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foundation News
PAGE and the PAGE Foundation Announce 2013 Scholarship Recipients
The PAGE Foundation awarded 16 scholarships in 2013 Practicing and retired educators from across Georgia scored the to PAGE and SPAGE members. The $1,000 awards went applications. to seven veteran educators pursuing advanced education “What is particularly gratifying about being able to provide degrees, to one classified support personnel member seeking assistance to these deserving educators is that not only do they teacher certification and to eight SPAGE members aspiring to benefit, but their students benefit as well,” says PAGE Foundation become Georgia educators. President John Varner. “In tough economic times when education
In addition to highlighting their achievements and provid- budgets have been hit particularly hard, we are pleased to coning recommendations from principals and professors, applicants tribute toward these educators’ professional learning. We thank wrote essays on how learning occurs, how to overcome classroom the members of PAGE and other donors who have made these challenges and the skills and competencies needed by teachers. awards possible.”
2013 PAGE Foundation Scholarship Recipients
PAGE Professional Scholarships PAGE Jack Christmas Graduate Scholarship PAGE H.M. and Norma Fulbright Scholarship
Michelle Lynn Baily
Teacher, Wilkinson County Elementary School Pursuing Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at Georgia College & State University
Benjamin Neal Pitchford
Teacher, Colquitt County High School Pursuing Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Valdosta State University
Intervention Teacher for the Gifted, Clairemont Elementary School, Decatur City Schools Pursuing M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education at Piedmont College
PAGE Charles “Coach” Cooper Scholarship
Paula A. Flatman
Spanish Teacher, Lakeside Middle School, Forsyth County Pursuing master’s in Spanish Language & Culture at University of Salamanca, Spain
PAGE Support Personnel Scholarship
Sarah D. Barnett
English Teacher, Woodland High School, Henry County Pursuing Ed.S. in Instructional Technology at Kennesaw State University
Stephanie Marie Puckett
Teacher, Woodstock Elementary School, Cherokee County Pursuing M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education at Reinhardt University
James Nicholas Philmon
Halee Elliott McElroy
Teacher, Bacon County Middle School, Bacon County Schools Pursuing M.Ed. in Middle Grades Math & Science at Valdosta State University
Angelia Louise Wood
Computer Lab Manager, Chicopee Woods Elementary School, Hall County Pursuing M.Ed. in Library Media at University of West Georgia
Emily Gray Hixon
Mathematics Education major at University of Georgia
Scarlette Lee Mason
Early Childhood/Special Education major at University of North Georgia
SPAGE Betty J. Phillips Scholarship
Stacy Lynn Maxwell
Middle Grades Math and Social Studies Education major at Georgia Southern University
SPAGE Graduate Scholarship
Robin Moore Frick
Early Childhood Education major at Georgia Gwinnett College Lindsey Scholarship
Arria René Simpson
Early Childhood Education major at Georgia Southern University
Mallory Rae Dyal
Early Childhood/Special Education major at Mercer University
Petia Koleva Anaya
Pursuing MAT in Mathematics and Social Studies Education at Brenau University
Lataquwalia Lynn Murray
Early Childhood Education major at Georgia Southern University
The PAGE Foundation offers the following $1,000 one-time scholarships. To apply, download an application from www.pagefoundation. org. Applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2014, and reach the PAGE Foundation office by May 7, 2014.
SPAGE Scholarships (college students—rising juniors, seniors or graduate students—not currently employed by a school system)
Scholarship recipients must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, attend a college in Georgia and be a member of Student PAGE (SPAGE). Recipients must teach in Georgia for three years upon completion of degree. Categories include:
• SPAGE Undergraduate Scholarship • SPAGE S. Marvin Griffin Scholarship
• SPAGE DeKalb Scholarship—must be a graduate of a high school in the DeKalb County School System.*
• SPAGE Dr. John Robert and Barbara Moore Lindsey
Scholarship—must be enrolled or committed to enrolling in the education program at Georgia Southern University. • SPAGE Betty J. Phillips Scholarship—must be a rising college junior, senior or graduate student enrolled or committed to enrolling in the education program at a Macon, Ga., college or university. • SPAGE Graduate Scholarship—must be pursuing an advanced degree in education and not yet employed by a school system.
PAGE Scholarships (teachers, administrators and support per-
Scholarship recipients must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a member of PAGE. Recipients must teach in Georgia for three years upon completion of degree. Applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in education or content area, pursuing initial certification, working to add a new certification area or endorsement or taking required coursework to be highly qualified under the standards of No Child Left Behind. Categories include:
• PAGE Professional Scholarship
• PAGE Charles “Coach” Cooper Scholarship—must be pursuing an advanced degree in science education. • PAGE DeKalb Scholarship—must be currently employed by the DeKalb County School System and planning to remain for 2014-15.* • H.M. and Norma Fulbright Scholarship—must be serving as a Future Educators Association of Georgia (FEA Georgia) chapter advisor or a PAGE Academic Bowl team coach. • Jack Christmas Scholarship—must be pursuing an advanced degree in elementary education or reading. • Support Personnel Scholarship—must be employed as support personnel within a Georgia school system and pursuing initial sonnel)
teacher certification.
Foundation News
PAGE Foundation to Honor Georgia Power and President & CEO Paul Bowers
Georgia Power and its president and CEO Paul Bowers will be honored at the 2013 “A PAGE Turning Event” for the electric utility’s leadership in and support for public school improvement, according to PAGE Foundation President John Varner. Now in its ninth year, “A PAGE Turning Event” recognizes business, philanthropic and government leaders for exemplary contributions to young people and school improvement.
“Georgia Power has been involved in meaningful work to support and improve our state’s public schools and nurture Georgia’s young people for many decades,” said Varner. “Through the hard work of company employees, the financial gifts of Georgia Power and the generosity of the Georgia Power Foundation, our schools, youth associations, educational institutions, teachers, students and parents have been assisted. Early in its history, Georgia Power adopted the motto ‘A Citizen Wherever We Serve,’ and it has certainly lived up to this lofty aspiration in its commitment to public education. The PAGE Foundation is very pleased to honor Georgia Power and Paul Bowers, whose commitment to school improvement is genuine and worthy of emulation.”
Varner noted Bowers has just completed a term of service as president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, a nonprofit education organization established in the early 1990s by state business leaders, including those at Georgia Power. Under Bowers, the company has also provided support for new teachers and invested significantly in dropout prevention efforts.
“As much as or more than other corporations, Georgia Power sees the link between economic development and public education,” observed Varner. “The company has invested billions of dollars in generating plants, transmission and distribution lines, regional and local offices and thousands of employees, and the return they earn on that investment will be determined largely by the state’s economic vitality, which is determined to a large extent by the quality of our public education system. The company and its employees have donated time, money and other resources to help our public schools and the students they serve so Georgia can remain a great place to live with a robust economy now and in the future.”
Approximately 350 leaders from business, education, philanthropy and government are expected to attend the September banquet honoring Georgia Power and Bowers. Sharing the spotlight with Bowers at “A PAGE Turning Event” will be Coach Carl Madison of Atmore, Ala. Madison was identified by Bowers as his favorite teacher during the years Bowers was Madison’s student and a player on Madison’s football team in Pensacola, Fla. Individuals honored at “A PAGE Turning Event” are always invited to select an educator who made a significant and positive difference in their lives growing up, and the PAGE Foundation
recognizes those individuals, making the point that behind every great business, education, government and philanthropic leader is at least one great educator whose influence contributed to the success of the honoree.
Previous honorees of “A PAGE Turning Event” include Georgia-Pacific and Georgia-Pacific Foundation President Curley M. Dossman, Jr.; BellSouth and BellSouth Georgia President Phil Jacobs; the Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Foundation Chair Ingrid Saunders Jones; General Electric and GE Vice Chairman John Rice; Southern Company and Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO David Ratcliffe; The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Arthur Blank and Stephanie Blank; Senator Johnny Isakson and Representative John Lewis; and AT&T Georgia and AT&T Georgia President Sylvia Russell. n
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Foundation News
FEAST Inspires and Delights FEA Members and Advisors
FEA members and their advisors gathered April 11–13 at scenic Epworth by the Sea on St. Simon’s Island to explore careers in education at FEA Spring Training, or FEAST, as it is known. This year’s theme was “Education—Rated E for Everyone.”
The event opened with Serena Hall from H.V. Jenkins High School in Savannah sharing her “FEA Moment”—the point at which she knew teaching was her career of choice.
Next, keynote speaker Lauren Eckman, 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year and a teacher at Georgia Academy for the Blind, shared strategies for teaching visually impaired students and introduced specialized equipment. Her motivational presentation set the tone for an informational weekend. After the general session, FEA members became acquainted during a host of social activities.
A day of FEAST activities kicked off Friday morning with an FEA Moment from Corrie Jackson of Howard High School in Bibb County. It was followed by a second session from Eckman, in which she discussed reaching all types of learners. When asked why she was willing to make room in her busy schedule to speak to a group of aspiring teachers, Eckman said, “I believe strongly in supporting our future colleagues. … I can share with them all the expertise and wisdom I’ve gained through the years, but I can’t wait to collaborate with them because they are digital natives, and I am a digital immigrant.”
Eckman inspired the audience. FEA member Jadzia Hutchings from Howard High School in Bibb County has long dreamt of learning and then teaching sign language, but she was never confident enough to pursue it. Eckman’s speech turned that around. “Now I can really see myself doing what I thought I couldn’t do before,” said Hutchings.
The FEAST workshops on how to be an effective teacher are especially popular. This year’s topics included: “Infusing Creativity in the Classroom,” “How to Make Science and Math Fun Through Hands-On Experiments” and “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That:
How to Keep Your Class from Becoming a Hot Mess.”
The weekend included a tour of the Correll Center, an impressive new education building at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick. Dr. Michael Hazelkorn, dean of the School of Education and Teacher Preparation, welcomed the group and also arranged for a tour of the entire campus.
After time to explore St. Simon’s, members gathered Friday evening for an FEA moment shared by Anna Marmolejo of Early County High School and for the election and installation of state officers. New officers include SW Region Vice President Caroline Pope, Early County High School; SE Region Vice President Jordon Baker of Camden County High School; and Middle Region Vice President Tyrea Hall of Howard High School in Bibb County.
FEA members then participated in what has quickly become a FEAST favorite: the FEA Knowledge Bowl, a spirited competition that this year was won by Ware County High School. The evening concluded with DJ Steve Lusk playing everyone’s favorite tunes.
Saturday morning brought another round of workshops, an FEA Moment shared by Bradlie Nabours of Camden County High School and the competition awards ceremony. After enjoying a final meal together, FEA members bid each other farewell until the October 2013 FEA Fall Conference. n
To see a video report of FEAST 2013, visit
www.pageinc.org/associations/9445/pagetv/ ?page=491tab=1 or scan the QR code.
FEAST 2013 Workshops and Presenters
Infusing Creativity in the Classroom Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice: Three Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That:
Dr. Ruth Ference, chair and teacher educa- Characteristics of Effective Teaching How to Keep Your Class from Becoming tion professor; Dr. Nancy Edwards, teach- Dr. Michael Borders, professor of teacher a Hot Mess er education professor; Student teach- education; Donna Borders, college super- Megan King, Spanish teacher, Houston ers: Kelsey Cross, Sara Niemeir, Aimee visor of teacher field experience, Gordon County High School Renshaw, Chelsea Wegesin and Courtney State College Wisted, all from Berry College Cool Tools for Schools: Utilizing
Use Your Brain to Teach Technology in the Classroom
How to Make Science and Math Fun Valley Rogers, assistant professor of educa- Timmi Shawler, FEA advisor, Gilmer High Through Hands-on Experiments tion, Bainbridge College; Rayna Andrews, School Sarah Hartman, College of Coastal graduate of Dewar College of Education at Georgia Valdosta State University
INDIvIDUAL COMPETITIONS Brochure
Winner – Mary Allison, Ware County High School Runner-up – Jordan Adison, Howard High School
Essay
Winner – Jadzia Hutchings, Howard High School Runner-up – Jennifer Thigpen, Ware County High School FEAST 2013 Competition Winners
Impromptu Speaking CHAPTER COMPETITIONS
Winner – Billy Ritter, Howard High Knowledge Bowl School Winner – Ware County High School
Runner-up – Logan Bertrand, Early Runner-up – Early County High School County
Lesson Planning and Delivery Winner – Howard High School
Winner – Corrie Jackson, Howard High (No runner-up) School
Public Service Announcement
Runner-up – Kalena Black, Ware County Webpage Design High School Winner – Gilmer High School Runner-up – Ware County High School
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1. 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year Lauren Eckman shares strategies for reaching all types of learners.
2. Interactive workshops allow FEA members to explore teaching methods.
3. 2013 FEAST participants outside the new Correll Center at the College of Coastal Georgia
4. Newly installed FEA state officers (pictured left to right): Jordon Baker, Caroline Pope and Tyrea Hall
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5. Workshop presenter and PAGE Board Member Megan King (far right) with FEA Advisor Kristen Wilson (far left) and FEA member Hayley Peregoy (center) from H.V. Jenkins High School
6. (Pictured left to right) Brochure design winner Mary Allison from Ware County High School with newly elected Middle Region Vice President Tyrea Hall
7. (Pictured left to right) Tyrea Hall presents a certificate to essay winner Jadzia Hutchings from Howard High School.
8. (Pictured left to right) Billy Ritter of Howard High School accepts the first place award in the impromptu speaking competition from Tyrea Hall.
9. Lesson planning and delivery winner Corrie Jackson from Howard High School shares her FEA Moment.
10. Knowledge Bowl competitors demonstrate their understanding of teaching excellence.
11. Ware County High School took first place in the Knowledge Bowl competition.
12. The public service announcement competition was won by Howard High School.
13. Gilmer High School won first place in the website design competition.
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HONOR YOUR FAvORITE TEACHER
By Gina G. Williams, Ed.D., Tattnall County Superintendent Williams served as the first president of the Georgia Southern SPAGE Chapter
Bus Driver Turned Superintendent Steered My Life at Every Turn
My favorite teacher has influenced my life every step to further my education. Eventually I decided to pursue a masof the way. As a first grader at Tattnall Elementary ter’s degree. Dr. Maybin suggested that I major in leadership, School in Reidsville, Ga., school was a bit scary for but I was adamant that I did not want to be an administrame, and riding a bus home was tor. I wanted to teach English terrifying. Because my father for the rest of my career. He was a correctional officer at even suggested that I purGeorgia State Prison, we lived sue a minor in leadership to in prison housing, so my bus keep my options open, but ride home was long, and it was I would not listen. He was, made longer by the fact that I of course, right again. Soon was the last person to be let off after earning my master’s in every afternoon. English Education, I decid-
My bus driver, Coach ed that I did want to be an Gregg Maybin, was kind. He administrator, and I was off to sat me near the front of the earn an Ed.S. in Educational bus and kept a watch over me. Sometimes, he even let me pull Gina Williams Gregg Maybin Administration. Dr. Maybin hired me in the stop sign on the last few my first administrative posistops. During the 10 years I tion as an assistant princirode the bus, Coach Maybin pal at Tattnall County High took the time to get to know School. He then moved to me, and he saw potential in me the central office and later that I did not. became the superintendent.
By the time I was 16 and Once again, Dr. Maybin driving myself to school, Coach influenced my life course. Maybin was a science teacher He was among those who at Reidsville High School. I had pushed me to complete him for physics, geology and my doctorate at Georgia household chemistry. He made Southern University. He science so much fun that we hired me as principal of didn’t realize we were learn- Reidsville Middle School ing. He also helped us see the connection between school and and then encouraged me to move to Reidsville Elementary the real world. During my senior year, Coach Maybin became School to gain experience at all levels … just in case I ever Dr. Maybin and assumed the role of principal. He encouraged needed it. I resisted the move to elementary principal me to continue my education and tried to convince me to return because I was happy at the middle school, but after a few to Reidsville to teach. But there was one thing I knew for certain: talks with Dr. Maybin, I realized that his advice had always I was not going to teach. There were too many teachers in my been correct. I took the job, and those years as an elementary family! Of course, by this time, Dr. Maybin knew me better than school principal were some of the best of my career. I knew myself. As I now begin my fifth year in the superintendent’s chair in
Over time, my resistance to teaching dissolved, and I majored Tattnall County in what used to be Dr. Maybin’s classroom, I can in English Education at Georgia Southern University. As college clearly see Dr. Maybin’s impact on my life. I don’t know when graduation approached, I visited Dr. Maybin to see if he might he recognized my potential as an educator, but I am grateful. have a job for me at Reidsville High School. I was fortunate that Dr. Maybin’s influence has spanned my lifetime—from that a position was opening, and Dr. Maybin took on yet another quiet little girl who sat in the bus seat behind him to the confirole in my life: my boss. I taught English in one of the very dent woman who now sits in the superintendent’s chair where rooms where I had studied English a few years earlier. Soon he once sat. I am where I am in my career because of his instrucafter I began teaching, Dr. Maybin encouraged me once again tion, guidance and belief in me. n
Foundation News PAGE Foundation Continues to Host GACE Workshops Website Provides Information and Resources to Test Takers
Although this fall will bring a change in supplier of the GACE exams, the PAGE Foundation continues to offer preparation workshops in both the Program Admission and Content exams. The 2013-14 workshop schedule and online registration is located on the PAGE GACE Help Zone: www.page foundation.org/gace then click on the “PAGE GACE Workshops” link.
The PAGE-sponsored workshops are open to everyone, however, because of the tremendous demand, you must register in advance.
PAGE GACE ProGrAm Admission WorkshoPs
The GACE Program Admission work-
shops are all-day sessions covering reading, writing and mathematics. The workshops are free, but there is a $35 workbook fee. PAGE contractor Academic Resource Services provides the workshops. The materials used are not the property of PAGE and are sold only at the workshop.
PAGE GACE ContEnt WorkshoPs
The GACE Content workshops, provided by Estrada Consulting, are approximately three hours long and are appropriate for anyone preparing to take any GACE content exam, regardless of subject area.
The workshop covers how the GACE series of exams differs from other standardized tests and how to prepare specifically for GACE tests. This is a study-strategies workshop: It will not address any one specific subject area, but a subject areaspecific question and answer time follows the presentation. This workshop teaches how to assemble your own study materials and prepare for the content assessment. It is important to allow ample preparation time between the workshop date and your exam date.
To register for a workshop or access resources such as study tips and links to the official GACE website, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission website and others, visit www.page foundation.org/gace or scan the QR code. n
PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlete Captures Gold at USAD Nationals
Competing in the essay event, Larry He from Parkview High School took home Georgia’s first-ever gold medal in the United States Academic Decathlon held in April in Minneapolis.
PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon (GAD) co-champions Berkmar High and Parkview High, both in Gwinnett Country, represented the state in the nationals and competed in Division I, the large-school division. Berkmar placed 12th in Division I and 30th overall out of 51 teams; Parkview placed 13th in the division and 34th overall.
The GAD Fall Workshop, which kicks off our 2013-14 season, is Sept. 6, 2013. Kennesaw State University will host the workshop at the KSU Center near the main campus. The focus will be World War I, this year’s competition topic.
For information, please visit www.pagefoundation.org/GAD. n
The PAGE Academic Bowl for Middle Grades, conceived in 1983, was the first program supported by the PAGE Foundation. Since then, thousands of Georgia middle school students have participated in the program that encourages participants to excel academically, boosts their confidence and self-esteem through high academic achievement and stimulates a competitive spirit. As we celebrate our 30th season, we encourage your school to compete.
Deadline dates and registration fees:
• Oct. 15: Early bird registration, $50 • Nov. 15: Regular registration, $70 • Nov. 16–Dec. 6: Late registration, $80
Regional competition will be held throughout the state on Jan. 11, 2014. The top two winning teams from each region will be invited to participate in the State Championship on Jan. 25, 2014, at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.
For more information or to register for competition, please visit the website at www.pagefoundation.org/ academicbowl. n
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