Chargers Taking Charge PASSION FOR EDUCATION LEADS TO DECADES OF SERVICE TO FLOYD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM Education duo. Husband and wife. Georgia Highlands College alumni. Assistant Principal. Teacher. And the list goes on and on for Robert and April Cummings. The path to becoming stand out members of the Floyd County community all started at GHC (then Floyd College) where both Robert and April found their start, leading to longtime careers in the Floyd County School System. APRIL CUMMINGS After attending GHC (then Floyd College) in the late 1980s and graduating from the University of Georgia (UGA) with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, April worked for News Publishing Company for 10 years in the field of local and corporate advertising. It wasn’t until she and her husband, Robert, had their first child that she fell in love with education. “I read to our son constantly, and teaching him during those first few years as he developed early literacy skills captivated me,” April said. “We decided I should explore a new career and earn a graduate degree in early childhood education.” April went on to spend 15 years teaching students in the primary and elementary grades, shaping who she would become in her administration role. Since July 2017, she has served as Assistant Principal at Johnson Elementary School (JES). Throughout the day, April’s goal is to focus on what is best for JES students and to support teachers by ensuring students receive the best opportunities for academic and emotional growth. Focusing on this goal, April is often found in the classroom assisting a teacher, in the hallway helping a class during transitions, in a meeting with a parent, planning instructional supports for students within JES’ professional learning communities (PLCs), or collaborating with the principal and
school staff to develop and sustain a rigorous and positive school climate. This past summer, April also served as the administrator for Floyd County School’s first Summer School program for upper elementary and middle school students across the system. “On rare occasions, I have even been seen wrestling in an inflatable sumo costume or serving as a human sundae with our principal in the gymnasium as part of a school fundraiser reward at Johnson Elementary,” April said. “Although educating children is serious and important work, achieving and growing together as lifelong learners should be fun, too.” CUMMINGS– continued on page 31
KNOW A CHARGER TAKING CHARGE? GHC alumni are Chargers! And Chargers Take Charge. Thousands of GHC alumni embody the #TakingCharge motto throughout the state and country by making a difference in their communities and making the most of their careers. Do you know other successful GHC alumni? Email us at marcom@highlands.edu and let us know so they can join other alumni in GHC’s spotlight series “Chargers Taking Charge.” 30 | Fall/Winter 2021
