In this issue of Statesboro Magazine, we delve into the essence of education as a transformative force within our community. We highlight two local champions of learning and explore how their classrooms, their research, and their hearts guide them in investing in students’ success.
We start with Dr. Loren Mathews, Senior Lecturer in the Biology Department at Georgia Southern. While her research focuses on the health of the Satilla River, the Ogeechee River and other estuaries in the Southeast, she finds a greater purpose in shepherding each student she encounters, offering them a wider view of excellence, that flows from the classroom into every area of their lives. Read more about her mission to help students find worthiness, a sense of place and become more engaged in the learning process, leading to success in the classroom and in life.
We also shine a spotlight on Dr. Meca Williams-Johnson, Interim Co-Dean of the College of Education at Georgia Southern. Recently honored with the Mid-Career Research Award from the Mary Early College of Education at the University of Georgia, Dr. Williams-Johnson explores the emotional dimensions of teaching and learning, focusing on issues of race, efficacy beliefs, and parental involvement. Her insights are pivotal in fostering inclusive educational environments that empower all students to thrive.
Turning our attention to community leadership, we spotlight Rev. Craig R. Tremble, a funeral director, pastor, Statesboro Police Department Chaplain and Deputy Coroner of Bulloch County for 27 years. A well-known community servant, his story is one of faith, commitment and dedication to providing quality care and the answers family members need for peace of mind when a loved one passes away.
Two very special sections celebrate the achievements of the Bulloch County Board of Education and Ogeechee Technical College. Inside you’ll find the BOE’s 2024-2025 Annual Report and Taking Control, an update on OTC’s commitment to take students from the classroom to the workforce. These institutions are pillars of our community, dedicated to preparing students for success. They embody the collective commitment to fostering excellence and driving economic growth through education.
As we navigate the complexities of our educational landscape, let us remember that education is not just a pathway to personal advancement but a catalyst for positive change within our community. We invite you to explore these stories and join us in embracing the transformative power of learning about ourselves and each other..
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
ESTABLISHED MARCH 1, 2000
EDITOR
Jenny Starling Foss
PUBLISHER Joe McGlamery
SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Melanie Schmermund
DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Mindy Boyette
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Frank Fortune & Jeremy Wilburn Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: mboyette@StatesboroMagazine.com
FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@StatesboroMagazine.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
P. O. BOX 1084 Statesboro, GA 30459 p: 912.489.2181
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: One Herald Square, Statesboro, GA 30458 f: 912.489.8613
ABOUT THE COVER
Dr. Loren Mathews’ research focuses on the health of estuaries in the Southeast. She serves as an inspirational senior lecturer of Biology at Georgia Southern, shepherding students to learn, explore and thrive, in school and in their lives. Pictured here gathering samples by nationally awardwinning photographer Frank Fortune. #TheFortuneImage.
RIC MANDES
Ric Mandes, a popular essayist, retired after 27 years as Director of Public Relations and Development for Georgia Southern. His memories about growing up and living in South Georgia inspire his writings. He’s a published author and former newspaper columnist for the AJC.
VIRGINIA ANNE FRANKLIN WATERS
Virginia Anne Franklin Waters is a fourth generation Bulloch Countian and loves all things about her hometown of Statesboro. She graduated from UGA and is a CPA. She spent her career in the hospitality industry. Her passions include entertaining friends at home and working in her gardens. Virginia Anne enjoys everything Gardening—planting seeds, arranging flowers, using raised beds, protecting native plants, propagating camellias and even pulling weeds. She has been a member of the Sprig-N-Dig Federated Garden Club since 1985. Virginia Anne has served on numerous philanthropic boards in our community and is currently the Executive Director of the Bulloch County Historical Society.
REV. JOHN WATERS
Since 2005, John Waters has been the lead pastor of First Baptist Church Statesboro. Raised in a military family, he spent his childhood years in Tokyo, Japan, and Selma, Alabama. He earned a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. As a teenager, he once worked a weekend as a circus clown but now enjoys collecting fountain pens, reading across many genres, and visiting the great cathedrals of the world. His wife, Cynthia, is a retired elementary school teacher, and they have two married adult daughters and five grandchildren.
LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY
Lazar Brown Oglesby is the owner of Honey Catering and Dolan’s BBQ both located in Statesboro. Lazar attended Ogeechee Technical College where she earned a Culinary Arts degree. In 2012 Lazar followed a lifelong dream and opened Honey Catering and Café. She enjoys cooking Southern food with an adventurous twist! Lazar is known for her famous cheesecakes of which she has over 100 flavors. Lazar recently started the Honey Blog to share her recipes and stories. Visit her at Dolan’s & Honey’s new location on South Main Street.
Melanie is Statesboro Magazine’s Senior Creative Director. Owner of Schmermund Design Studio, LLC, she is an experienced freelance graphic designer specializing in editorial design & branding. She is also a frequent contributing designer to Savannah Magazine. She holds a degree in Art from Auburn University and loves traveling & exploring the world, always looking for new places to visit. Her knowledge & passion are invaluable assets ensuring that each project she works on is of the highest quality.
FRANK FORTUNE
Frank is the national award winning freelance photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 25 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He retired from Georgia Southern after having been responsible for capturing the University’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of Jack and Cate.
MELANIE SCHMERMUND
WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FRANK FORTUNE
THE CULTURE
FRIDAYS –TUESDAYS
@ 10:00 P.M.
STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO
Order the season’s freshest local fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, candies and relishes. You’ll also find locally sourced meat, seafood, spices, dairy and eggs. Home and garden items, honey and locally grown flower bouquets.
Shop online Friday – Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. @ https://statesboromarket2go.locallygrown. net/. Pick-up on Thursday afternoons at the Statesboro Visitors Center, 222 South Main Street or in Sylvania at the Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street.
EVERY
SATURDAY
STATESBORO MAIN STREET FARMERS MARKET
THE MARKET AT VISIT STATESBORO!
9:00 A.M.- 12:30 P.M | FREE ADMISSION FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
222 SOUTH MAIN STREET
Shop the season’s freshest local fruits and vegetables, from area producers, along with artisans, artists and craftsmen. Find select honey, fresh baked goods, candles, flowers, handmade crafts and more! EBT accepted. Bring the whole family for a Saturday morning full of fun. Enjoy music from local artists and specialty food from a variety of food trucks and booths. See you Saturday!
JULY 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY!
JULY 11
DOWNTOWN LIVE! THE MAXX BAND
7:00 P.M. | FREE, FUN FAMILY EVENT!
COURTHOUSE SQUARE & EAST MAIN STREET
Bring your own chair, and or blankets for great music, family fun, food, drinks, games and more! Part of the Downtown Live! Summer Concert Series. Join the fun!
as host of NBC’s Friday Night Videos and had many guest roles on various network sitcoms. Cho was co-creator, co-producer and co-writer of The Henry Cho Show on GAC. Cho’s one hour Comedy Central Special, What’s That Clickin’ Noise? ran previously on Comedy Central and Netflix. He can also be heard daily on SiriusXM, Blue Collar Radio and Pandora. Some of Cho’s film credits include Universal’s McHale’s Navy with Tom Arnold and David Allen Greer; Say It Isn’t So with Heather Graham and Sally Field; and Material Girls with Hilary Duff and Angelica Houston produced by Madonna. Cho was the keynote entertainer for the 59th Annual Radio & Television Correspondents’ Dinner and has worked extensively with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Reba and many, others. Cho’s clean comedy is so versatile that he can headline Vegas and then tour with Michael W. Smith. Cho has performed on the Opry over 100 times, making his Opry debut April 2, 2011. For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org
JULY 13
3RD ANNUAL BOROFEST
3:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. | FREE ADMISSION FUN, FAMILY EVENT! | EAST VINE STREET
Join in the fun at Downtown Statesboro’s summer festival featuring live music, a classic car show, food trucks, kid zones and a mist zone to keep you cool! Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of entertainment & fun downtown!
JULY 26
OTIS NIXON DINNER TO BENEFIT THE ROOSEVELT CONE JR. SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION, INC.
$75/PERSON GROUP/BUSINESS RATE FOR 5 OR MORE TICKETS
CONNECTION CHURCH
JULY 13
HENRY CHO COMEDY TOUR
7:30 P.M. | $52.95 - $62.95/PERSON
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Hear one of America’s funniest comedians at the Averitt! Cho’s TV credits include appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, CBS’s The Late, Late, Show, and NBC’s Young Comedians Special. He served two years
1342 CAWANA ROAD | STATESBORO
Come meet Otis Nixon former Atlanta Braves baseball player. Admission ticket includes a BBQ dinner from the Kick Back Shack, and an autographed copy of Keeping it Real by Otis Nixon. Proceeds benefit the Roosevelt Cone Jr. Scholarship Foundation. Deadline to purchase tickets is July 13. Visit the Roosevelt Cone Jr. Scholarship Foundation Facebook Page for ticket information.
JULY 26 – 28
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG! COMMUNITY THEATER
7:00 P.M. – JULY 26
3:00 P.M. – JULY 27 & 28
$13:00 - $23.00/PERSON
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
A collaborative production by the Averitt Center for the Arts, Statesboro High School, and GSU's Opera Department. Directed by Statesboro High School Fine Arts Department Chair & Drama Teacher Eddie Frazier and Director of Opera and Visiting Instructor of Voice at GSU, Dr. Rachel Eve Holmes. Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-thisworld car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Based on the beloved 1968 film version of Ian Fleming's children's book, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! is one familyfriendly blockbuster that audiences will find "Truly Scrumptious." An eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap with the help of his children, Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car has magical properties, including the ability to float and take flight. Trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself. The family joins forces
with Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher. Filled with amazing stage spectacle and unforgettable songs, including the Academy Award-nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! is a high-flying, fun-filled adventure for the entire family. For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org
JULY 27
LIFT AS YOU GIVE TO BENEFIT LIFT AS YOU GROW
5:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.
$35/PERSON
FOREST HEIGHTS COUNTRY CLUB
Join in the fun! A tailgating style event with
live music, food, drinks, raffle and silent auction to benefit Lift as You Grow, a nonprofit organization that empowers vulnerable and at-risk women by providing economic mobility through transitional employment and adult education as well as a safe space for a healing and healthy society. Our goal is to prevent unemployment, homelessness, and abuse by bridging the gaps some women need by providing the resources to allow them to choose a secure and confident path to become productive citizens and thriving individuals. Must purchase a ticket to attend. www.Givebutter.com/q8rJVh.
AUGUST 2
F1RST FRIDAY –DOWNTOWN PEP RALLY
5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
COURTHOUSE SQUARE
DOWNTOWN STATESBORO
Cheer on your favorite football team at Statesboro’s fall football kick-off event! Join area school mascots, marching bands, football teams, cheerleaders & fans to celebrate back-to-school in a big way. Wear your favorite team’s fanfare. Vendors, food trucks, kid’s activities & more! Bring the whole family for an evening of exiting fun!
AUGUST 2
11TH ANNUAL ROCKIN’ OUT ALZHEIMER’S CONCERT FEATURING THE BEST OF EVERYTHING –A TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY AND SOUTHERN SKY –A TRIBUTE TO THE EAGLES
6:30 P.M. DOORS OPEN
7:00 P.M. SHOW STARTS
$25/PERSON
THE BLUE ROOM
Rock Out with us to the music of Tom Petty & the Eagles at the 11th Annual concert to benefit The Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation. Purchase tickets at www.bigtickets.com/e/theblueroom/ 11th-Rockin-Out-Alzheimer's.
AUGUST 8
DOWNTOWN LIVE! FANTASY BAND
7:00 P.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT
COURTHOUSE SQUARE & EAST MAIN STREET
Bring your own chair, and or blankets for great music, family fun, food, drinks, games and more! Part of the Downtown Live! Summer Concert Series. Join the fun!
AUGUST 14
GSU CLASSES BEGIN
AUGUST 16 & 17
ELVIS: ROCK MY SOUL 2024
7:30 P.M. | $27.00 - $30.00
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Elvis: Rock My Soul is a live concert and tribute experience featuring Elvis in his 1968 comeback black leather suit, belting out early hits and Gospel specials. The company is a seven-member group, including lead vocals, backup singers, lead and bass guitars, keyboard, and drums. Performed by “Elvis & the Dream Team Band” Russ Lanier as Elvis. Lead Guitar: Jackie Skinner. Keyboard: Rhett Mouchet. Drummer: Casey Yarbrough. Bass Guitar: Sean Kent. Vocalist: Brandi Harvey. Vocalist: Mandy Fowler. For tickets visit www.AveritCenterfortheArts.org.
AUGUST 17
3RD ANNUAL ESTHER’S NIGHT OUT BARN DANCE
TO BENEFIT ESTHER’S PLACE
6:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. | $20/PERSON
PINE NEEDLE PLANTATION
2891 ELLIS ROAD | REGISTER, GEORGIA
Entry fee includes one raffle ticket, dinner, dancing, admission to the silent auction and more! Raffle tickets are $10 each. Advanced admission tickets at www.givebutter.com/ HhpuOb. For more info or to become a sponsor, please visit Esther’s Place on Facebook. Or the website at www.esthers-place.com
AUGUST 24
SKYNFOLKS – THE LEONARD SKYNYRD TRIBUTE BAND
2ND ANNUAL BLUE KNIGHTS GA II FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT GA C.O.P.S. 7:30 P.M. | EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS Fundraiser to benefit GA C.O.P.S. For tickets visit Facebook event page Blue Knights GA II Fundraiser Concert to Benefit GA C.O.P.S.
AUGUST 31
GEORGIA SOUTHERN FOOTBALL EAGLES VS BOISE STATE BRONCOS 4:00 P.M. | PAULSON STADIUM
Send us your events!
Email your event, with one image, to editor@statesboromagazine.com for possible inclusion in next month's calendar.
BULLOCH COUNTY REAL ESTATE
MEET THE BROKER PEOPLE >>
Paul began his real estate journey in 2005, foundi ng Statesboro Real Estate in 2015. It swiftly rose to become the leading independent real estate firm in Bulloch County. With over 18 years of experience, Paul has assisted numerous clients in achieving their real estate objectives. Recognized for his support of Georgia Southern, he's named the Official Real Estate Agent of Georgia Southern Athletics. Contact Paul now
hoosing a house involves more than just the property; the local school district is crucial for your family's future. Quality schools enhance education and boost home value. Look at academic performance and community involvement to ensure your children thrive.
Navigating school district boundaries and home values can be complex. An experienced Realtor® has local market insights and can help find neighborhoods that meet your criteria and budget, saving you time and stress.
TOGETHER WE SOAR CAMPAIGN SURPASSES $100 MILLION MILESTONE
The Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc. and the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation, Inc. are pleased to announce a significant milestone in its ambitious fundraising campaign, “Together We Soar.” The generous support of the community has enabled the campaign to soar past the $100 million mark, a remarkable achievement in the University’s path toward its $125 million goal.
Launched October 2023, the “Together We Soar” public phase of the campaign set out with a bold vision to elevate Georgia
Brooklet Elementary School is home to Georgia’s 2024 Doodle for Google winner!
Davine Chen, 10, received a special visitor at
Southern’s mission and impact: “People. Purpose. Action. Growing ourselves to grow others.” Through this initiative, the University aimed to strengthen its commitment to prioritize student success and support its communities. The overwhelming response and unwavering support from our donors and alumni have propelled us toward this momentous achievement.
“This milestone is a testament to the incredible generosity and belief in our mission,” said Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero. “We are deeply humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support that has brought us to this point. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of our students and shaping a brighter future for generations to come.”
Throughout the campaign so far, 106 new endowments have been created covering all areas of academic study. The Goel Scholars was established and provides a full ride scholarship
opportunity for the Honors College, and the first class has begun their studies. The School of Music was named the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music. Buildings such as the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, the Anthony P. Tippins Family Training Center, renovations made to the J.I. Clements Baseball stadium, and the renamed Evans Family Field at Allen E. Paulson Stadium contributes significantly to the landscape of the Statesboro Campus. Significant gifts made by the Crider family will propel the Manufacturing Engineering program, while a commitment by Centene Corporation will put healthcare at the forefront for years to come.
The success of the “Together We Soar” campaign underscores the power of collective action and the impact that philanthropy can have on communities. Every contribution, no matter the size, has played a vital role in reaching this milestone and advancing the shared vision.
school on May 23rd, an official representative from Google, who presented her with an award designating her as the state winner for Georgia in the 4-5 Grade category. Chen is the daughter of Zhan Chen and Yuting Zou of Statesboro.
She is now one of 55 winners, one for each state and territory of the United States. If selected as the national winner, she would receive a $55,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology prize for her school, plus her doodle would be featured on Google’s home page for 24 hours. Five national finalists will also be selected who will receive a $5,000 scholarship and their work featured in Google’s online doodle gallery.
Google held surprise school celebrations for each of the 55 state and territory winners. From this group, they will name five national finalists and ultimately, the national winner.
This is Google’s 25th anniversary year, so the theme for this year’s contest was “My
wish for the next 25 years.” Davine’s Doodle for Google entry entitled, “Celebration at the dawn of a new paradise,” describes her wish visually and in writing.
She wrote, “I wish to dance with my family at the dawn of 2049, with “G”: a recycling bin filled with plastic-eating bacteria and fungi that turn waste into nutrients, “g”: a water-filtering drone, “l”: a floating nature-hotel that purifies the air and helps migrating birds. My wish is to use art and technology to restore a cleaner, greener planet for the next 25 years.”
The Doodle for Google contest is open to K-12 students. According to Google’s website, this year’s young artists could create their doodles using any materials they wanted. They were also allowed additional mediums of digital art, like virtual reality paintings, videos of stop-motion, songs, and poems. Entries were judged for artistic merit, their creativity, especially use of the theme and Google’s logo and letters.
Davine Chen (right) and one of her two thirdgrade teachers, Sarah Johnson, both of whom she listed as influencers of her application to the contest, and Davine's Doodle for Google entry.
ROOTED IN NUTRITION:
POTATOES FROM MACK FAMILY FARM TO ENRICH SCHOOL MEALS
Students in Bulloch County Schools enjoyed a favorite root vegetable with their school meals in May, potatoes.
Mack Family Farm harvested 500 pounds of fresh red and Yukon gold potatoes which were served at six of the school district’s 15 schools on Tuesday, May 14th. The Mack Family Farm potatoes, along with baby carrots, were the two vegetables served with the hot-meal entree choice that day at Mill Creek Elementary, Southeast Bulloch Middle, Statesboro High, Stilson Elementary, Nevils Elementary, and Sallie Zetterower Elementary.
Located in Bulloch County, Mack Family Farm is owned and operated by Alyssa Mackelprang. They grow tomatoes, sweet potatoes, potatoes, plus less familiar items like peanut butter fruit, pawpaws, and sunsquats. You may also find them at the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market2Go. Started in 2023, the farm’s Facebook page describes their opening as a family dream for 20 years, and that their family of seven consists of “1 seed catalog addict, 1 chaos coordinator and 5 expert weeders.”
Bulloch County Schools’ nutrition director, Desiree Yaeger, and Stephan Williams, the nutrition coordinator, are partnering with local farmers to help build a culinary culture in Bulloch County Schools’ cafeterias. Their efforts are also helping children make a connection between the food on their plates and how it’s grown and delivered. Also, with the growth and diversity of the school district’s students, who represent 18 different nationalities and 24 different languages, some of our local produce items and how they are prepared are being introduced to children for the first time. This school year the district’s School Nutrition Department has begun partnerships with Hunter Cattle Company for beef and Franklin’s Farm for their strawberries, plus future orders of their citrus fruit, peaches and other produce as they come in season during the school year.
LEADERSHIP
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA 2024 CONCLUDES WITH FINAL SESSION AND GRADUATION CEREMONY
The Leadership Southeast Georgia (LSEGA) Class of 2024 successfully concluded its five-month program with a final session and graduation ceremony held across various locations in Chatham County.
The program culminated with a focus on economic development, specifically the impact of the region’s military installations. Participants also presented their capstone projects, reflecting on the diverse topics covered throughout the program, including infrastructure and workforce, agriculture, education, military affairs, and community health.
Day one commenced at the Air Dominance Center with introductions and a welcome address from Pooler Mayor Karen Williams. This was followed by a discussion panel on military impact led by Kristin Fulford, Deputy State Director for Senator Raphael Warnock’s office. The participants delved into how military installations influence various aspects of the region.
Colonel David “DJ” Spisso, an Air National Guard instructor pilot, then led a captivating military experience exercise.
The afternoon session included Jessica Hood, Vice President of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, leading the group on an immersive economic development exercise exploring the factors an organization would need to consider before relocating to the area.
The second day began with the presentation of House Resolution 1610, recognizing and commending the Class of 2024. Dignitaries, including Representatives Ron Stephens and Lehman Franklin, presented the resolution.
Following the presentations, class members had the opportunity to showcase their capstone projects during Q&A sessions. The afternoon included a visit to the Mitsubishi Power America’s plant in Pooler, exploring manufacturing and its economic influence on the community. This was followed by a windshield tour of the Georgia Ports Authority site.
Alumni from across the region gathered
for a reception honoring the class, the program managers and volunteer committees. This included a catered dinner and karaoke event at the rooftop Sky Suite at 300 Drayton in downtown Savannah.
On the final day, the class received valuable insights from previous graduates and participated in a program review before receiving their graduation plaques and certificates.
“The 2024 LSEGA class has been exceptional from the very beginning,” remarked Kendria Lee, Chairwoman of Leadership Southeast Georgia. “Their enthusiasm grew with each session. It’s been incredibly rewarding to witness this diverse and energetic group come together, share ideas, support one another and develop their leadership skills to serve our community. I wholeheartedly congratulate them on their achievements.”
• Ric Stewart, Director of Annual Giving, Georgia Southern University, Bulloch County
• Michael “Tyler” Wilson, Project Manager, The Sack Company, Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, and Effingham Counties
To learn more about the Leadership Southeast Georgia program, visit www.lsega.com.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
Leadership Southeast Georgia is a fivemonth, region-wide program designed to equip, empower and connect community leaders to most effectively advance positive growth and improve the quality of life in Southeast Georgia. The program brings together participants from various industries across 10 counties, fostering collaboration and regional understanding on issues such as healthcare, education, natural resources, economic development and transportation. For more information, visit lsega.com.
THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA (USG)
NAMED DR. RUSSELL T. KEEN PRESIDENT OF AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY (AU), EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024.
Keen has most recently served as executive vice president for administration and chief of staff to the president at AU, where he has held an executive leadership role since July 2015. He has worked within the university system for more than 22 years. Previously, he held leadership roles at Georgia Southern University and in fundraising at the University of Georgia.
“Russell has the experience and institutional knowledge for the job, and that will be critical as we look to increase Augusta University’s impact in Georgia and beyond,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “I’m looking forward to watching Dr. Keen push AU toward being one of the best research universities in the nation as it continues to emphasize student success.”
Keen’s appointment follows an announcement last fall by AU President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, that he would retire following the 2023-24 academic year, ending a 40-year career in higher education.
“I truly look forward to serving Augusta University as its next president,” Keen said. “I am excited to expand the focus Augusta University has had on cutting-edge research and innovation. We will prioritize elevating a culture of excellence and creating an unparalleled student experience, while promoting critical thinking and student engagement.”
“It will be my priority to address Georgia’s growing need for highly skilled graduates and a well-educated workforce in vital areas such as health sciences, cybersecurity and education,” Keen added. “The impact of Jag Nation is already significant and felt on a
ABOUT DR. RUSSELL T. KEEN
A Georgia native, Keen has worked within USG for over 22 years. For the past nine years, he has served in senior leadership at Augusta University, including in his current role as executive vice president for administration and chief of staff to the president. In this position, Keen has managed and allocated the university’s more than $1 billion budget, managed and coordinated its executive vice presidents and served as head administrator in the president’s absence.
From 2001 until 2015, he worked at Georgia Southern, where he advanced from director of annual giving to vice president for external affairs. In these positions, Keen secured hundreds of millions of dollars in university funding from individual fundraising campaigns and state and federal grants. His roles included vice president of governmental relations and community engagement where he developed relationships with local, state and federal officials to enhance the success of the university and its advocacy efforts. He previously worked as the major gifts officer at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia.
Outside of his university work, Keen serves the community as a member of several boards, including the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Rotary Club of Augusta and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as a lead teacher at the Augusta Men’s Forum.
Keen is a first-generation college student with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an M.Ed. in higher education administration from Georgia Southern. He earned an Ed.D. in higher education management from UGA in 2019. His family has been a part of the Augusta community for generations. Growing up in the Central Savannah River Area, he attended Columbia County public schools from kindergarten through high school.
Keen and his wife, Karen, have been married for 22 years and have two children, Kaleigh and Brinson, who are both proudly enrolled at universities within the University System of Georgia.
ABOUT AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
Augusta University is one of only four public comprehensive research institutions in Georgia. The university includes nine colleges with 10,000 students, 1,000 full-time faculty members and 5,000 staff members. It houses the nation’s 13th-oldest medical school, the Medical College of Georgia, which was founded in 1828, and the state’s only public dental college, the Dental College of Georgia. It offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. Graduates speak highly of their AU education, citing factors such as small class sizes, extensive faculty support and in-depth clinical training.
With 650 acres of campus and nearly 150 buildings, the university has grown into a $1 billion-plus enterprise. AU’s primary campus is in downtown, historic Augusta with satellite campuses in the cities of Athens, Albany, Rome and Savannah. The university also partners with the Wellstar Health System in support of the unified Wellstar MCG Health system.
Known for its commitment to research and innovation, the university boasts workforce partnerships to address Georgia’s physician and medical professional shortages, while also expanding the state’s skilled workforce in fields such as cybersecurity and education. Research achievements include laying the groundwork for breakthroughs in fertility treatments and beta-blocking drugs for cardiac arrhythmias. In innovation, AU plays a leading role in incorporating technology into the curriculum through simulation labs, online instruction and customized mobile apps for students and faculty.
global scale. I’m confident that our influence will continue to grow as we navigate this transformative phase at Augusta University.”
COURTESY AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
DISCOVER THE D I F F E R E N C E AT KIDS WORLD
INFANT/TODDLER SUITE
A nurturing environment for your little ones to grow and explore.
PRESCHOOLERS
Stimulating curriculum and dedicated teachers fostering a love for discovery.
GEORGIA PREK PROGRAM
Prepare your child for success in Georgia’s funded PreK program.
PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN
Individualized attention and a strong academic foundation.
SUMMER TRANSITION PREK
Keep the learning momentum going during the summer.
SUMMER CAMP
Adventure-filled days with exciting activities, field trips, and friendships.
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL
A safe and enriching environment for school-age children.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Nutritious Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared by our talented Chef Jamel.
Private Playgrounds: Four ageappropriate outdoor spaces for active play and exploration.
Quality Rated Accreditation: 3-Star rated since 2012, ensuring high standards.
NAEYC Accredited: Recognized for our commitment to quality early childhood education.
KIDS WORLD LEARNING CENTER
EXPERT CARE, RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD
Optim Orthopedics is dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized care to every patient that comes through our doors. Our fellowship trained physicians are focused on treatment plans that are in line with the needs and goals of each of our patients.
DON AARON, MD
DELAN GAINES, MD
“I know of a cure for everything: salt water…sweat, or tears, or the sea.”
– ISAK DINESEN (KAREN BLIXEN)
Through the halls of the biology building at Georgia Southern University, Dr. Loren Mathews moves with purpose, her dedication to both her students and the environment evident in every step. Recently honored with Georgia Southern University’s prestigious Award of Excellence for Student Success, Dr. Mathews serves as an inspirational senior lecturer in the field of Biology, whose research focuses on the health of estuaries in the Southeast, but who finds purpose in offering a guiding hand to each student she encounters, providing a wider view of excellence that flows from the classroom into every area of her student’s lives.
Born in Florida and raised in Peachtree City, Georgia, Mathews found her calling
early on in marine science and biology at the University of Miami, where she received her undergraduate degree in 2005.
“I wanted to be a marine mammal veterinarian,” she said. “I chose the University of Miami for my BS in Marine Science and Biology. I pictured being a dolphin doctor, not a trainer. As an undergraduate, I did all the work for Vet School. When I graduated, I was accepted into Vet School at LSU, but I didn’t really feel a passion for it when I was accepted. I wasn’t very excited.”
Mathews turned down the invitation, and instead tried to get a job at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Construction had just started and only executive level positions were being filled at the time, so she worked at Zoo Atlanta for two months, before heading back to Miami for a fulltime position at the Miami Seaquarium, serendipitously located by the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.
“The Marine Science campus was right next door to the aquarium,” said Mathews. “Which is why I decided to go ahead and pursue my Masters. I would go to work and clock out to go to class, then clock back in to work.”
Mathews also met her husband, local attorney Matt Mathews, at the University of
Miami, and they were married in 2006. Just as Loren was finishing her Masters, Matt was applying for law school. They ended up in Gainesville, at the University of Florida. It was during their time at UF that their oldest son Fisher were born. While Matt was in law school, Loren applied for a research position at the university. There she ran into another UM alumnus who knew of her background, and facilitated her hiring as a project manager, the oversight and research of which turned into a PhD in Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences in 2013.
The Mathews returned to the Statesboro area in 2013, and Dr. Mathews began her career at Georgia Southern as a Visiting Assistant Professor. She was retained full time in 2015 as a Lecturer. After her first year of teaching, son Keaton was born in 2016. And in 2021, she became a Senior Lecturer in Georgia Southern University’s biology department, where she teaches today.
Her own experiences in academia as a student - the uncertainty, the changing of career paths – led her to greatly value the mentoring and counseling she received from colleagues, friends, and family along the way. All of which formed the foundation for the intent she feels to guide her own students on their journeys.
“An ocean refuses no river.”
It is perhaps Dr. Mathews' role as a mentor that shines brightest. Nominated by her peers, she received Georgia Southern’s Award of Excellence for Student Success this year, a testament to her exceptional engagement with the over 7,000 students she has impacted since becoming a faculty member in 2013. Her students range from those dual-enrolled in high school to those seeking graduate degrees. Her success comes from creating a “learner-centered culture” for students, many of whom were in high school during COVID-19, and participated in virtual learning. Dr. Mathews helps transition the students to a more interactive and “hands on” approach to education inside and outside the classroom. Beyond imparting knowledge, Dr. Mathews seeks to enhance the quality of life of her students by supporting their scholarly pursuits, creating a culturally enriched learning environment, promoting student life, and encouraging community engagement.
Her approach is holistic, aiming not just to educate but to empower students to excel in their academic journeys and beyond.
Honored with the Georgia Southern College of Science & Mathematics’ Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022, and recognized as the Georgia Southern Biology Department Professor of the Year in 2021, Dr. Mathews has consistently been celebrated for her transformative impact. Students have honored her with the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society's Most Inspiring Professor award in 2017, and the Tri Beta Green Thumb Award for Contributing to Student Success in 2018. Each accolade underscores her dedication and effectiveness in nurturing a new generation of scientists and leaders.
Mathews is quick to give credit to those within the biology department who have supported and mentored her as well. Teaching collaborators Dr. Lace Svec, Dr. Denise Carroll, and Dr. Michelle Cawthorn, along with Research collaborators and mentors - Dr. Risa Cohen, Dr. Jessica Reichmuth (Augusta University), and Dr. Clay Montague, her PhD advisor now retired from UF, who resides in Waverly, Georgia, and is a major collaborator on a marsh restoration project with the Satilla River Estuary.
Mathews is Project Co-Manager of the
Satilla River Estuary Ecosystem Assessment, in collaboration with Cohen, Carroll and Montague. She has tested water samples, prepared resulting data, written grant proposals and designed and implemented system-wide water quality assessment protocols. The research has resulted in a recommendation to close the manmade cuts through the river made by the paper and logging industries early in the 20th century, which is expected to restore over 5,000 acres of habitat and improve recreational boating in the area.
Her research on coastal water quality underscores her commitment to understanding human impacts on coastal ecosystems—a passion that extends beyond the classroom into the heart of environmental preservation efforts.
“I see my job as a mission field,” said Mathews. “Even though I consider myself to be an estuarine ecologist that studies where rivers meet the sea, I think my gift and greater purpose is about guiding students through their life experiences in a sincere and respectful way. I believe it’s more than just teaching Biology, it’s about helping students learn about the bigger aspects of life: facing your fears, believing in your worthiness, finding your place, and being more engaged in the learning process.”
– SHEILA CHANDRA
“We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.”
– JAQUES COUSTEAU
Dr. Mathews' influence transcends University boundaries. She is active in many organizations that promote environmental sustainability and a healthy ecology. She’s a state certified lead volunteer with Ogeechee Riverkeeper, conducting monthly chemical and bacterial testing of six freshwater stream sites in downtown Statesboro. She also helps coordinate and train student interns and local citizen scientists who participate in the program.
She is on the board of directors of Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB), and works on programming, plus participates in community outreach opportunities like Greenfest and Recyclefest. She also participates in the Community Garden, another City of Statesboro project.
As founder and former chair of the Environmental Preservation Committee of the Statesboro Service League, she initiated efforts to safeguard local ecosystems, embodying her commitment to sustainability in action. She actively engages with local K-5 students, STEM teachers, scout groups, and nonprofit organizations, igniting a passion for science and environmental stewardship in future generations.
Mathews exemplifies the ideals of academic excellence, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Her story resonates not just as a biologist but as a mentor who shapes lives and inspires change—a testament to the profound impact of educators who go beyond the textbook to cultivate success in life in every sense of the word. S
Dr. Tony Reed, MD, FACOG
Dr. Chelsea Mikell, MD, FACOG
Shannon Hall, PA-C
Dr. James Small, MD, MEd, FACOG
Tressa Cheney, FNP-C
Sarah Kent, lbCLC
Denise Peebles, FNP-C
Nikiya L. Lewis, DNP, FNP-C
Jamie Bohler, FNP-C
Swainsboro
Sylvania
Metter
Pembroke
Claxton
Millen
BULLOCH County Schools
Preparing students for success & enhancing community value
Enrolled Employed Enlisted
ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
VOTING DISTRICT 1
Glenn Womack lwomack@bullochschools.org
Term: 1/1/2021 - 12/31/2024
Board member-elect:
Lannie Lanier lalanier@bullochschools.org
912.531.5231 (H)
Term: 1/1/2025 – 12/31/2028
VOTING DISTRICT 2
Elizabeth Williams ewilliams@bullochschools.org
912.682.2615 (H)
Term: 1/1/2023 - 12/31/2026
VOTING DISTRICT 3
Stuart Tedders, Ph.D. stedders@bullochschools.org
912.478.1922 (W)
Term: 1/1/2017 - 12/31/2024
Board member-elect:
Jennifer C. Mock jcmock@bullochschools.org
912.225.6101 (W) Term: 1/1/2025 – 12/31/2028
VOTING DISTRICT 4
Donna Clifton dclifton@bullochschools.org
912.536.3466 (H) Term: 1/1/2023 - 12/31/2026
VOTING DISTRICT 5
Glennera Martin gmartinsugarhill@yahoo.com
912.531.1332 (C)
Term: 1/1/2015 – 12/31/2026
VOTING DISTRICT 6
Jimmy "Jay" Cook, Jr. jlcook@bullochschools.org
912.512.3796 (H) Term: 1/1/2015 - 12/31/2026
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
Visit www.bullochschools.org/board for a schedule of meeting dates and times, maps of the areas that each Board member represents, Board agendas and meeting documents, and official minutes of meetings. Board meetings are held in the boardroom of the school district’s Central Office located at 150 Williams Road, Suite A, in Statesboro, Georgia.
WATCH BOARD MEETINGS
LIVE OR LATER
Board meetings can be watched live or later. They are live streamed online at www.bullochschools.org/boardlive, and an archived video is uploaded to the website within 24 hours of each meeting.
The public may direct all open records requests to Mandy Motes, the Board of Education’s secretary and custodian of records at 912.212.8508 or recordscustodian@bullochschools.org.
BOARD LEGAL COUNSEL
Bruce, Matthews & LaVoie 102 South Main Street Statesboro, GA 30458 912.764.9889
KEY ISSUES FORUM
An online source of for answers to frequently asked questions, information, and feedback www.bullochschools.org/keyissues
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Charles Wilson, Ed.S., MBA, CPA cwilson@bullochschools.org 912.212.8500
“Our schools are an example of Bulloch County citizens’ commitment to its children.”
CHARLES G. WILSON Superintendent
HOME TO GEORGIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR TOP-10 FINALIST Ashleigh Wright of Southeast Bulloch High School
IN BULLOCH COUNTY
SCHOOLS, we believe every child enrolled in our school district can achieve great things.
Our dedicated teachers wrap support around children to help them succeed. From the first day of school, we encourage students to discover their interests, and we provide them with experiences that prepare them for their future paths.
Whether they choose to enroll in college, enlist in the military, be employed in a skilled career, or any combination of the three, we offer strong academic and career programs and guidance to help them follow a planned path to reach their goals. Our community is enhanced and grows stronger as we see our students step confidently into their futures, knowing they are ready to make a difference. Together, with you, we celebrate their successes, showing that with the right support, each of their dreams can come true.
TO VIEW OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
Vision:
Bulloch County Schools will prepare its students to be contributing members of society, based upon their interests and abilities, to pursue the work and careers of their choice.
Mission: The mission of Bulloch County Schools is to prepare students for success and enhance community value.
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
GA Teacher of the Year Top 10 Finalist
Ashleigh Wright
SCHOOLS
15 Schools (total)
9 Elementary Schools (PK-5)
3 Middle Schools (6-8)
2 High Schools (PK, 9-12)
1 Middle-High (6-12)
13 of the schools are Title I schools (86.70%)
STUDENT WELLNESS & SUPPORT LEARNING PROGRAMS
• Transitions Learning Center (6-12)
• Graduation Performance Academy (9-12)
• Learners Involved in Flexible Education (9-12)
• Learn Empower Adapt Pride (K-5)
• Cedarwood (GNETS – 4-12)
FACULTY & STAFF
• 2,406 ull-time, part-time, contracted services, seasonal and substitute employees
• Bulloch County’s 2nd Largest Employer
TRANSPORTATION
• 95 School Bus Routes
• 95 drivers, 23 bus monitors, and 6 mechanics make up our driving force
• 5,000+ student bus riders; Ride 2x daily
• 5,891 miles bus drivers travel each day
• 1.3 million miles bus drivers travel annually
• Drivers conduct daily pre-route and post-route inspections
• Every 20 days buses are serviced & inspected by a qualified mechanic
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
I Distinguished
STUDENT MOBILITY RATE
The percentage rate at which students transfer schools for reasons other than promotion. High mobility affects student learning and disrupts faculty instruction.
In Bulloch County, the school district is also provided a one-percent local option sales tax. This helps keep property millage rates and taxes lower.
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM
• All students receive free breakfast
• Six schools qualify for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision which permits all students at those schools to also receive free lunch regardless of family income.
• 69.28% of the school district’s 11,024 students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals
• Bulloch County has the 65th highest rate of GA’s 159 counties of students with the lack of consistent access to food in order to live an active healthy life
•
• 1,812,616 total meals were served to students
the summer
BULLOCH COUNTY SCHOOLS AT-A-GLANCE
IMAGINE ROBOTIFY
National Imagine Award
William James Middle School
GEORGIA
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE & SAFETY
• 4,224 Total discipline incidents
• 1% of incidents involved weapons; no guns
• 1% involved drugs
• 1,809 Students involved in incidents
• 26.2% led to out-of-school suspension
• 55.5% led to in-school suspension
• 0.3% Expulsion Rate
• 10.6% In-School Suspension Rate
• 6.0% Out-of-School Suspension Rate
• 71.9% of incidents involved males
• 28.1% of incidents involved females
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
• 11,024 (March 7, 2024)
• 65.4% Economically Disadvantaged Students
• 16.3% Students with Disabilities
• 3.4% Students receive English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services
• 6.6% Students receive Gifted Services
STUDENT DIVERSITY 24 Nationalities 18 Languages
46.7% Caucasian 38.6% Black 7.9% Hispanic 1.6% Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2% American Indian 5.0% More than one race
GEORGIA STUDENT HEALTH SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS
Of the 4,575 students in grades 6-12 who participated, these are their responses:
• 83% strongly or somewhat strongly agreed that they feel successful at school
• 64% strongly or somewhat strongly agreed that they are treated fairly by other students regardless of race, ethnicity, or culture.
• 4.3% (196 students) said that they had been bullied either every day or many times.
• 69.9% strongly or somewhat strongly agreed that they felt safe at school
• 86% strongly or somewhat strongly agreed that they knew what to do if there was an emergency at their school
BULLOCH COUNTY SCHOOLS AT-A-GLANCE
Number of Class of 2023 graduates; 317 of whom (45.74%) were eligible for Georgia’s HOPE Scholarships.
62.7%
Percentage of graduates from the Class of 2023 who enrolled in a post-secondary institution within 16 months of graduation.
ACT
The Class of 2023 had 255 test takers.
Composite Score Avg.: Bulloch: 20 Georgia: 21.3 United States: 19.5
SAT
The Class of 2023 had 255 test takers.
Mean Score Avg.: Bulloch: 1050 Georgia 1045
United States: 1003
FOUR-YEAR COHORT GRADUATION RATE
CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATION RATES
THE GEORGIA MILESTONES ASSESSMENT SYSTEM MONITORS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND GROWTH.
Third through eighth grades take the end-of-grade tests, and ninth through twelfth grades take the end-of-course Tests. The tests measure how well students have learned the knowledge and skills within Georgia’s English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies content standards. Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state's accountability system – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).The CCRPI features five key indicators: Content mastery, progress, closing learning gaps, readiness and graduation rates. These are the 2023 CCRPI results. New results are released each October.
2023 GEORGIA COLLEGE & CAREER READY PERFORMANCE INDEX
GEORGIA RELEASES LISTS OF SCHOOLS IN NEED OF SUPPORT
Lists reveal both successes & challenges for Bulloch County
On Jan. 9, 2024, Georgia released its annual lists of schools in need of support and improvement, and they reveal both successes and challenges for Bulloch County. Langston Chapel Middle School, which was placed on the Targeted Support and Improvement Schools List (TSI) in 2023, successfully met the requirements to be removed from the list; however, Langston Chapel Elementary and Stilson Elementary are two of 78 schools on the state’s Additional Targeted Support and Improvement Schools List (ATSI), a designation they will have for the next three years through 2026, when the schools will be re-evaluated for possible removal. Langston Chapel Elementary and Stilson Elementary were placed on the state’s Additional Targeted Support and Improvement School List after their third through fifth-grade students with disabilities’ academic performance on the Georgia Milestones Assessment System in April 2023, placed the schools in the lowest 5% of all schools in the state once the scores were reflected in the College and Career Ready Performance Index’s measurements of content mastery, progress, closing the gaps and readiness. The two schools will receive additional support from both the local school district and the state to help the schools’ faculty and students.
EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL
PROVIDES CAREER EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
East Georgia Regional Medical Center now partners with Bulloch County Schools’ Career Technical & Agricultural Education program to offer certain high school students the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations at the hospital. Beginning during the 2023-2024 school year, 44 students from Southeast Bulloch High School were cleared to participate and take advantage of this valuable experience. Participating students are ones who had successfully completed the series of courses within Georgia’s Therapeutic Services - Allied Health career pathway. At the end of the year, all of these students also passed the Therapeutic Services-Allied Health career pathway’s national end-of-pathway assessment. This allowed them to receive national certifications for healthcare field employees including OSHA-approved Bloodborne Pathogens for Healthcare Workers Certification and HIPAA Certificates, a key first step as these students begin to pursue further education and careers in the healthcare field.
CAREER READY BULLOCH
Career Ready Bulloch is a collaborative team of educators, community members, and business and industry leaders who work to accomplish workforce development goals in Bulloch County. Its efforts are led by the Bulloch County Workforce Steering Committee. Learn more about the Workforce Development Plan for 2022 to 2025 and how these partners are training Bulloch's future workforce at www.careerreadybulloch.org.
THIRD ANNUAL CAREER WORKFORCE SUMMIT
Plan for a career academy program unveiled
The Bulloch County Career Workforce Steering Committee hosted its Third Annual Career Workforce Summit on January 31, 2024. The purpose of the Summit was to update business, industry and community partners about the continued progress that has been made toward accomplishing the goals of the Bulloch County Career Workforce Development Plan, celebrate successes within Bulloch County Schools' career pathway programs, and provide a time for educators and business and industry leaders to connect. During the Summit leaders unveiled the school district’s plan to create a career academy program. Not a stand-alone facility, the plan will strategically be a career academy program that is embedded in each of the district’s three high schools. District leaders believe this model will maximize community resources, provide more opportunities for students to complete multiple pathways, provide more flexibility in the programs that are offered, and better align with local and regional workforce development needs.
“We
plan to leverage all three of our high schools in order to maximize our Career Technical & Agricultural Education program’s career pathway offerings for students, and this will
allow us to maximize
our community resources
and give more opportunities for students to complete multiple pathways in a certain area that they’re interested in.”
TERESA PHILLIPS Assistant Superintendent of
School Improvement
STATESBORO HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION RECEIVES
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
GA Department of Education and Construction Ready recognize efforts to educate students in
Statesboro High School’s Architecture & Construction program has received national industry certification from the Georgia Department of Education and Construction Ready, a not-for-profit organization which seeks to educate young people about the construction industry. The certification recognizes the efforts of Josh Hall, Statesboro’s construction teacher and the career pathway program’s efforts to educate students in the skilled trades.
skilled trades
As part of the certification process, Hall had to provide evidence that his program has an active local advisory committee, a career and technical student organization (SkillsUSA), and partnerships with local businesses.The certification designates the Statesboro High Construction program’s excellence, and it received a grant from the Georgia Legislature to purchase additional tools and equipment. The program will undergo a renewal process every five years.
WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES MASSIVE GROWTH
Bulloch County Schools' Work-Based Learning program is experiencing massive growth due to increased student interest and expanded partnerships with local businesses and industry. On average we have more than 283 work-based learning students, who work more than 138,341 hours during the school year and earn more than $1,364,341 in wages.
CAREER TECHNICAL & AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION District adds multiple new career pathway programs in
Bulloch County Schools’ Career Technical & Agricultural Education program has added multiple new career pathways for students which teach skills in highdemand fields and expanded work-based learning options at Statesboro and Southeast Bulloch high schools.
• Statesboro High School: Added Graphic Design, Forest Mechanical Systems, and Workforce Ready
• Portal Middle High School: Added Teaching as a Profession
• Southeast Bulloch High School: Expanded Business Accounting and added Heavy Equipment Operations Work-Based Learning at Statesboro High School and Southeast Bulloch High School.
Work-based learning represents the pinnacle of our Career Technical & Agricultural Education programs. It allows qualified students who have mastered skills in career pathway areas the opportunity to work in an approved job placement to gain valuable work experience while receiving course credit. A job placement may be
a placement arranged by the school's work-based learning coordinator, the career pathway teacher, or an approved part-time job arranged by the student. If your business or industry is interested in being a site host for our students, visit careerreadybulloch.org or contact Bethany Gilliam at bgilliam@bullochschools.org.
43 Career Pathways
14 Career Clusters
98.75%
Graduation rate for students who also complete at least one career pathway
1507
Students taking at least one career pathway course in high school
1292
Student members of career technical student organizations
340 Work-based Learning students served
$1,711,263 wages earned by workbased learning students
285 employer sites
166,301 hours worked by workbased learning students
591 Dual-enrolled students
416 Career pathway completers
9
Career discovery events for 5th - 12th grade students
1,634 students identified to attend events
23 event partners
TWO SCHOOLS RECEIVED $10K START GRANTS TO EXPAND FINE
ARTS EDUCATION
Mattie Lively & Statesboro High art teachers enhance students’ art experiences
Two of Bulloch County’s schools each received a $10,000 stART Grant from the Georgia Department of Education to expand and sustain fine arts education programs at their schools during the 2023-2024 year.
Visual arts teachers Lindsey Reid, of Mattie Lively Elementary School, and Kimberly Kaiser, of Statesboro High School applied and received two of the 20 competitive grants that were awarded by the state in Fiscal Year 2024. The grants are meant to fund projects in rural Georgia that enhance students’ fine arts learning experiences. Funded by Title IV, Part A funds, the grants are meant to create and/or develop arts initiatives that support sustainable arts education programs and significantly increase student access to the arts during the school day.
Reid, who teaches six levels of fine arts courses for her school’s Kindergarten through fifth-grade students, used her grant to introduce advanced printmaking techniques, immersive ceramics, 3D design, and more. Ever the student herself, Reid collaborated with Statesboro’s Averitt Center for the Arts’ visual artist, Madeline Schelor, to advance her own ceramics skills and collaborate with her students. Schelor also returned to the school when Reid and her students hosted a Ceramics Showcase of their work for the community on May 24. The Showcase also helped students see the societal role of art. Set up like an actual art gallery, the showcase featured students’ work thrown from the potter’s wheel, like hand built pinch pots, slab built frames and test tiles.
Kaiser is one of two visual arts teachers at Statesboro High School. She and her colleague, Hayley Ward, have seen their fine arts courses grow by more than 180 students, and Kaiser wrote the grant to fund the addition of a photography fine arts pathway, plus infuse photography as an art form within the existing introductory and advanced visual arts courses. Students will now be able to experience both digital and analog photography methods and how they are used.
The two schools’ expanded programs are not just about access to more two- and three-dimensional visual arts tools and mediums but inclusivity as well. The schools have higher numbers of special education and economically disadvantaged students, so the grants help ensure a wider circle of children can learn to express themselves artistically.
PORTAL MIDDLE HIGH & NEVILS ELEMENTARY CELEBRATE 100 YEARS
Two of Bulloch County’s schools celebrated 100 years of service during the 2023-2024 school year. Portal Middle High School, founded on September 1, 1923, and Nevils Elementary School , founded in 1924, have served the families in the northern and southern ends of Bulloch County throughout many obstacles – fires, poverty, a national depression, world wars, and more thanks to the perseverance of those who valued education.
“What we are really celebrating is a community’s commitment to its children.”
CHARLES WILSON, Superintendent of Schools
ROOTED IN NUTRITION
School Food Services partners with local farmers
Bulloch County’s School Nutrition Services is partnering with local farmers to help build a culinary culture in our school cafeterias. Their efforts help children make a connection between the food on their plates and how it's grown and delivered. Also, with the growth and diversity of the school district's students, who represent 18 different nationalities and 24 different languages, some of our local produce items and how they are prepared are being introduced to children for the first time. In 2024, the district partnered with Hunter Cattle Company for beef, Mack Family Farm for potatoes, and Franklin's Farm for their strawberries, plus future orders of their citrus fruit, peaches and other produce as they come in season during the school year. Thank you to our local farmers for helping us fuel Georgia’s future.
10 YEARS OF REACH GEORGIA
58 scholars have received more than $600K in scholarships since 2013
In 2023, Bulloch County Schools celebrated the selection of its tenth cohort of REACH Georgia scholars. Since 2013, the school district has selected 58 scholars, each of whom is the recipient of a $10,000 college scholarship, and some received additional funds from participating Georgia colleges and universities.
In ten years, 36 of the scholars have gone on to pursue higher education and 15 have completed their post-secondary journeys. The majority have been honor graduates of their high school graduating classes, and three were the valedictorians of their senior class.
REACH Georgia scholars are selected in their eighth-grade year, and they maintain consistent eligibility by meeting academic, attendance, and behavior requirements throughout their five years in the program. The Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education has invested more than $80,000 in seed capital to underwrite the students’ scholarships with the Georgia Student Finance Corporation.
35 LOCAL READING NOOKS BOOST KIDS’ ACCESS TO BOOKS
More than 9.5K books available free to children through community collaboration
The Bulloch County Literacy Council now has 35 reading nooks in local businesses that have made more than 9,500 books available to children for free. Reading nooks are areas where young children may sit and enjoy looking at or reading a book, or you can read one to them. Children may also pick out a book from any reading nook and take it home to keep.
Part of the Literacy Council’s Bulloch READ initiative, the nooks increase children’s access to books, increase the number of books in homes, especially for families who are economically disadvantaged, and they help create a literacy-rich community which values reading. See a list of reading nooks in Bulloch County at www.bullochschools. org/bullochread. If you would like to place a reading nook in your business, contact Crystal Simpkins by email at csimpkins@ bullochschools.org or 912.212.8500.
LITERACY COUNCIL
PROVIDES 57 HOME READING NOOKS TO FAMILIES
Families win with books during annual Literacy Luau and Reading Nook Photo Contest
The Bulloch County Literacy Council has now placed 57 reading nooks in Bulloch County homes through annual events like the Kids’ Reading Nook Photo Contest in February and the Literacy Luau during Read Across America Week. These events provide not only a fun way for families to learn more about literacy but also chances to win supplies to create reading nooks and the books to stock them.
These literacy projects are part of the Bulloch County Literacy Council’s Bulloch READ initiatives, and are made possible in part by a $125,000 Community Transformation Grant from the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning.
2019 REACH Scholars as members of the graduating class of 2024
First cohort of REACH Scholars selected in 2013
GENERAL FUND HIGHLIGHTS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
AA +
Standard & Poor’s Credit Rating.
No audit findings
Based on the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts annual audit of the school district
E-SPLOST IV Expenditure Report
Schedule of approved local option sales tax projects for the year ended June 30, 2023.
Bulloch County Schools’ annual audit report of how the school district has used funds from its fourth education special purpose local option sales tax revenues (E-SPLOST). The funds were used in compliance with the E-SPLOST IV referendum approved by Bulloch County voters on Nov. 7, 2017. Find the full report at www.bullochschools.org/budget
Board makes difficult decision to raise millage rate
In a called session on Sept. 8, the Bulloch County Board of Education voted 7-1 in favor of raising its 2023 Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Millage Rate by 1.174 mills in order to continue qualifying for the equalization grant received through the state’s Quality Basic Education formula.
This millage rate increase is not an effort designed to increase revenue or make up a budget shortfall. Instead, it is an intentional effort to avoid losing $7.4 million in annual state equalization grant funding that also inadvertently generates $3.4 million in additional property tax revenues that were not budgeted for the current fiscal year.
State law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-165) requires that school boards maintain a minimum M&O Millage Rate of 14 mills in order to qualify for state equalization grant funding. Simply put, the purpose of the board’s action was to protect the sustainability of district programs and personnel that serve the students of Bulloch County Schools, and not a desire to harm the citizens of Bulloch County as some advocates have expressed.
The overall Fiscal Year 2025 Budget consists of five funds
FISCAL YEAR 2025 ALL FUNDS BUDGETED
STUDENT ATHLETES
2023-2024 School Year
Southeast Bulloch High School
Flag Football Team
Won 3rd GHSA Div. I State Championship; Undefeated in program history; 62 consecutive wins
Katlyn Sullivan (Statesboro)
GHSA Riflery State Champion
Hailey Scott (Portal)
400-M State Champion
GHSA 1-A Div. 2 Track & Field
Amir Jackson (Portal)
Long Jump State Champion
GHSA 1-A Div. 2 Track & Field
Kasen Evans, Amir Jackson, Marcus Smith, Charles McNeal
Portal Middle High Boys 4x200 Track Team
GHSA 1-A Div. 2 Track & Field State Champions
Mo Shareef (Statesboro)
Triple Jump State Champion (2X)
GHSA 5A/7A Track & Field
Region Championships
Portal Middle High School Varsity Football
Portal Middle High School Varsity Cross Country
Portal Middle High School Varsity
Boys Basketball (4x)
Portal Middle High School Varsity Girls Soccer
Portal Middle High School Varsity Girls Track
Southeast Bulloch High Girls Tennis (3x)
Southeast Bulloch High Girls Golf Area 2 4-A
Statesboro High School Girls Volleyball
Statesboro High School Boys Basketball
Statesboro High School Girls JROTC Raider Team
Langston Chapel Middle School Boys Basketball
William James MIddle School Girls Track & Field
William James Middle School Girls Tennis
Top GHSA State Playoff Appearances
Portal Middle High School Boys Basketball - Elite 8
Portal Middle High School Girls Soccer - Elite 8
Southeast Bulloch High School Girls Tennis - Final 4
Southeast Bulloch High School
Girls Soccer – Sweet 16
Statesboro High School Girls Volleyball - Elite 8
Statesboro High School Boys Basketball - Sweet 16
Statesboro High School Girls Basketball - Sweet 16
Statesboro High School Boys & Girls Tennis - Elite 8
REGION 8 STUDENT
TEACHER ACADEMIC RECOGNITION (STAR)
Eli Compton Co-Region 8 STAR Student
AAAA GHSA STATE LITERARY
Catherine Martin First Place Girls Solo
RICHARD WOODS, STATE SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT
Katelyn Moore
State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee
GOOGLE
Davine Chen Doodle for Google Winner for State of Georgia
NATIONAL SKILLSUSA
Nicholes Cortes Second Place in nation for Related Technical Math
NATIONAL FCCLA STAR EVENT
Kalen McNeil First Place - Chapter In Review Portfolio
GEORGIA FCCLA STAR EVENT
Branden Howard & Erin Shen First Place in Public Policy Advocate
GEORGIA ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Ava Rooker, Emma Martinez, Chelsea Powell, & Rylee Martindale-Rushing
GA Capitol Art Exhibition selected student artists
GHSA LITERARY
Southeast Bulloch High School Literary Team
AAAA State Literary First Runner-up
SOUTHEAST BULLOCH HIGH
WINS GA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD CHAMPIONSHIP
Southeast Bulloch High School’s STEM Club won the Georgia Science Olympiad’s 2024 Class A State Championship. Held on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 30, 2024, the club’s members medaled in 14 of the 24 individual events, including eight first-place finishes, two second-place medals, and four thirdplace. The club is coached by Danielle HibbsHeiser, a science teacher at the school.
OLYMPIC DREAMS
Two Statesboro High School athletes strive to make Olympic teams
Katlyn Sullivan, a rising junior at Statesboro High School, won the 2024 GHSA Riflery State Championship. This young markswoman is gaining stature in Olympic and national competitions. Sullivan has qualified and been invited by USA Shooting to the National Rifle Junior Olympic Championships for the past three years, competing well and rising in the national ranks with each competition.
Olivia Stewart, a member of Statesboro High School’s Class of 2024, made the cut in USA Swimming’s Olympic Trials for the 100-meter Breaststroke. Stewart, who was the state runner-up in both the 100-meter Breaststroke and 200-meter Individual Medley in the 2023 Georgia High School Association’s Swimming & Diving Championships, has committed to swim for Auburn University.
GA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Lindsey Reid
Kimberly Kaiser
Each selected to receive $10K stART Grants for fine arts
GA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL NURSES
Fay Blythe
GA’s School Nurse Administrator of the Year
GA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Lee Collins District 1 Music Educator of the Year
STATESBORO HERALD
Brad Boykin 20 Under 40 Leaders
GA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION & CONSTRUCTION READY
Josh Hall & Statesboro High Construction National Construction Ready Industry Certification
STATESBORO VFW POST 10825
Ashleigh Wright Local & District Winner of Smart/ Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award
15 LOCAL EDUCATORS TRAVEL TO SOUTH KOREA
Ajin Georgia sponsors trip to foster cultural connections
Educators from public schools in Bulloch, Evans, and Candler counties were invited on a 12-day trip to South Korea. The trip was sponsored by Ajin Georgia, a new manufacturer and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant supplier in Bulloch County, and coordinated through Auburn University's Korea Corner program. The 15 educators were in South Korea June 3 -12 for a Global Studies in Education program to learn about Korean schools and students. The trip was also a cultural immersion and information exchange opportunity meant to further foster friendships, understanding and cross-cultural connections between leaders from the school systems, Ajin Georgia, and other South Korean manufacturers ahead of more families from the East Asian country moving into the region.
For Bulloch County's delegation, nine principals, assistant principals, and school counselors from Southeast Bulloch's middle and high schools and Nevils Elementary School, plus the district’s Career Technical & Agricultural Education program director were identified as the initial key group who would benefit most from the experience.
2024-2025 SCHOOL-LEVEL
Teachers of the Year
These teachers will be eligible to compete for the Bulloch County Schools Teacher of the Year title and possibly advance to the Georgia Teacher of the Year and the 2026 National Teacher of the Year competitions.
Nikki Messer
Since 2006, the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education has funded nearly 290 innovative teacher grants totaling more than $357,560 to fund learning experiences for Bulloch County children. The Foundation provides a way for individuals, businesses, industries, and local civic organizations to invest in local education programs that benefit public, charter, private, and home schooled students.
UNVEILING Emotional Landscape
Education’s
WITH DR. MECA WILLIAMS-JOHNSON
WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
BEING ASKED TO FILL THE ROLE OF INTERIM
CO-DEAN OF THE COLLEGE of Education at Georgia Southern University, in December, was unexpected by Dr. Meca Williams-Johnson. A professor of Educational Research for 17 years, her academic journey and research are deeply intertwined with understanding the emotional dimensions of teaching and learning. More specifically, she investigates, race, racism and emotions, efficacy beliefs, parents’ motivation in school choice options, and African American schooling experiences. Stepping into the new leadership role of dean tests some of her own research theories on how family support plays a broader role in the success of teachers and students in all facets of education.
Through planning, conducting, and publishing several research studies, Dr. Williams-Johnson has contributed to the larger body of knowledge and reported recom-
mendations to achieve a better educational experience for all students through her insight and advocacy. Earlier this year, she received the Mid-Career Researcher Award from the Mary Early College of Education at the University of Georgia for her body of work. It is easy to see the commitment that led to her appointment as dean.
Dr. Williams-Johnson's path to academia began with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Southern University and A&M College, followed by a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Florida State University. She solidified her expertise with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia, focusing her research on the complex interplay of emotions, efficacy beliefs, and race in educational settings.
Her scholarly pursuits are expansive, delving into areas such as school reform, school choice, home education, and parental involvement—each underscored by a
DR. MECA WILLIAMS-JOHNSON
In our research we look for trends in parent involvement practices that include parents’ role in supporting students’ positive development, self-sufficiency in their academic learning and future decision-making, as well as how parents view their role amidst the increasing use of digital tools for at-home learning.”
– DR. MECA WILLIAMS-JOHNSON
commitment to understanding and enhancing the educational experiences of AfricanAmerican students. Dr. Williams-Johnson's qualitative research design and mixedmethod approaches have led to significant contributions to educational theory and practice, advocating for inclusive and culturally responsive teaching methods.
“I am interested in uncovering motivation,” said Williams-Johnson. “What motivates students and teachers? How can we look across the landscape of cultural and socioeconomic differences and see the gaps in education affecting our students and teachers and look for solutions?”
Williams-Johnson recently completed a book about parental involvement and the role it plays in a student’s education. Her abstract “Parental Role Construction Leading to Parental Involvement in Culturally Distinct Communities” was published on-line by Taylor & Francis - Informa, one of the world’s leading publishers of advanced, emergent and applied academic research. In print, her study is featured in a special issue of a top-tier academic journal titled Educational Psychologist. The articles published in the issue were edited by Williams-Johnson. This is the first issue of Educational Psychologist to focus solely on parental involvement and its relationship to our children’s psychological and social development.
“It is a critical analysis of parental involvement in schools,” said Williams-Johnson. “In our research we look for trends in parent involvement practices that include parents’ role in supporting students’ positive development, self-sufficiency in their academic learning and future decision-making, as well as how parents view their role amidst the increasing use of
digital tools for at-home learning.”
Williams-Johnson’s research also extends to analyzing emotions in the classroom.
“Currently, there is no place in the classroom for emotional expression,” said WilliamsJohnson. “Teachers are expected not to have any emotions, they are asked to place them in file cabinets, only to be pulled out as they walk out the door. They feel they can’t fully express themselves, so they burn-out and leave. I hope we can inform the performance of teachers to better support them in practice. We want the classroom to be a safe space for learning for all. We can also help schools by working with students and parents on this issue.”
Williams-Johnson sees her overall mission as helping kids live up to their potential.
Beyond research, Dr. Williams-Johnson is deeply involved in community and professional leadership roles. She is the faculty advisor for the Georgia Southern student chapter of the NAACP, which recently won the University’s award for Student Organization of the Year 2023-2024, and was also designated a Platinum Organization by the Wings Incentive Program. She is the past chair for the Educational Committee for the NAACP in Bulloch County, bridging academic insights with community empowerment initiatives.
Her husband, local attorney and civil rights advocate, Dr. Francys Johnson, and sons, Thurgood, Frederick, and Langston, support Williams-Johnson’s research and initiatives thereby proving her theories. As first lady to the two churches Dr. Johnson pastors, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Pembroke, and Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church of Statesboro, Williams-Johnson motivates the youth in her churches to
An
education can leave a legacy for the family. I want people to know the value of that. Education is the one thing that can change everything.”
– DR. MECA WILLIAMS-JOHNSON
DR. MECA WILLIAMS-JOHNSON |
seek education as a way to better prepare themselves for the future.
I am interested in uncovering motivation. What motivates students and teachers? How can we look across the landscape of cultural and socio-economic differences and see the gaps in education affecting our students and teachers and look for solutions? ”
– DR. MECA WILLIAMS-JOHNSON
“We have an aggressive plan for kids who graduate high school,” said Williams-Johnson. “They have been accepted at a college, trade school or by the military upon graduating. Since we implemented the program, we have a 100% placement rate. One of our graduates used the bridge program from Georgia Southern and completed his studies in the engineering program at Georgia Tech.”
Williams-Johnson wants people to understand the benefits of education.
“An education can leave a legacy for the family,” she said. “I want people to know the value of that. Education is the one thing that can change everything.”
Recognized for her scholarly achievements, Dr. Williams-Johnson received the 2016 Georgia Southern University Award for Excellence in Contributions to Instruction, a testament to her impactful teaching and mentorship. She has also served as a Provostselected member of the Eagle Leadership Academy at Georgia Southern. Her service extends to national platforms, where she has
been honored as the American Educational Research Association Reviewer of the Year, reflecting her dedication to advancing educational research methodologies and practices.
Her work underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between educators and families to bridge educational disparities and foster inclusive learning environments. Williams-Johnson seeks to fill gaps in research by reporting on aspects of motivation and its relationship to emotions and race. Her recommendations provide possible solutions to long-term social concerns that negatively impact schools.
As she continues to shape the future of education through her leadership, teaching, research, and advocacy, Williams-Johnson exemplifies a commitment to advancing educational equity, exploring parental involvement in education, and understanding the profound impact of emotions on teaching and learning. Her journey serves as a guiding light, inspiring both students and colleagues alike to embrace diversity, empathy, and innovation in all educational practices. S
A Servant’s
WRITTEN BY
JENNY STARLING FOSS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
Calling
My grandmother’s funeral was the first one I did.”
– CRAIG TREMBLE
MINISTRY AND SERVICE
PERMEATE EVERY FACET OF CRAIG TREMBLE’S LIFE, shaping his identity as a pastor, funeral director, deputy coroner, and police chaplain. His calling to serve others is at the foundation of the many roles he plays within the community, each one complementing the other, and all based on a calling that came early.
For Tremble, the journey to public service began at age 16, when he was driven by a deep-seated need to be the one to support families during their most challenging moments. Raised in a Christian home on a farm near Leefield, Georgia, Tremble's upbringing instilled a profound sense of community and compassion.
While still a child attending the Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church, his admiration for the leadership roles pastors and funeral directors played within the church-centered community opened his eyes to the opportunities for service that his own heart desired.
The son of Harry James Tremble, Sr. and Johnnie Pearl Tremble, as a child, he and his siblings helped out on their father’s farm after school. Mr. Tremble grew peanuts, soybeans, corn, cows and hogs. While in high school at Southeast Bulloch, in addition to helping on the farm, Craig worked first for a funeral home in Guyton before admittedly pestering Mr. James R. Barnes for a job at James R. Barnes Mortuary.
“I told him I’d do anything,” said Tremble. “Sweep up, help set-up flowers, clean up the chapel after a service, wash cars, whatever he needed me to do. I guess I asked him so many times that he finally gave in and told me I could help out.”
Tremble worked with Mr. Barnes after school and on weekends absorbing the store of inside knowledge and wisdom the long-time funeral director shared with him.
“I really admired the kindness, understanding and compassion that I saw in Mr. Barnes,” said Tremble.
After graduating from SEB in 1987, Tremble continued his education at BrewtonParker College, Georgia Southern University, and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, from which he graduated in 1992 as a funeral director and embalmer. For a while he worked in the Atlanta area with Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home in Scottsdale, Georgia, and Alfonso Dawson Mortuary in Atlanta, before returning to Barnes in Statesboro.
Tremble met his wife, and co-owner of the funeral home, Yolanda, through his cousin, while she was a student at Georgia Southern. The two were married in 1993. In 2001, the Trembles opened Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home in Statesboro, providentially one day before a well-loved family member passed away.
“My grandmother’s funeral was the first one I did,” said Tremble.
A second funeral home location was opened in Pembroke in 2008. Both are fullservice locations which Tremble oversees. He and Yolanda have two sons, Jordan 27 and Brandon 33, who both work with the family at the funeral home when able. Tremble has a brother, Elrico, who works full-time at Georgia Southern and also serves as a manager of the funeral home. It is truly a family affair.
His approach to funeral service goes beyond mere profession; for Tremble, it's an extension of his pastoral care. He recognizes the immense emotional weight families bear during bereavement and he strives to provide comfort and support, with kindness and compassion during those times. His faith, fortified by a dedicated prayer life, anchors him through the trials inherent in his diverse roles.
Tremble has been a minister of the Gospel for 40 years, 28 of those at Second St. John Missionary Baptist Church on Fair Road in
I have built my career on trust and loyalty to the families in the community we serve. When dealing with loved ones, in any of life’s situations, you only get one time to provide the comfort, compassion or guidance that they need. Bereavement especially can be hard for families. I take my roles seriously as a way to impact families in a positive and caring way during what can be a hard time for them.”
– CRAIG TREMBLE
Statesboro. Prior to that, he was pastor at Hagan Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Hagan. Despite the demands of his roles as senior pastor of Second Saint John Missionary Baptist Church and owner of Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, Tremble embraces each responsibility as a ministry and calling.
I“I have built my career on trust and loyalty to the families in the community we serve,” said Tremble. “When dealing with loved ones, in any of life’s situations, you only get one time to provide the comfort, compassion or guidance that they need.
Bereavement especially can be hard for families. I take my roles seriously as a way to impact families in a positive and caring way during what can be a hard time for them.”
Beyond his pastoral and funeral service duties, Tremble currently serves as chief deputy coroner for Bulloch County, a position he has held for 27 years, most recently under Richard Pylant, who was appointed by the Bulloch County Commission to fill the un-expired term of former coroner Jake Futch, who resigned in 2023. Futch’s term was to expire in December 2024. Tremble is currently running for election to fill the office vacated by long-time friend and associate, Futch.
“I feel this is the time to continue my service to the community in the office of
coroner in a leadership capacity,” said Tremble. “The many years of experience I have as deputy coroner have prepared me to assume the overall responsibilities of the position. When Jake or Richard have needed assistance, I have often been called upon. I have worked alongside local law enforcement agencies, police, the sheriff’s office and state patrol in the instances of traffic fatalities, or deaths in which the cause is questionable, to determine the actual manner of death and sign off on the death certificates with an official cause.”
If the coroner can’t go to the scene of a death, the deputy coroner goes, so Tremble is already well-trained in the role he is pursuing. He has worked with the GBI in Pooler and Atlanta on determining the cause of death in instances when the deceased may appear to have been young and healthy; when traffic fatalities occur; when firearms are involved, and many other situations in which an autopsy by the GBI’s Division of Forensic Services may be needed to help establish cause before the coroner certifies it.
“This is another way to serve families by giving them the answers they need for peace of mind when a loved one passes unexpectedly or by accident,” said Tremble. “Sometimes it may take a while, but I understand the importance of knowing why a death took place. To answer
questions like - at what point? I want to help families find the answers they are searching for – the cause and manner of death. I want to be able to provide the comfort to help those grieving families, too. To me, it ties in with my ministry. I see it as being a steward to all people of Bulloch County.”
Tremble’s qualifications are substantial. He also holds a BA in Bible Studies from the Guido Bible College in Metter. He is a current member of Statesboro Kiwanis Club. He is a member of the Bulloch County Chapter of the NAACP, recognized as keynote speaker for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day Observance in 2016. He was honored with the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 2016. He has been recognized by the Georgia Funeral Services Practitioners Association as Mortician of the Year in 2018. He serves as chaplain for the Statesboro Police Department, and is a former chaplain with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“What impressed me about Craig, is that he is an extraordinary gentleman,” said John B. Edwards, author and former Special Agent in Charge of the Statesboro district (Region 5) of the GBI. “He is a very humble man that takes his responsibilities seriously. He was chaplain when both Charles Sikes and I were SACs in Statesboro, and he served us well.”
Tremble’s business is an active supporter of community sports teams through the Statesboro-Bulloch Parks & Recreation Department’s T-ball and basketball teams.
In his personal life, Tremble's marriage to Yolanda since 1993 and his role as a father to sons Jordan and Brandon underscore his commitment to family values and community cohesion. His upbringing, grounded in faith and service, continues to shape his approach to leadership and ministry, making him a steadfast pillar in the lives of those he serves. Tremble exemplifies the profound impact of a life dedicated to service, seamlessly blending his professional expertise with a heartfelt commitment to his community. S
Buzz Worthy Bites
WRITTEN BY LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY
IT’S A SCORCHER!! THE FACT THAT IT'S HOT AS HADES SHOULD NOT COME AS A surprise to anyone who is familiar with summer in South Georgia. As July and August approach I wave my white flag surrendering to the wall of humidity drenched heat that descends upon the land. It makes me pure mad to the point of delirium!! I find myself doing menial everyday tasks with an undertone of rage. Some folks worship the sun and bask in its rays. I on the other hand can be found in the shade, or better yet the air conditioning!
This time of year, always seems like some sort of summer limbo. Half of my Facebook feed is knee deep in back-to-school preparation. Folks are shopping for school uniforms, sneakers, and the dreaded school supply lists. The other half are still in vacation mode posting sunbathing selfies from the pool, lake, or beach.
I think there is a happy medium. The best way I have found to endure the excessive heat wave is to find the nearest body of water and descend into its coolest depths. It’s always good to break up the overwhelming thought of a new school year looming with one last nod to summer. You don’t have to travel far to find a place to get your feet wet. Try kayaking or boating at George L. Smith State Park or the splash pad at Magnolia Springs State Park. Local creeks and rivers offer sandbars and a slow flow of water perfect for tubing.
As summer vacations come to an end and everyone starts to get into a routine, the first day of school pictures flood my newsfeed. I am reminded of those first day jitters and reminisce on my grade school journey. I was a foodie at a young age. I perused the weekly school lunchroom menu and I looked forward to certain dishes like yeast rolls, fried chicken, and cornbread dressing. I was known to frequent the “homestyle” line.
My Mother quickly made it known that if we found it necessary to bring a lunch box packed from home, we would be the ones to prepare and package our meal. She was not a “lunchbox Mom." She made no apologies. She was rearing self-sufficient little ladies. I am not picky and I almost always found the school lunch more than adequate. I also supplemented meals with trips to the snack machine.
I was first introduced to Little Debbie snacks at the school cafeteria. One of my classmates had an extra Swiss Roll and after the first taste I was hooked. My first lessons in business were facilitated by bartering for those delicious super processed dessert cakes. My Mother didn’t buy Little Debbie’s. We were privy to junk food but Mother drew the line at Little Debbie’s. I still indulge in a Cosmic Brownie from time to time.
Boat snacks/lunch box foods aren’t fussy fare. Simplicity is best when it comes to food that needs to travel well: easy to make, easy to package, and easy to eat. These recipes can easily transition from boat/beach coolers to lunch boxes! S
WITH LIME AND TAJIN
PREPARATION:
Place the whole watermelon in the fridge to chill. Slice watermelon in triangles and arrange on a pretty platter. Zest limes over watermelon slices. Slice limes and squeeze the juice over melon slices. Sprinkle with Tajin seasoning or dip tips of melon slices in a shallow bowl of Tajin. Enjoy!
HONEY CAFÉ PASTA SALAD
INGREDIENTS:
1 12 oz. box Tri- Color Rotini Pasta
2-3 c. Italian Dressing
1 c. Feta Cheese (crumble)
1 c. Green Olives (sliced)
1 c. pickled Banana Peppers
1 c. Pepperoni (cut into strips)
½ c. Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper to Taste
PREPARATION:
Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions. Rinse pasta with cool water, drain and place in a mixing bowl. Place 2 cups of Italian dressing and the remaining ingredients in with pasta and mix well. Refrigerate overnight. You may need to add additional Italian dressing and salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled.
CHICKEN BACON RANCH PINWHEELS
INGREDIENTS:
8 ounces Cream Cheese (softened)
1 ½ Tbsp. Dry Ranch Seasoning
3 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
2 cups Chicken Breast (cooked and finely diced)
8 slices Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
1 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
2 Green Onion (sliced)
4 large Flour Tortillas
PREPARATION:
Place cream cheese, Ranch seasoning and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Stir until smooth. Stir in the chicken and bacon until mixed well. Stir in cheddar cheese and green onion.
Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 seconds. (This will make them more pliable and prevent them from tearing when you roll them up.)
Spread 1/4 of the mixture on each tortilla. Roll them up tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Slice and serve.
KEY LIME CRACK
INGREDIENTS:
4 c. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
2 c. Pretzel Sticks
2 c. Mini Marshmallows
1 12 oz. White Chocolate Chips
1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
3 Tbsp. Lime J-ello®
2 Limes
1 c. Graham Cracker Crumbs
2 Tbsp. Butter
PREPARATION:
In a large bowl mix the cinnamon toast crunch, pretzel sticks, and marshmallows. Melt white chocolate chips with coconut oil for 30 seconds in a microwave safe bowl. Stir until melted and smooth.
Mix graham crumbs with butter and toast for 10 minutes in a 350˚ oven. Cool completely. Pour white chocolate mixture over cereal mixture and toss until all the pieces are coated. Spread mixture on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle dry J-ello® over the top. Zest lime over the top and sprinkle Graham cracker crumbs over the top. Place the pan in the fridge for 30 minutes to set. Break into pieces and enjoy!
Enter our COVER Photo Contest!
JULY 17TH-31ST
The Winner will also receive six tickets to a 2024/25 GSU football home game (date of game pending) and some GSU swag!
Businesses, organizations and individuals can submit their Georgia Southern University tailgating spirited photos featuring families, friends and co-workers, etc.... to win a chance to be on the cover of Statesboro Magazine. e winning photo will be restaged and taken by award-winning photographer, Frank Fortune. Voting will be done by the public during a two-week posting and voting period after the contest entries are received. Anyone can enter to win, but only one photo per person or group. e public can vote for their favorite entry via the Statesboro Magazine Facebook page.
e photo with the most “LIKES” wins. Photos entered must be of a GSU Football tailgate. (Any photos deemed inappropriate will not be accepted for the contest or approved for posting).
A Customized Approach to Prostate Cancer Care
Deciding on prostate cancer treatment can be difficult. Every case is different, and we understand that. At South Georgia Cancer Care, we believe knowing all your prostate cancer treatment options is essential. Our board-certified radiation oncologists are here to provide you with a custom-tailored treatment plan unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location, and involvement.
We deliver top-tier radiotherapy with our state-of-the-art Varian Halcyon system, ensuring precise and prompt treatment while minimizing side effects. With this advanced technology, there’s no need to travel to a large city. You can receive expert care close to home, surrounded by the support of your loved ones and community, regardless of your cancer diagnosis.
It’s hot in Statesboro and hydrangeas need lots of water…
WRITTEN BY VIRGINIA ANNE WATERS
JULY AND AUGUST ARE NOT THE BEST MONTHS FOR GARDENING IN OUR AREA. IT IS HOT. MANY ANNUALS ARE LOOKING LIKE THEY CANNOT MAKE it a full season. Dead heading is getting out of hand. Plants require additional staking as leggy stems shoots upwards. Weeds are multiplying at an enormous rate, but this time of year is important in the gardening cycle. It’s time to prune hydrangeas and perhaps dry some blooms from these majestic natives. Yes, you read right!
DEADHEADING
Deadheading, or regularly removing the faded flowers on salvia, marigolds, zinnia, coleus and petunia, is an important task. This will continue the production of blooms and encourage the plant to be bushy rather than tall. The act of deadheading can make straggly, worn plants look better and actually gives them a new boost of life. When do you need to deadhead? I do it daily as I’m working or walking through flower beds. But it can be done once a week or even once a month. Pruning is a selective technique to remove unhealthy or undesired plant tissue. Deadheading eliminates spent blossoms, and keeps them from going to seed.
STAKING
Some plants will require staking, as their blooms are too heavy for their stalks. I have many dahlias and staking is required to support the huge dinner plate size blooms. I mainly use tomato cages. If you can find some “ole timey” tobacco sticks — they would make excellent stabilizers with a fun piece of colorful cotton used to attach the stem. Bamboo sticks, if they are thick enough, will work with a strong piece of jute twine. Last year I had two zinnia plants that got so big they fell over onto the grass lawn. When I removed the plants in the fall the grass beneath was dead. So, be careful of perennials and annuals that may droop over the edges of the border damaging the turf! Don’t tie in plants too rigidly; they should be able to move in the wind. I’ve planted three perennials this year that may need single stem support for the large bloom stems — oriental poppies, foxgloves and delphinium. As the plants grow, another tier may be needed to prevent the plant from outgrowing the support stake.
HYDRANGEAS
The hydrangea is the queen of summer blooming plants in the South. We all have a memory from childhood of that bush with the big, fluffy, blue blooms. I remember very few blooms in the “pink” color family. Summer birthday parties of life-long friends featured angel food or pound cakes for birthdays, iced with boiled icing—seven minute or chocolate. A small fruit juice glass was put in the hole in the middle of the cake and served as the perfect vase for a hydrangea bloom. A punch bowl with yard ivy encircling the base contained some flavor of summer punch served over a floating ice ring. In the South, both summer weddings and funerals featured huge arrangements of blue hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas are thought to come from the Orient, and yes, they do. However, cultivation of this species began in the 1700s in the United States and an historic trifecta of our forefathers’ estates is proof: Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Montpelier all cultivated them. They got their seeds from William Bartram. William and his father John were remembered as the earliest and greatest American naturalists. In 1776, William discovered H. quercifolia, the beautiful oakleaf hydrangea native to Georgia! A fossil species called Hydrangea alaskana found on Jaw Mountain, Alaska, dates back to the Paleogene period. So, we have had hydrangeas in America for 23 million years!
I have lots of hydrangeas, upwards of thirty plants and most are blooming pink shades this year. How can I change the color to blue and even deep blue? I tried the home remedy this year. I saved used K cups, put the grounds in quart containers and put them around the base of three hydrangeas. I’ll just say they have beautiful pink blooms. The foolproof way is to first soil test using the kit from the county extension service. This is a fun project to include the niece, grandchild or nextdoor neighbor. It is the pH of the soil that determines flower color— specifically whether or not the hydrangeas are taking up aluminum from the soil. If the flowers are pink the plants are getting aluminum. Acidic soil, with a pH lower than 6.0 will yield blue or lavender-blue blooms. Alkaline soil with pH above 7.0 promotes pinks. You need to put aluminum sulfate in your soil for deep blues. You can purchase this at your local farm supply store. You can start in March and continue applying it every 3-4 weeks. Don’t put it on the stem of the bush but around the root ball.
If you see hydrangeas on sale after Mother’s Day, or Easter, or whenever, buy yourself a wonderful gift. You can never have too many in the southern garden. S
Is It Possible to Forgive Others?
WRITTEN BY REV. DR. JOHN WATERS
DIFFICULT THINGS ARE NOT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.
Up until 1954, no runner had ever recorded a sub four-minute mile, but Roger Bannister proved that it was possible, even if difficult. At age 25, he recorded a mile run of 3:59 at Oxford University. Today, breaking the four-minute mile seems ordinary, and nearly 2,000 runners have done it.
Flight engineers thought traveling faster than the speed of sound was impossible. But in 1947, Chuck Yeager flew his experimental aircraft, the Bell X-1, at what is now called Mach 1, breaking the sound barrier and opening a new chapter in the development of flight.
My grandparents grew up in a world where rockets shooting to outer space and astronauts walking the moon were impossible fairy tales. But the diligent and disciplined work of many proved that exploring outer space was difficult, but not impossible.
Difficult things are not impossible things.
Forgiving someone who has hurt you or your family falls in this category. The pain can be so deep, and the bitterness can be so bile that forgiveness seems impossible, but it is not.
The story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis is a great example to remember. Hated by his brothers, he was thrown into a pit, sold into
If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”
– MATTHEW 6:14-15
slavery, and forsaken by all who knew him. Joseph spent years in Egypt, facing false accusations and a long imprisonment in a foreign land, all of which could be traced back to the actions of his brothers.
As the story unfolds, years pass until Joseph is released from prison, rising to influence and power in Egypt. One day Joseph has the opportunity to avenge the wrong he experienced from his brothers, but instead of punishing them he forgives them. It was a life-altering choice for Jospeh, and it can be a life-altering choice for you too.
Perhaps you weren’t thrown into a pit or sold into slavery, but the hurtful deeds you’ve experience linger in your mind and heart long after the event. Relationships are broken, emotions are enraged, and bitterness grows. Can you truly forgive someone who has wronged you — a former spouse, a business partner, a parent, a trusted friend? It may be difficult, but not impossible.
Here are three questions I often receive when people consider the need to forgive others:
(1) What if the person doesn’t ask for your forgiveness?
The power and freedom of forgiveness is not found in the person who needs it but in the person who gives it. Some of the people who have hurt you will never ask for your forgiveness. Give it anyway. Release yourself from the prison of bitterness and anger, and unlock the chains around your heart, even though the offending person does not ask for it.
(2) What if the person doesn’t accept your forgiveness?
Even when you muster the courage and humility to grant forgiveness, some people will throw it back in your face. But forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. Freedom is found because forgiveness is granted, not whether it is received or accepted.
(3) What if the person can’t receive your forgiveness?
Perhaps the offending person in your life is now deceased, or unreachable for some reason. Many adult children still carry the unforgiven wounds caused by their deceased parents, and the passing of their parents creates an artificial barrier to forgiving them. If you still carry hurt from someone, like a deceased parent, who can’t literally receive forgiveness, then grant it anyway. Refuse to live under the dark clouds of the behavior of someone who is now gone. Release the pain and rejoice that you have forgiven someone who can’t even receive it.
Indeed, forgiveness is difficult, but not impossible. Jesus summed up the power of forgiveness when he said, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
No matter the circumstance nor the depth of pain, choose to forgive. As the Apostle Paul said, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Forgive freely, forgive deeply, and forgive fully. It is difficult, but not impossible. S
tailgate Touch -down
Why!
WRITTEN BY RIC MANDES
SHE WAS IN HER LATE TWENTIES. SHE WORKED AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST. SHE WAS IMPORTANT TO MANY PEOPLE.
Every day she assisted her boss, a good friend of us folks at Georgia Southern College, in getting the job done. When the boss wasn’t in, we could always count on her cheery voice.
“Sure, I’ll find out for you,” and soon, our phone would ring. She would have the info that would make our job easier — more meaningful.
She was married.
With the support of her husband, her dream for a career was materializing. She was on her way.
She was bright. She went to college. She studied journalism. She wanted to write professionally.
One had to have those qualifications to hold the position she did.
We came to know her only by phone.
We could tell she was right in the middle of things, reaching for her goal — following her mission with great allegiance.
Each of us in business has a phone friend who leaves us with that impression.
She was accountable. When she said, “This is the information you need,” you could put it in print without fear of repercussion.
We knew her as a happy voice always willing to assist, always ending each conversation with “Take care!”
Where she was headed professionally, who knows? What her future held for her, who knows?
Would she and her husband have had children? Who knows?
We’ll never know.
Our friend was killed yesterday as her car turned into a grotesque mound of metal when someone with his foot in the gas tank hit her at an estimated 75 mph.
He’s been charged with speeding, DUI, reckless driving and vehicular homicide.
None of that brings our friend back.
She’s gone.
Gone at the very edge of just beginning to live.
We’ll miss her voice.
We’ll miss her warmth.
We hurt as we reach for the phone to call her office.
She isn’t there anymore.
As I mentioned earlier, she was important to a lot of people! Her parents. Her brother and sister. Her Sunday School class. Her husband.
I’ve got a suggestion for all you Cats out there who think it’s “big stuff” to have “one for the road.”
While you’re waiting for the nectar, “phone” the local mortician. Either you or an innocent victim such as my friend will soon be needing such services.
