon. Tim Chason, PAGE GeorgiaAcademic Decathlon advisory board member,presents her with her award.16 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

Former Governor Joe Frank Harris is Keynote atFEA in GA Day on Capitol HillOn March 15, 2005, Future Educators of America inGeorgia (FEA in GA) chapter members converged fortheir annual Day on Capitol Hill. More than 300 FEAmembers representing 23 Georgia high schools gathered at theGeorgia Railroad Depot in Atlanta, where they had the opportunityto meet with their legislators, visit the Capitol and attend aworkshop presented by Deputy Superintendent for InformationTechnology Dr. Mike Hall. His session focused on how technologyis changing Georgia’s classrooms, and he spoke with thefuture educators about how their careers will differ from those oftoday’s teachers.The day’s event culminated in a luncheon with legislatorsand many of Georgia’s educational leaders. Kennan Ducey, ahigh school senior and FEA member from Harris County HighSchool, served as emcee for the event. Barbie Rainwater, an FEAmember from Lee County High School, delivered the inspirationand invocation, and Nicobia Johnson, a member ofNorcross High School’s FEA chapter, led the Pledge ofAllegiance. Athena Alexander, an FEA member from WhiteCounty High School, shared her reflections on the 2004 FEASummer Institute and encouraged FEA members and advisorsto attend this year’s FEA Summer Training (FEAST) to be heldJune 6-8, 2005, at Georgia College & State University inMilledgeville. Following an introduction by Arn st. Cyr, a memberfrom Booker T. Washington High School’s FEA chapter, formerGovernor Joe Frank Harris delivered the keynote address.Governor Harris inspired the future teachers with his thoughtsregarding the impact teachers have on students’ lives.While the students enjoyed the various activities of Day onthe Hill, a panel of judges reviewed entries in the annual scrapbookcompetition as well as the new chapter display competition.The scrapbook competition winners are: Lee County HighSchool, first place; Hardaway High School (Muscogee County),second place; and South Gwinnett High School, third place.Winners of the chapter display competition are: HardawayHigh School, first place; and Lowndes County High Schoolsecond place.Continued on page 18The Lee County High School FEA in GA Chapter captured first placehonors in this year’s Scrapbook Competition. Chapter membersinclude: (front row, left to right) Tori Oxford, Corinne Ellis, KatieWoodward, Barbie Rainwater, FEA Advisor Kim Hopkins andAmanda McNeal, and (back row, left to right) Samantha Shelton,Randi Dean, Ashley Chatman, Anna Gamache and Sara Wells.Muscogee County’s Hardaway High School FEA in GA Chapter wonsecond place honors in the Scrapbook Competition and first placehonors in the Chapter Display Competition. Pictured are (frontrow, left to right) Sonjanique Bennett, Philandria Williams, AnnaRolling and Meredith Welch, and (back row, left to right) AndreaGoldring, Dennis Chauvey, Ashley Sias, Tonya Woodard, BrianJones, Amy Mikulecky, Sung Kwon, Craig Parker and FEA AdvisorWendy Harding.Third place honors in the Scrapbook Contest were awarded toSouth Gwinnett High School’s FEA in GA Chapter. Chaptermembers include: (front row seated, left to right) AyannaCourtney, Belinda Dennis, Courtnay Bell and Skye Mendelson, and(second row, left to right) Nicole Osborne, Simone Jameson,Kristen Williams, Chadeesia Dunkley, Shonitria Anthony and JasiyahKhalil, and (back row, left to right) Nina Ely, Stephanie Childs,Libby Redditt, Molly Redditt, Brett Richards, Ashley Ahmed, GraceJohnson, Dupe Adebayo and FEA Advisor Stacy McLean.Lowndes County High School’s Chapter Display “rocketed” them tosecond place honors. Chapter members include: (left to right) FEAAdvisor Anglia Webb-Crosby, Katie Faulkenhausen, KendraMcKenzie, Keeli Cason, Lauren Coats, Lee Green and James Howel.May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 17

Foundation News(left to right) PAGE Foundation President TomWommack and PAGE Executive Director Dr. AlleneMagill welcome Governor Joe Frank Harris asKeynote Speaker for the FEA in GA Day on CapitolHill Luncheon.Deputy Superintendent Dr. MikeHall talked about howtechnology is changing Georgia’sclassrooms during his workshoppresentation.20th AnniversaryCelebration to be“PAGE Turning”EventThe PAGE Foundation will celebrate its 20thanniversary on Sept. 19, 2005, at a gala banquet to beheld at the Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom in downtownAtlanta. BellSouth-Georgia President PhilJacobs will chair the Host Committee for the signatureevent, which is designed to recognize the peopleand the programs that have contributed to theFoundation’s success. Singled out for special recognitionduring the banquet will be Georgia-PacificFoundation President and former PAGE Foundation Chair CurleyM. Dossman, Jr.“The banquet on Sept. 19 is the first time the PAGEFoundation has been introduced to the community in such aHarris County High School FEA in Georgia Chaptermembers (left to right) Cecily Swecker, MeganHenderson, History teacher and chaperoneRwanda Gates, Serena Mills and Kim Logueparticipated in FEA Day on Capitol Hill activities.During his remarks, former GovernorJoe Frank Harris spoke about theimportant role teachers play in thelives of their students.The next statewide FEA inGA event will be the 2005FEAST (FEA SummerTraining) to be held June 6-8,2005, at Georgia College &State University inMilledgeville. Chapters willspend three days with educationaland communityleaders such as Dr. BetsyRogers, 2003 NationalTeacher of the Year; RandyScott, 2003 Florida Teacherof the Year; Chase Puckett,2005 Georgia Teacher of theYear (invited); Dr. DorothyLeland, President of Georgia College & StateUniversity and Ben Boswell, senior vice president ofWachovia. Information about FEAST is available atwww.pagefoundation.org in the FEA in GA section.A partnership of the PAGE Foundation and PhiDelta Kappa International, FEA in GA is the state’sprogram for Georgia middle and high students whoplan to become educators. Information about FEA inGA can be found at www.pagefoundation.org. Forinformation about starting an FEA in GA chapter inmiddle or high school, contact the PAGEFoundation’s Manager of Student Groups, Mary RuthRay, at fea@pagefoundation.org or toll-free, (888)413-1078. ◆grand and public way,” said FoundationPresident Tom Wommack. “With supportfrom the corporate community we hopeto make this event a very special affairthat pays tribute to the teachers, businessleaders, foundation executives and electedofficials who have made it possible forthe PAGE Foundation to exist and be ofservice to students and teachers. We arevery excited to have Phil Jacobs chair theHost Committee, because he is enormouslyrespected in the business community,which we hope will support thisevent.” Wommack added that a primarypurpose of the anniversary celebration isto raise money for the Foundation andprofessional learning programs such asthe PAGE Teacher Academy.Betsy Palmer, PAGE Foundation trustee and AT&T’s regionalvice president for public affairs, is chairing the committee planningthe gala. Details regarding the purchase of tickets will bemade available through the PAGE Foundation website, which iswww.pagefoundation.org.◆BellSouth-Georgia PresidentPhil Jacobs18 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

Professional Insights | DR. EDIE BELDENProfessional Learning Communities:Nurturing Teacher Leadership andImproving Student AchievementDR. EDIE BELDENWith accountability and annual yearlyprogress weighing heavily on theshoulders of administrators andteachers, is it time to for schools and school systemsto give serious consideration to professionallearning communities?WHAT A PROFESSIONAL LEARNINGCOMMUNITY IS AND IS NOTThe concept and term of professional learningcommunity has been mitigated, perhapseven compromised, to mean any number ofthings, such as extending classroom practicesinto the community, bringing community personnelinto the school to connect the curriculumto real-life experiences and implementingparent-faculty advisory councils. While all ofthese are worthy efforts, they do not constituteprofessional learning communities.In its purest form, a professional learningcommunity is a group of adults in a school whobond together for the purpose of pursuing aclear and shared vision for student learning,engage in individual and collective collaborativeactivities to achieve their purpose and takecollective responsibility for student learning.The purpose is simple: to improve the learningand achievement of every student.Learning communities are built around theneeds of students. Faculty, staff and parentswork to create a learning climate that focuses onreflective practice, collegiality, professionaldevelopment and shared accountability.CREATING A CLIMATE AND CULTURE FORBUILDING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIESProfessional learning communities emergewhen there is a nurturing and nourishing environment.To build a climate that fosters learning,certain conditions must be present.Cambridgeport School (K-8) in Cambridge,Massachusetts found these conditions to beessential to the development and sustainabilityof their professional learning community:1. Purposeful, thoughtful, school-wide valuesdeveloped by the professional community withinput from families and students;2. Respect for the work that teachers do;3. Time to work and reflect together; and4. Shared leadership where the professionalstaff plays a strong role and where paraprofessionalsand families help lead the learning community.(Learning Communities: A New Definition ofProfessional Development,Massachusetts ASCD FOCUS, Winter 2004.www.mascd.org/docs/focwin04.htm.Another group has identified 10 qualities necessaryfor building a professional learning community.1. Safety and Trust: Participants reveal theirconcerns, problems, and weaknesses in anatmosphere of safety and trust.2. Openness: Participants share their thoughtsand feelings without retribution.3. Respect: Members feel they are valued andrespected.4. Responsiveness: Members respond respectfullyto each other and the facilitator respondsquickly to participants.5. Collaboration: Collaborative activities, programs,projects and discussions are the buildingblocks of success.6. Relevance: Relating subject matter andteaching practices enhances learning outcomes.Learningcommunities arebuilt around theneeds of students.Faculty, staff andparents work tocreate a learningclimate thatfocuses onreflective practice,collegiality,professionaldevelopment andsharedaccountability.May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 19

RESOURCESDuFour, Richard. Building a Professional Learning Community:For System Leaders, It Means Allowing Autonomy WithinDefined Parameters, The School Administrator, May 2003.www.findarticles.com. In the Advanced Search/Free ArticlesOnly, type in Richard DuFour, School Administrator, click onsearch.DuFour, Richard. What is a Professional Learning Community?Educational Leadership, 61(8), May 2004, 6-11.Faculty Learning Communities: Ten Necessary Qualities forBuilding Community.www.units.muohio.edu/flc/qualities.shtmlHord. S. M. Professional Learning Communities: Communitiesof Continuous Inquiry and Improvement. SouthwesternEducational Development Laboratory, 1997.www.sedl.org/pubs/change34/plc-cha34.pdfJolly, Ann. A Facilitator’s Guide to Professional Learning Teams.Southeastern Region Vision for Education (SERVE), 2005. 192pages.www.serve.org/Products/ProdPub.php Scroll down to publication.LaFee, Scott. Professional Learning Communities, The SchoolAdministrator. May 2003. Web Edition.www.aasa.org/publications/sa/2003_05/LaFee.htmLearning Communities: A New Definition of ProfessionalDevelopment. Massachusetts ASCD FOCUS, Winter, 2004.www.mascd.org/docs/focwin04.htmLearning Communities. National Staff Development Council.Contains an excellent annotated bibliography.www.nsdc.org/standards/learningcommunities.cfmProfessional Development Strategies that Improve Instruction:Professional Learning Communities. www.annenberginstitute.org/publications/plc.htmlClick on PDF at the bottom of displayed document.Professional Learning Communities Hold Promise for Schools,November 2004. Web Edition.www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/50Queensland School Reform Longitudinal Study. The State ofQueensland, Department of Education, 2004.www.education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/curriculum-framework/qsrlsRichardson, Joan. Team Learning: Teachers Who LearnTogether Improve Together. National Staff DevelopmentCouncil, March, 2001.www.nsdc.org/library/publications/results/res3-01rich.cfm7. Challenge: Expectations for personaland learner outcomes are high and createa sense of progress, accomplishment andscholarship.8. Enjoyment: Activities include opportunitiesto celebrate, lighten-up, or bond.9. Esprit de Corps Sharing: Grade-level,team, school and system outcomes buildspride, loyalty and understanding.10. Empowerment: Participants gain anew sense of worth—effectiveness, confidenceand competence.(Faculty Learning Communities: TenNecessary Qualities for BuildingCommunity. www.units.muohio.edu/flc/qualities.shtml ).CHANGING ROLESMany authors reference role changesthat must take place in the school for professionallearning communities to thrive.TEACHERS:Teachers must not only see themselvesas leaders, but they must also act as leaders.Not only must they be able to identifytheir problems, they must also be willingto share it with the group. They must sharetheir successes too. They must make aconscious effort to shift away from theirisolationism to visit other classrooms,evaluate and support their colleagues.20 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

1. What do we wantstudents to learn?2. How will we knowwhen each student haslearned it?3. How will werespond when astudent experiencesdifficulty in learning?It is the answer tothe third question thatseparates learningcommunities fromtraditional schools.TOOLS USEFUL IN ADVANCING THEWORK OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNINGCOMMUNITIESThe Annenberg Institute for SchoolReform has, in their work with variousschool systems across the nation, created,adapted and identified tools that are usefulin starting and maintaining the developmentof professional learning communities.• Rubrics describing key indicators areneeded to identify, assess and analyzeprogress.• Frameworks are needed for contentand group process.• Central office review should be conductedto assess the capacity of the central officeto support schools in student achievement.• Research frameworks of broadlyaccepted ideas on student learning, teachercollaboration, pedagogical practices andorganizational change are needed to providea sound base for initiating change.• Video packages on topics such as peerobservation, reviewing student work, andleadership development should be purchasedor developed.Web-based resources should be identifiedto give participants access to the latestresearch and practices nationwide.(Professional Development Strategiesthat Improve Instruction: ProfessionalLearning Communities. www.annenberginstitute.org/publications/plc.html).Click on PDF at the bottom of displayeddocument.AN INTERNATIONAL STUDY ONPROFESSIONAL LEARNINGCOMMUNITIESThe Department of Education, State ofQueensland, Australia completed andpublished in 2004 a three year study onProfessional Learning Communities. Thestudy concluded that most teachersreported low levels of organizational supportfor their efforts. The teachers alsoexperienced varying degrees of teacherempowerment; however, there was greateruse of more productive classroom practices.The use of best practices correlatedhighly with the teachers’ acceptance oftheir collective responsibility for studentlearning; the overall level of professionallearning within a school; and the intensityof leadership focused on teaching. Thesefindings are consistent with the body ofresearch conducted in the United Stateson professional learning communities.(Queensland School Reform LongitudinalStudy, the State of Queensland,Department of Education, 2004.www.education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/curriculum-framework/qsrls).HOW-TO PUBLICATIONSThere are two documents that are especiallyhelpful in starting up professionallearning communities and in monitoringtheir development and progress. Eachdocument is in a PDF format and can bedownloaded in it is entirety. Both documentsare lengthy and have graphics. Aprinted document may also be ordered.Professional Learning Communities:Communities of Continuous Inquiry andImprovement (1997) is available fromSouthwestern Educational DevelopmentLaboratory and provides a succinctoverview of the research on the topic. It is72 pages in length. It is available atwww.sedl.org/pubs/change34/plc-cha34.pdfA very recent publication bySoutheastern Region Vision for Education(SERVE), A Facilitator’s Guide toProfessional Learning Teams (2005) is anexcellent source for those responsible fordeveloping professional learning communities.It is available at www.serve.org/Products/ProdPub.php. Scroll down andclick on document. It is 192 pages inlength.◆22 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

Legal | BY MARGARET PRICE, LEGISLATIVE SERVICES MANAGER & STAFF ATTORNEYReport from the Capitol –Legislative Wrap-up for 2005MARGARET PRICEThe Georgia General Assembly recessedone day early this year, wrapping up awhirlwind session that included the passageof several important pieces of educationand retirement legislation.GOVERNOR PERDUE’SEDUCATION PACKAGE• Senate Bill 33, Virtual School Bill: Enablesstudents to enroll in state-funded online courses.All students in Georgia who are age 21 or youngerare eligible, though public school students will begiven enrollment priority for the 2,667 spots.Students may take up to six courses a year, free ofcharge. In order to fund the Virtual High School,the State Department of Education will establisha grant account with funds appropriated by theGeorgia General Assembly. The amount of fundsrequested by the State Board of Education for thegrant account will be the amount that virtual studentswould have earned had they been enrolledin equivalent classes in local systems. All teachersproviding instruction for the Virtual Schoolwill be certified by the Professional StandardsCommission (PSC).• Senate Bill 34, Master Teacher Bill:Master Teacher Program: The PSC is chargedwith establishing criteria for the program which,at a minimum, will include evidence of studentachievement and progress. Eligible public schoolteachers must have three or more years of experienceand must submit an application to thePSC for Master Certification. If the PSC bestowsthis honorary certification, Master Certificationwill last for no more than seven years.Academic Coach Program: SB 34 also authorizescreation of the Academic Coach Program, tobe established by the State Board of Education.The program will provide financial reward forpublic school teachers who exhibit excellence inthe classroom and mentor other public schoolteachers. Academic Coaches must first achieveMaster Certification before becoming AcademicCoaches. In order to receive the pay incentive,coaches must serve schools who have receivedan unacceptable rating for two or more consecutiveyears. The governor will appoint a MasterTeacher and Academic Coach ImplementationCommittee to advise the PSC and the State Boardof Education on the development and implementationof the two programs.National Board Certification: SB 34 alsoaligns the policies regarding National BoardCertification with theAcademic Coach Program.Grandfathered into the oldlaw are teachers who receiveinitial certification before July1, 2006, or who are enrolled inthe process of attaining theirNational Certification (asdetermined by the PSC) on orbefore March 1, 2005. Theseteachers may receive the 10percent pay incentive, regardlessof what schools they arein, even after subsequentrenewals of certification.However, teachers who didnot enroll in the process byMarch 1, 2005, must teach at ahigh needs school in order toearn the 10 percent payincentive. High needs schoolsare those which receive unacceptableratings for a periodof two of more consecutiveyears.Professional LiabilityInsurance: The legislationauthorizes the Department ofAdministrative Services to provide professionalliability insurance to certified personnel who areemployed by a local system and to student teachersenrolled in Georgia’s public and private collegesor universities. The state is now in theMay/June 2005 PAGE ONE 23

process of seeking bids for a liability policy.A state liability policy would provide thesame coverage most school districts alreadyprovide. It would not provide protection foreducators in criminal, certification oremployment-related matters.• Senate Bill 35, Funding Flexibility &Class-Size Bill:Program Weights: The state authorizedslight changes in education programweights in several areas.Fiscal Transparency: The legislationmandates that the State Board of Educationdevelop rules no later than Oct. 1, 2005,requiring local boards to provide informationon school site budget and expenditureinformation and site average class size bygrade to members of the school counciland the general public.Spending Flexibility: SB 35 extends theflexibility on expenditure controls that wasinitially implemented in the 2003-04 schoolyear for one more year. Systems shall spend100 percent of funds designated for directinstructional costs on direct instructionalcosts at the system level. One hundred percentof funds designated for EIP shall bespent on EIP at the system level. One hundredpercent of funds designated for mediacenter costs shall be spent for such costs atthe system level. Ninety percent of fundsdesignated for professional developmentshall be spent on professional developmentat the system level.Class Size Reduction Delay: SB 35allows the state to delay mandatory classsizereduction in grades 4-12 for two moreyears. PAGE advocated strongly against thetwo-year delay, noting the improvement instate revenues and the need for a delay ofonly one more year.System Averaging & Class-SizeExpansion: SB 35 allows the State Board ofEducation to provide for a system averagemaximum class size that shall not exceedthe funding class size by more than 20 percentfor math, science, social studies or languagearts. For each instructional program,the maximum number of students may notexceed the system average maximum classsize by more than two students.Charter Schools: SB 35 places all of theresponsibility for promulgating rules andregulations that govern the contents of acharter petition in the hands of the StateBoard of Education rather than designatingthe requirements in law. The bill alsoprovides that a group of two or more localschools may petition as a single charterpetitioner. A group charter petition maybe comprised of all the schools in a highschool cluster which means a high schooland all of the middle and elementaryschools which contain students whomatriculate to such high schools. The billalso gives charter schools a blanketexemption from Title 20 and any state orlocal rule or regulation. In exchange forsuch a waiver, the charter school agrees tomeet or exceed the performance basedgoals included in the charter. This bill alsosets forth enrollment preferences, makeschanges to amendment and renewal provisions,and makes changes to the fundingprovisions for charter schools.FY 2006 EDUCATIONBUDGET HIGHLIGHTS(Amounts in parenthesis notate reductionsfrom the FY 2005 budget, while other amountsrepresent additions to FY 2005 budget)Academic Coach Program• Creation of Science Teacher MentorProgram $2,000,000State Liability Policy• Liability insurance for educators$1,300,000Georgia Virtual School• Provide Funding for the GA VirtualSchool Initiative $1,385,000National Board Certification• Increase funding for National BoardCertification to provide 10 percentbonuses for teachers earning new certification$635,000Salary Increase• Provide for a two percent increase for busdrivers and lunchroom workers, effective7/1/05 $2,314,506• Provide a two percent increase in statesalary scale for teachers, effective9/1/05 $103,545,317Health Insurance• Adjust QBE to reflect an adjustment inthe employer share of the State HealthBenefit Plan $21,576,229Public School Employees RetirementSystem• Increase funding for benefits from $13 to$13.50 per month, per year of service$2,801,300Three O’Clock Project• Eliminate deferred funds for the ThreeO’Clock Project contract ($100,000)Global Achievers Project• Eliminate the Global AchieversInternational contract ($139,750)Southern Center for InternationalStudies• Eliminate the Southern Center for24 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

International Studies contract and transferfund to the Career/Tech program($960,232)Charter School Planning Grants• Reduce funding for charter school planninggrants ($4,491)K-12 Internet Access• Reduce funding for K-12 Internet Access($109,330)Migrant Education• Reduce funding for Migrant Education($8,026)Pay for Performance• Eliminate funding for Pay forPerformance to reflect final year of programphase out in FY ’05 ($2,667,165)State Reading & Math• Reduce non-designated funds for theReading & Math Program to reflectreceipt of over $200,000,000 in federalfunds over next six years ($3,326,913)OTHER SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIONTax BreaksHB 5 provides for a sales tax holiday forcertain school supplies, footwear, computers,and computer-related accessories. Theholiday will last from July 28, 2005, to July31, 2005.HB 263 allows teachers to deduct up to$250 on their Georgia income taxes for thepurchase of certain classroom supplies,equipment and material. Governor Perduesigned this legislation into law before theend of the 2005 session to enable teachersto being taking the deduction immediately.RetirementHB 495 expands the applicability of lastsession’s Return to Work law. RESA employeesand improvement specialists are addedto the list of retired educators who mayreturn to work if they retired under TRSbefore Dec. 31, 2003.HB 460 makes many innocuous changesin the laws of Georgia’s public retirementsystems to ensure that such systems arealigned with the Internal Revenue Code.HB 319 allows Georgia’s large retirementsystems to invest in Exchange Traded Funds(ETF’S). ETF’S own a collection of stockswhich can be bought and traded throughoutthe whole day and allow for greater tradingflexibility, unlike mutual funds, which mayonly be traded at the end of the day. PAGElobbyists fought diligently and successfullyto prevent the attachment of amendmentsto HB 319 which would have allowed TRS tobe invested in venture capital.Teachers & StudentsHB 437 expands the exemption frompublic disclosure (home addresses, hometelephone numbers, social security numbersor medical information) of teachers, andemployees of public schools to include“public employees.”HB 553 prevents colleges and universitiesfrom requiring students to join a professionalorganization as a condition ofenrollment in a degree program.HB 678 allows private schools to conductprayer before athletic events held onthe campus of the private school whensuch school is hosting an event with a publicschool.SB 272, called the Ryan Boslet Bill, directsthe State Board of Education to develop asingle, comprehensive form for use in physicalexaminations before students participatein interscholastic extracurricular activities.The form will be used at the elementaryand secondary levels.HB 217 requires that athletic trainers inelementary and secondary public and privateschools be licensed. An exception isprovided for educators and volunteers whodo not hold themselves out to be athletictrainers and for student and assistant trainers.HR 50 provides for the creation of a jointAs yourknowledge grows,your influencemultiplies.study committee on AgriculturalEducation.SR 453 provides for the creation of aSenate Study Committee on theElementary School Foreign LanguageProgram.School BoardsSB 98 authorizes school systems to offera more extensive menu of insurance benefitsto school board members.Pre-KSR 21 creates the Joint Early LearningInitiative Commission to study qualityearly care and learning opportunities for allchildren, especially at-risk children frombirth to age five.Antiquated Education Laws RepealedHB 26 repeals the Governor’s authorityto suspend compulsory attendance laws.HB 27 repeals provisions relating to elementaryand secondary education grants.HB 372 repeals a law allowing theGeorgia Education Authority to lease to privateschools.HB 373 repeals a provision relating to theeligibility of public school teachers andemployees who are covered by a localretirement fund who accept employmentwith nonsectarian schools.◆ONLINE ADVANCEDDEGREES ANDCOURSES FORTEACHERS• Master of Sciencein Education–M.S.Ed.• Doctor of Education–Ed.D.• Ph.D. in Education• Graduate CoursesYou need ways to help more studentssucceed. Our online programs aredeveloped specifically to help youreach this goal. Continue teachingwhile you learn new skills you canapply immediately in your classroom.Accredited by The Higher Learning Commissionand a member of the North Central Association.www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org;312-263-0456Call now. Ask for Marcus.888-627-1153www.degrees4teachers.net/apo5May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 25

Members in the NewsTHE 2006 GEORGIA TEACHEROF THE YEARDr. Brenda Shuman-Riley, English andhonors literature/writing teacher atDublin High School in Dublin City, washonored last month as the 2006 GeorgiaTeacher of the Year.A veteran teacher who began her careerin 1972, Dr. Shuman-Riley says that hergreatest accomplishment has been “pushingmy own personal envelope.” Believingthat she could impact education as anadministrator, Dr. Shuman-Riley pursuedher advanced degrees and later becamean assistant principal, principal and educationalconsultant. After working foryears in administration, Dr. Shuman-Rileywent back to teaching. “I returned to theclassroom because I have been first andforemost a teacher,” she says. “I love mystudents the way my mother loved me—with high expectations, discipline andpride.”Dublin High School Principal WilliamNisbet describes Dr. Shuman-Riley as ateacher’s teacher. “She is a teacher whoworks with all students and one who hasthe ability to get her students involved,interested and most importantly, getsthem to learn and understand the materialbeing taught.”Dr. Shuman-Riley has discovered innovativeways to challenge her students. Oneunique project had students research anddesign time capsules that are currentlydisplayed at the school. Students havealso created Memory Books, personal narrativesof 16 chapters that include artifactsand anecdotes tracing their lives frombirth to graduation.The veteran teacher says her greatestrewards come when “parents welcome meas their child’s teacher because they heardI was a good teacher, or when a colleagueasks to observe my classroom, or when Ihave a yearbook dedicated to me in justmy second year at the school. Then I knowmy mother was right; there is no highercalling than to be a teacher.”Equally important to Dr. Shuman-Rileyis her work in the community. She volunteersat local hospitals, and coordinates agift drive for underprivileged childrenaround the world. She also encourages herstudents to get involved in communityactivities. “I firmly believe that I can neverask of my students that which I am unwillingto do.”Dublin High School English teacherand 2006 Georgia Teacher of the YearDr. Brenda Shuman-RileyThe Georgia Teacher of the Year is aneducational ambassador for all Georgiapublic schools. The winner advocates forall school systems, students and teachers.The winner goes on a one-year sabbaticalduring which he or she speaks throughoutthe state. The teacher also conducts staffdevelopment activities for teachers andparents, serves on statewide committeesand participates in a number of statewideconferences.◆PAGE LettersPAGE Planner2004-05June 20056-8 FEA Summer Training (FEAST), GA College& State University, Milledgeville, GA21-23 Pre-Conference (Mentoring)—Atlanta,Mariott Gwinnett Place24-25 Summer Conference—Atlanta,Mariott Gwinnett Placeb* For a complete listing of topics, speakers andlocations go to www.pageinc.org and click onthe heading Conferences.Dear PAGE Academic BowlCoordinator:On Behalf of Brookstone MiddleSchool Academic Team, I would like toexpress appreciation for your coordinationof the 2005 Academic Bowl forMiddle Grades. We have enjoyed everytournament throughout the seasonthat culminated in our winning theGeorgia State Championship.JYour organization is to be commendedfor the professional and efficientcoordination of all aspects ofeach tournament. It is apparent thatyour emphasis is on the students. Youhave made every effort not only tohighlight their achievements, but alsoto focus on the benefits of participation.Your overall concern is for the studentsas children as well as competitors.We thoroughly enjoyed the programat The 755 Club at Turner Field. Whatan exciting venue for the students aswell as their parents and teachers!Again, thank you for a wonderful seasonand for all you do to provide such abeneficial program for our students.Sincerely,Mrs. Linda WallmanAcademic Team Sponsor26 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

TRS Introduces New OnlineMember and Retiree AccountManagement DesktopsWith the launch of these new self-servicewebsites, located on the TRS websitewww.trsga.com, members and retireescan manage their accounts online via asecure internet connection, from anywhereat anytime. All they will need is acomputer with Internet access and, withjust a few clicks of a mouse, they can viewand maintain information previouslyrequiring a phone call, form or writtenacknowledgement.The TRS Member and Retiree Desktopswere designed with one goal in mind—tomake doing business with TRS as easy aspossible. Jeffrey L. Ezell, TRS executivedirector, states, “We understand the needour members and retirees have to accesstheir accounts at their convenience. Welistened to those needs and responded bydeveloping a robust online applicationthat allows them to view the informationwe have on file and manage certainaspects of their accounts 24 hours a day,seven days a week without having to speakdirectly with a TRS representative.”With the click of a mouse, both membersand retirees can register for anaccount that allows them to securely viewand manage their information. “They willappreciate how easy it is to navigatethrough the site. And, when changes oradditions are made to an account, theycan immediately see the results and walkaway knowing that their information hasbeen automatically updated in the TRSdatabase,” Ezell explains.To access the Account Managementsection of the site, members and retireessimply go to the TRS website and click ontheir respective tab (Active Members orRetirees), and then click on the AccountManagement button. The user will then beprompted to sign up for an account,including creating a user ID and password.These will be required each time auser logs in to the site. Because we areenabling the management of sensitive andconfidential information via the Internet,we have gone to great lengths to install anetwork security software program thatsafeguards members and retirees accountinformation from theft, loss and/or damage.With this new addition,members can now view theiraccount information andprint a copy at any time.Ezell explains, “TRS receivesabout 15,000 requests a year to print andmail out mid-year account balance statementsand this site will allow our membersto print them on demand.” Memberswill also have the ability to generate retirementbenefit estimates using their inputand the actual data contained in their TRSaccount. Another benefit is the inclusionof a service purchase calculator allowingmembers to calculate or to estimate variousservice purchase costs, initially TRSwithdrawn service and airtime. Addressinformation and changes, data we previouslydid not capture from our members,will be captured through our new onlineemployer reporting process.“One of the most frequent commentsreceived from the retirement survey wedistribute to all new retirees is that theywant the ability to view their TRS account.We took it a step further and built a selfservicewebsite that not only allows ourretirees to view their account, but to managecertain aspects of it as well,” says Ezell.Retirees now have the ability to view theirpersonal and account information, currentand past 1099R’s, current payments,payment history and beneficiary information,as well as the ability to updateaddress, EFT and federal and state taxinformation.◆Where are you going?Explore the Troy Campus in Phenix City,AL that offers master’s and specialistdegrees in Elementary Education andEducational Leadership.• Classes are offered by tape and on theweekends• These degrees qualify you forcertification in Georgia and AlabamaA future of opportunities.Contact Jack Miller, Director of Distance LearningToll Free 866-876-9787 EXT 5129/5106 or e-mail jmiller@troy.eduMay/June 2005 PAGE ONE 27

Looking for somegreat places to takeyour students for funand educational fieldtrips this year?Here’s a list of exciting andinteresting field trip destinations inthe Georgia and Atlanta area:Atlanta BravesTurner FieldAtlanta, GA 30302(404) 614-2310atlantabraves.comAtlanta Symphony1292 Peachtree StreetSuite 300Atlanta, GA 30309(404) 733-4870atlantasymphony.orgCNN Studio ToursOne CNN CenterAtlanta, GA 30348(877) 4 CNN TOURcnn.com/StudioTour/Elachee Nature Science Center2125 Elachee DriveGainesville, GA 30504(770) 535-1976elachee.orgGeorgia State Parks andHistorical Sites2 MLK Jr. Dr., Suite 1354Atlanta, GA 30334(404) 656-2770GeorgiaStateParks.orgImagine It!—Children’s Museum of Atlanta275 Centennial Olympic DriveAtlanta, GA 30313404-659-KIDSchildrensmuseumatl.orgJimmy Carter PresidentialLibrary and Museum441 Freedom ParkwayAtlanta, GA 30307(404) 865-7101jimmycarterlibrary.orgPort ColumbusColumbus, GA 30075(706) 327-9798portcolumbus.orgRoswell MagnoliaStorytelling Festival617 Atlanta StreetRoswell, GA 30075(770) 640-3253Southeastern Railway MuseumDuluth, GA 30096(770) 476-2013srmduluth.orgStone Mountain ParkStone Mountain, GA(770) 498-5636stonemountainpark.comU.S. Space CampOne Tranquility BaseHuntsville, AL 35805(800) 637-7223spacecamp.comWorld of Coca-Cola55 Martin Luther King DriveAtlanta, GA 30303(404) 676-6074woccatlanta.comZoo Atlanta800 Cherokee AvenueAtlanta, GA 30315(404) 624-5822zooatlanta.org.◆28 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

ADVERTISEMENTGraduate Programs • Bagwell College of EducationKennesaw State University • 1000 Chastain Road Box #0120 • Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-5591About KSUKennesaw State University is a dynamic, rapidly growing institutionthat is committed to excellence in teaching research and service. KSUcurrently has an enrollment of over 17,000 students. With a longstandingtradition of outstanding education. KSU is an institution committedto serving the continuing academic, professional, cultural andsocial needs of local, state, national and international communities.The Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University is thesecond largest teacher preparation of teachers and has one of thelargest number of Educational Leaders graduates in the state ofGeorgia.Education is a rapidly changing profession – and the graduate programsin education in the Bagwell College of Education and theProfessional Teacher Education Unit atKennesaw State University offer you theopportunity to learn the latest strategies to bean effective expert in learning to bring studentsto high levels of learning througheffective, research-based practices in classroominstruction, and who enhance thestructures that support all learning.The Collaborative Development ofExpertise in Teaching and LearningThe Master of Education degree programat the Bagwell College of Education is deliveredthrough a conceptual frameworkknown as the Collaborative Development ofExpertise in Teaching and Learning. Thismodel is designed to enhance the professionalknowledge, skills and dispositions of graduate students ineducation. To that end, the Bagwell College of Education and theProfessional Teacher Unit, is committed todeveloping expertise among all candidatesin intial and advanced programs as teachersand leaders who possess the capability,intent, and expertise to facilitate high levelsof learning in all of their students.Finally, the Bagwell College ofEducation and the Professional TeacherEducation Unit recognizes, values anddemonstrates collaborative practices acrossthe college and university and extends collaborationto the community at large.Through this collaboration with professionalsin the university, the public and privateschools, parents and other partners, theultimate goal is to assist Georgia Schools in bringing all students tohigh levels of learning.The Bagwell College of Educationoffers the following Programs inGraduate Education:• M.Ed. Adolescent Education (4-12)• M.Ed. Educational Leadership• M.Ed. Elementary and EarlyChildhood Education (P-5)• M.Ed. Special EducationNon-Degree Programs• Certified teachers may apply foradmission to pursue non-degreecourse work leading to endorsementsor add-ons in the followingcourse work:• Educational Leadership• English to Speakers of otherLanguages (ESOL)• Interrelated Special Education (IRR)• Learning Disabilities (LD)• Behavior Disorders (BD)• Mental Retardation (MR)• Preschool Special Education• ReadingBenefits of the M.Ed. Program• Classes scheduled to accommodateworking and non-traditional age students.• Many classes scheduled for onenight a week.• Expert Advisement.• Timely completion of your degreeusuallywithin two years.Praise for M.Ed. Programs atthe Bagwell College of Education• The high quality of relationships atthe Bagwell College of Education.• The availability of faculty to workwith students in need of assistance.• The highest degree of competencydemonstrated by the Bagwell• College of Education faculty in studentsafter graduation.• The diversity of practical trainingavailable at the Bagwell College ofEducation.Graduate programs in education atKennesaw State University are fullyaccredited by the National Council forthe Accreditiation of Teacher Educationand meet the Georgia ProfessionalStandards Commission ProgramStandards (PSC). Source: KennesawState University 2004-2005 GraduateCatalog. www.kennesaw.eduFor further information contact: Graduate Studies in Education, (770) 423-6122 orwww.kennesaw.edu/education

There Was a Good TeacherBy Lynn Waldron, teacher at Carter Elementary School, Bibb CountyReading, 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, thenTwelve 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 frontAnd 15 tacos behindThis is so frustrating.It’s hard to be kind.There was a good teacher,Who taught in a grade school.She was so overwhelmed,She didn’t know what to do.She’d greet her class warmlyWith great hope for each day.But the morning would wear onAnd it didn’t turn out that way.It started with parentsWho hadn’t cut that apron string,They’d come in every morningTo discuss every little thing.The announcements would start,The day would officially begin.She’d ask for homework and notes,See if shirts were tucked in.Log on to SASI.Get attendance done.Collect money for ice cream.Isn’t this part fun?The disruptions would startBy those who didn’t careWhether they learned or notIt didn’t seem fair…To those who were sweetAnd wanted to learnTo have to put up with kidsWho did not give a durn.Her students are learning.The lessons are engaging,But for the tenth time that morningJohnny is misbehaving.The principal comes onThe PA to say,“We have more test skills and test drillsto send down your way.”A parent barges inWithout calling ahead.And yells at the teacherAbout something she said.An email from the stateSaid the budget is tight,“No raise for the teachers.Heck, they won’t put up a fight.”She’d had a child testedWho was two years behind.“No services for him,Catch him up on the side.”“What about the law,No child left behind?”“Get him on grade levelIf you do not mind.”The PA again,“We just want to say,Guess how many cookiesThey’ll bake for lunch today?”She stands with her class.“Don’t forget your forkJohnny, stop shouting.”(I wish I had a cork.)She heads to the freezerTo find her ice creamShe sorts through the bagsUntil she wants to scream.She finds hers at the bottomShe passes it out.She has 20 minutes to eat.She’ll eat fast, there’s no doubt.On the way to the loungeAs she flies down the hall,The PA shouts her nameThat she has a phone call.Fifteen minutes left,She hurries to eat,Use the restroom, check her mail,She does it, no small feat.She gathers her students,And heads back to the room.To read to her children.Her favorite thing to do.It’s time to go outFor music, P.E. or art;She sure needs a break.But, oh, where to start!”30 PAGE ONE May/June 2005

She makes phone calls, checks papers,Run copies and such.Before she knows it,Her time is all up.The dismissal bell rings.The kids head down the halls.There still more to doAs bus duty calls.To soccer practice,Go back home, cook some more,Go back and get him.At 5:54.She picks up her studentsAnd heads back to classFor focus objectives,Science and then math.The kids are all gone now.She goes back to her room.To straighten up things“Now, where is my broom?”Supper is over.Her chores are all done.She sits down and hopes forA few moments alone.“Let’s practice some more,”She says cheerfully,“For the super funTest, the CRCT!”She puts her head in her handsShe’s so tired and so weary.“Did I make any difference?’Her eyes are all teary.As she settles in bedAt the end of the dayShe asks God to blessEvery child as she prays.It’s afternoon nowWith no end in sight.Oh, to use the restroom.She holds it with all her might.She gathers the papersTo take home and gradeShe has that to do,Plus get dinner made…She’s up the next morning.With new hope for the day.She does so love those children.‘Cause God made her that way.◆The PA again,“We need someone with a mop.”She could get much more doneIf the PA would stop!But, first, stop at the bankOh, and pick up some cat foodGo by Wal-Mart or KrogerAnd pick up something good…The day’s winding down.The teacher’s so tired.“I hope they learned today,‘Cause Lord knows, I’ve tried.”To cook for supper.After she starts a loadOf laundry and takes her sonDown the road…Through all life’s stages …… there’s AIG VALIC.From birth through retirementand after, AIG VALIC can be there for you. What you’re doing todaymay determine what you do when you retire. So if your retirement roleisn’t assured yet, now’s the time to start writing your script.Securities and investment advisory services are offered by VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.,member NASD, SIPC and an SEC-registered investment advisor.AIG VALIC is the marketing name for the group of companies comprising VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.;VALIC Retirement Services Company; and The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC);each of which is a member company of American International Group, Inc.Copyright © 2004, American International Group, Inc. All rights reserved.Houston, Texaswww.aigvalic.comVL15821 STG-B4 05/2004So call us. Today.770-395-4779 or1-800-448-2542May/June 2005 PAGE ONE 31

DON’T BE MISLED ABOUT STATE LIABILITY!PAGE MEMBERSHIP PROTECTS YOUAND YOUR CAREER!This year the legislature took action whichrequires the state to provide liabilityinsurance to educators, similar to thegeneral liability coverage most districtscurrently provide to all employees. PAGEcontinues to urge teachers to carry theirown coverage, because they can be (andusually are) the first ones “thrownoverboard” in lawsuits involving them andtheir local schools.STATE FUNDED LIABILITY DOES NOTCOVER EMPLOYMENT MATTERS!It is important to note that state coverage isfor liability and not for employment rights.If you are like most PAGE members, youwill work your entire career without everfacing a million dollar liability lawsuit.Thousands of members each year, however,contact our legal department regardingemployment rights and salary matters.STATE FUNDED LIABILITY DOESNOT COVER CERTIFICATIONMATTERS!If a complaint is filed against you withthe Professional Standards Commission(PSC) alleging that you committed anethics violation, the state liability policywould not cover you. A complaint withthe PSC is a serious matter since they havethe authority to suspend or revokeyour teaching certificate. PAGEmembers have coverage and will berepresented in these cases.STATE FUNDED LIABILITYDOES NOT PROVIDE ACCESSTO ATTORNEYS!PAGE’s four staff attorneys are availableto members 24/7 at no cost. Statecoverage does not include access to staffattorneys, nor to a legal network ofattorneys across the state such as PAGEoffers – more than sixty attorneys! Thisis the core of the legal services PAGEprovides to its members.STATE FUNDED LIABILITY DOES NOTINCLUDE CRIMINAL COVERAGE(UNLESS EXONERATED)!PAGE not only holds a professional liabilitypolicy for its members but also a policy whichpays for attorney fees, win or lose, in criminalcases where you are charged with a crime inrelation to your duties as an educator.DON’T BE MISLED BY STATE FUNDEDLIABILITY! Does not cover employment or certificationmatters. The state program does not providefor financial assistance nor legal representationin these two critical areas. Does not provide free access to staff attorneys,nor to our network of sixty local attorneys whoknow education law and their localcommunities. Does not provide legal advice or protection inemployment matters such as termination,suspension, nonrenewal, demotion,reassignment, evaluations, or salary disputes. Does not include criminal coverage unlesscharges are dropped or you areexonerated.JOIN PAGE OR RENEW YOURMEMBERSHIP TODAY!To have your own coverage with nocost access to your own attorneyand the lobbying efforts of thosewho are advocating specificallyfor you, join PAGE or renew yourmembership today! PAGEmeets the legal, legislativeand professional needs of ourmembers everyday. Call usat 1-800-334-6861 (outsideAtlanta), or 770-216-8555(metro-Atlanta).

Nearly 400 of Georgia’s finest educators have enrolled inour graduate programs in Education since May, 2003.We offer Master’s, Specialist, and Doctoral degree programsin Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership.These programs are designed to help you raise your level ofprofessional education to the highest degree.Leading practitioners teach small classes, with an emphasison contemporary issues of critical importance to educatorsin Georgia.Day, evening, weekend, and online classes are available yearround at our Atlanta Campus.New programs in all disciplines are currently enrolling.Call the Admissions Office for details.