Teachers are lifelong learners in Walker County Schools.  Gilbert Elementary Academic Coach, Kristi Caissie leads a Thinkgate training session after school.  Thinkgate is a software program that will allow teachers and administration to customize testing and assessment, analyze data, and create authentic evaluation instruments across the disciplines.  Teachers learn the process and discuss ways the new software will improve instruction and affect student achievement.

  Character always counts at Gilbert Elementary.  Assistant Principal Brad Hayes and Guidance Counselor Jana Marshall continue to incorporate character education into daily activities.  Hayes discusses the book Keep the Lights Burning Abbie with a group of third grade students to help them understand the concept of taking initiative, the character trait of the month.

  Jill Burrows, a student at Western Governor's University, observes best practices and works with first grade students in Dianne Richardson's class.

  Student teacher Chris Clark conferences with a third grade student after his math workshop in a final component to completing his teaching degree.

  Joy Cleghorn, former Parent Involvement Specialist at Gilbert, works with her second graders on the Habits of a Good Reader as part of her student teaching experience.

  Walker County Firefighters Julie Mathews and Shaughn Currin go through the lunch line with students at Cherokee Ridge Elementary as part of the Firefighter Buddy Program designed to help students become more familiar with emergency personnel and their resources for their community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Firefighter Clint Gard sitting with Mr. Lee’s kindergarten class makes friends and catches up on the latest kindergarten scoop from Matthew Roach and Brian Pityer.  The Firefighter Buddy Program helps younger students learn to trust and not be afraid of emergency services.

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Angie Ingram, principal of Rock Spring Elementary, has been chosen a Georgia High Performance Principal by Governor Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox.  Georgia High Performance Principals are highly qualified, highly effective leaders who have improved student achievement in their schools and whose schools are performing well above expectations.

The Walker County School District is attempting to identify all children in need of special education services.  Notices regarding Child Find activities were sent to local pediatricians, health departments, daycare centers, realtors, private schools, the Walker County Civic Center and local media for distribution to interested parents. 

All children with disabilities ages 0 to 21 are entitled to special education services.  If you know of a child from ages 0 to 2 who might need special education services, please contact Early Intervention – Babies Can't Wait at 706-861-5506 or 1-888-736-5329.

If you know of a child between the ages of 3 to 21 who might need special education services, please call the Walker County Schools Special Education Coordinator Penny Howerton at 706-866-9778 or call the Georgia Statewide Child Find office at 1-800-282-7552.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture presented Walker County Schools Food Services Division the Southeast Regional Best Practices Award for outstanding achievement in Promoting a Healthy School Environment for 2006-2007.  The USDA Best Practices Award is earned for outstanding achievement in promoting a healthy school environment as determined by a selected panel of judges.

Walker County Superintendent of Schools Melissa Mathis graphically demonstrates the difference in earning capacity these students will encounter through their education choices.

LaFayette Middle School's 2007 Teacher of the Year Karen Stoker is taking on a new role this year as the school's graduation coach as designed by Governor Perdue's initiative to increase Georgia's graduation rate.  Stoker started the very first day modeling for the success of these students.  Last year Governor Perdue and Walker County Schools established graduation coaches at each high school and this year in each middle school.

Karen Stoker, a 28-year veteran in public education, graphically demonstrates and discusses with her students the importance of staying in school and graduating.  Wearing her cap and gown and displaying her diploma, Stoker visited every class on campus the first day of school.  Increasing the graduation rate is a continuing process from kindergarten through twelfth grade and is a priority for Walker County Schools and the Georgia Department of Education.

Having each student at LaFayette Middle School sign a pledge on a graduation gown is one of the many innovative, interactive activities new Graduation Coach Karen Stoker employs to motivate her students to plan ahead toward completion of high school.