2011 STAR Student and Teacher Announced in Toccoa-Stephens County

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION: Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce
RECEPTION DATE: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
TIME: 5pm
LOCATION: District Office, 2332 Mize Rd Toccoa, Tugaloo Room

Contacts:
Chamber of Commerce President: Wendi Bailey 706-886-2132
Chamber Education Committee Chair: Greg Roach, NGTC Currahee Campus Director 706-779-8113
Chamber Education Committee Vice Chair, Board of Directors Vice Chair: Barry Roberts, Global Partitions 706-827-2700
School Superintendent: Sherrie Whiten 706-886-9415
High School Principal: Felton Stephens 706-886-6825
High School Guidance Counselor: Susan Carman 706-886-6825


The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, in its 53rd year, is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education. The mission is to recruit, develop, retain and recognize outstanding teachers for all Georgia students.

To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the three-part SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.

The Chamber is pleased to announce Sara Porter is the 2011 PAGE STAR Student for the Stephens County School System. Sara is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cliff and Teresa Porter of Toccoa. Sara selected Mrs. Wynette Neal as her STAR teacher who taught her Gifted Social Studies class when she was in the 8th grade at the Middle School.

The Chamber of Commerce is the sponsoring organization of the Stephens County School System STAR Program and partners with the High School to honor these students and teachers. The Education Committee Chair is Greg Roach, Director of the NGTC Currahee Campus and the Vice Chair is Barry Roberts, Plant Manager of Global Partitions. Committee members include representatives from the Middle School, High School, Department of Labor, Partners for Success and the Education Literacy Foundation.

A special reception will be held at the District Office Tugaloo Room to recognize the STAR student and teacher on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 5pm before the School Board meeting. Faculty and staff along with legislative representatives including Congressman Paul Broun’s office, the Stephens County Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce Board are among the invited to attend.

Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 22,000 students and the teachers they have selected as having had the most influence on their academic success. “We are very proud of both our STAR student and teacher and the academic excellence they exemplify,” said Sherrie Whiten, School Superintendent. “We wish Sara the best as she goes on to compete for region honors.” The Region Banquet is sponsored by Chief Judge Brenda Weaver of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit and will be held at the First Baptist Church of Jasper on Thursday, March 24th at 7pm.

Other events supported by the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee include the Job Fair, Career Fair, Partners-In-Education Business After Hours, School System Annual Report Forum and the upcoming Stephens County Scholars Reception set for Tuesday, April 19th, at the District Office Tugaloo Room, at 5pm.