Table of Contents
Economic
Esplost
Exceptional
Student
Mrs. Nicole LeCave nicole.lecave@dawsoncountyschools.org Superintendent
Dr. Janice Darnell janice.darnell@dawsoncountyschools.org Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning
Mr. Hershel Bennett hershel.bennett@dawsoncountyschools.org Assistant Superintendent of Operations
Mr. Roman Gaddis roman.gaddis@dawsoncountyschools.org Chief Technology & Information Officer
Mrs. Jenna Carpenter jenna.carpenter@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Human Resources
Mrs. Beth Covington beth.covington@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Finance
Mrs. Page Arnette page.arnette@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Instructional Services for Elementary
Dr. Vikki Brannon vikki.brannon@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Youth Health Services
Dr. Nathan Hand nathan.hand@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Curriculum & Instructional Support, Secondary Schools
Mrs. P.J. Huggins pj.huggins@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Transportation
Dr. Todd Langley todd.langley@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Exceptional Children
The 2024 OneDawson magazine is produced by Dawson County News with the help of Dawson County Schools. For information, contact (706) 265-3246.
About Dawson County Schools
DCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or gender in employment decisions or educational programs and activities, including athletic programs. The accuracy of the content within this publication is subject to change prior to dissemination.
Stay connected: Mail: 28 Main Street, Dawsonville, Ga 30534 (706) 265-3246 www.dawsoncountyschools.org
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Dr. Denise Reynolds denise.reynolds@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of Federal Programs, Assessment, and Accountability
Mr. Scott Richardson scott.richardson@dawsoncountyschools.org Director of School Nutrition
Mr. Tony Wooten tony.wooten@dawsoncountyschools.org Safe Schools Manager
Mr. Everett Burt everett.burt@dawsoncountyschools.org Maintenance Coordinator
Mrs. Tiffany Davis tiffany.davis@dawsoncountyschools.org Board & Public Relations Coordinator
Mr. Brian DeRose brian.derose@dawsoncountyschools.org Instructional Technology Coordinator
Message from the Superintendent
We believe in the power of education to transform lives and shape bright futures. Our staff is dedicated to meeting each child’s academic, social, and emotional needs. Our board of education and district leaders are committed to providing each school with the necessary resources to ensure success. We want our schools to be where students and families feel safe,
‘Our district’s vision and mission is to be an exemplary school district, preparing students for college, career, and life.’
supported, and valued.
We take pride in our strong sense of community and work to foster an environment built upon trust, transparency, and collaboration. Our schools are more than just buildings; they are the heart of our One Dawson Community. We value our partnerships with parents, stakeholders, and business and community
To make our vision and mission become a reality, we are committed to:
• Graduating ALL students.
• Providing a safe, supportive learning environment.
• Cultivating relationships with students, families, schools, and community.
DAWSON COUNTY NEWS
Letter from the Editor
I and my team at the Dawson County News are, as always, grateful and honored for the chance to come alongside Dawson County Schools and to
help showcase the amazing things that the system’s administrators, staff and students are doing through this year’s “1Dawson” magazine.
Since I started as a journalist with the Dawson County News, I have had the chance to work closely with Dawson County Schools and to cover education news for over four years now. As I’ve written stories about students and their accomplishments, unique and enriching programs in each of the district’s schools, teachers of the year, school safety and much more, one thing that always stands
members. We can provide our students with the best education by working together with a unified purpose.
I am honored to serve as superintendent and look forward to a bright future for Dawson County students!
Sincerely, Mrs. Nicole LeCave, Superintendent OneDawson! Excellence Together!
• Fostering a culture of engagement, innovation, and high expectations for student learning.
• Providing extra-curricular activities and other opportunities which develop life skills and positive personal growth.
out is how everything in the Dawson County School System is geared toward its motto of “OneDawson, Excellence Together”.
From preschool until they graduate from high school, students that come through the Dawson County School System are encouraged and challenged by everyone in their school community, and while there may be seven schools in the district they really do become “OneDawson” in that every administrator and staff member has the same common goal in mind: to help each and every student set and accomplish their own
goals, achieve excellence and grow into the best young adults that they can be.
As you read this magazine, you’ll have the chance to learn about each of the individual departments in the school system and to see how they all work together toward this goal, and I hope that you’ll be impressed by and proud of all of the opportunities that the school system provides each day for the children of Dawson County.
Thanks for reading, Erica Jones Editor, Dawson County News
Board of Education:
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION
Dawson County is divided into five districts for representation on the Board of Education. Members must live in the district they represent but are elected by the county at large. Members serve four-year staggered terms with three members elected during one election and two during the next. Communities served by each district are as follows:
BOARD MEETINGS
Board of Education meetings take place twice a month, with the exception of holiday and summer months. Meetings take place in the BOE building at 28 Main Street, and members of the public are invited to attend all meetings and to address the board in accordance with the board’s procedures for public participation. For the 2024 meeting schedule, visit the dawsoncountyschools.org website.
The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) recognized Dawson County Schools as a finalist for Governance Team of the Year for 2023 at the GSBA Annual Conference. This prestigious award recognized the top eight board/superintendent teams that best demonstrate its commitment to maximizing student achievement and enhancing trust and support for public education. Congratulations!
Dawson County Schools is proud to announce the achievement and status of the Georgia School Board Association’s (GSBA) 2023 Exemplary School Board Recognition. Dawson County has received this recognition for eight years.
Doris Cook, District 1, 20 years
Elaine Wilson, District 2, 20 years
Karen Armstrong, District 3, 10 years
Barry Slaton, District 4, 3 years
Nathan Ingram, at large, 5 years
About the Cover: Class of 2024
By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com
Despite rainy weather on Friday May 17, Dawson County High School’s Tiger Stadium was packed as hundreds of community members gathered to celebrate the graduates in the DCHS Class of 2024.
The commencement ceremony kicked off with a processional and the presentation of colors by members of the high school’s JROTC Color Guard, accompanied by the National Anthem sung by the DCHS Tiger Choir.
Ceremony attendees then had the chance to listen to addresses from DCHS principal Michael Negley, Superintendent Nicole LeCave and the Class of 2024 Salutatorian Noah Reed and Valedictorian Cael Hand.
The Class of 2024 is a very impressive one, Negley said during her address. The graduating class included 261 members, and their long list of accomplishments includes:
• Approximately 4,000 hours of community service
• Over 325 college courses taken via dual enrollment and AP classes
• 15 athletic teams making state playoff appearances in the 2023-24 school year alone
• Four team state titles
• One individual state title
• Seven graduates who earned their diplomas an entire year early
• Acceptances to over 25 different colleges and universities
• Over $400,000 in local scholarships
• 53 percent of the class earned the HOPE Scholarship, and of that 53 percent 31 qualified for the Zell Miller Scholarship
• Five graduates are entering the military, and one graduate earned a full military scholarship
“Your class will be remembered for your kindness, your willingness to include others, your hard work and your pride in your school,” Negley said. “The world meeds people like you, and the world needs your unique talents, skills and perspectives.”
LeCave echoed Negley’s pride for the graduates in the Class of 2024, which includes both LeCave’s and Negley’s own daughters.
“As I stand before you as the
superintendent and a very proud mother of one of our graduates, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration,” LeCave said. “Each of our graduates has worked tirelessly to reach this moment, and their accomplishments stand as a testament to their unwavering dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence.”
She added her thanks to the parents, teachers and community as a whole for their support of the Class of 2024 during their time in the Dawson County School System.
“I hope every single one of you carries with you wonderful memories of a school family and a community that loves you deeply,” LeCave said. “As you reflect on the 13 years, remember to cherish the friendships, lessons and personal growth you have gained along the way. Remember that you are leaving high school with a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and values that will serve you well in the future.”
DCHS Salutatorian Noah Reed recollected how he came to the Dawson County School System in eighth grade, and that while he was initially worried about making friends and fitting in as the “new kid” he was welcomed with open arms by his fellow students.
“That is one thing that has especially stuck out to me about Dawson County: you guys go out of your way to make the outsiders feel like they are on the inside, and you do it in the friendliest way possible,” Reed said. “That is something that just can’t be replicated — it takes a community to build up a spirit like that, and Dawson County has that spirit, which I will forever be grateful for.”
During his address, Valedictorian Cael Hand also recounted moving to the district in eighth grade and how welcomed he felt, listing off students and teachers alike who have had an impact on his life throughout his high school career.
“Just a tiny push and that’s all it takes to change your trajectory,” Hand said. “For most of us, that’s everyone here — our parents, our teachers and our coaches.”
The ceremony closed with a performance of the school’s Alma Mater song, led by DCHS graduate Hayden Reidling and the DCHS Tiger Choir, and a fireworks show above the stadium as the graduates threw their caps into the air and celebrated together.
Photos by Will Jones
DCHS AG BARN NEARS COMPLETION
By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com
Soon, students in the Dawson County High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) program will be able to house not only pigs but also cows at school, thanks to the school’s nearly completed Ag Barn.
The barn is located behind the Roger D. Slaton AgriScience Center at the DCHS campus, and once it’s finished it will be able to house both dairy and beef cows.
“After a few finishing touches we’ll be able to put our charter group of cows in the new barn,” FFA Advisor Keith Pankey said. “We’re going to have 16 cows total for our initial group: 12 dairy cows and 4 beef cows.”
The barn will have a sawdust floor and a pasture for the cows to go in and out once they’re halter-broken, along with fans to help regulate their temperature.
The cows will be yet another addition to the thriving FFA program, which was able to bring in its inaugural group of pigs last year. The pigs have been housed in special stalls inside of the AgriScience center, and the students are now on their third set of pigs and have been working hard all summer to take care of and train them.
The program also received a new pig transport trailer earlier in 2024, thanks to donations from Mar-Jac Poultry and the FFA Alumni and funding from the district’s ESPLOST collections. The new trailer has allowed Pankey and his students to transport the pigs to shows more safely and comfortably than before, when they had to use trailers not specifically made for pigs, and has been “a game-changer” for their program, Pankey said.
Even over the summer months FFA never really stops, Pankey added. His students are at the AgriScience center every day, whether it’s a school day or not, caring for their pigs and will care for the cows too. In June, they completed a community service project for the Farm Bureau redoing the office’s flower beds, and they’ll soon be completing a second, similar service project and building raised beds for the nearby assisted living home.
Photo by Erica Jones
Top Left: From left to right: FFA students Keifer Pankey, Shandee Stowers, Ava Polman and Garrett Marcotte walk their show pigs inside the DCHS AgriScience center.
Bottom Left: Recently, the DCHS FFA program received a donation of a new pig trailer thanks to several local sponsors.
This year, the DCHS cow barn is scheduled to be completed and ready to move cows for the FFA program into.
Dawson County Schools will continue to use BrightArrow Technologies to enhance communication between the school system, parents, students, and community members.
Users are encouraged to download the BrightChat App to communicate with stakeholders.
BrightChat is a secure, automatically configured, two-way instant messaging app used by teachers, coaches, and administrators to send messages to parents, students, and staff.
For effective communication, a two-way dialog is often necessary, at many levels, and a way to tightly manage relayed information.
BrightChat provides a fast, easy and flexible way to send messages, allowing the recipient to respond to the group or privately to the sender by using the app. It allows you to type, record audio, attach documents, and even share photos and videos seamlessly.
Even though they are a lot bigger now, these three are one of the reasons why Elite Heating & Air will always operate with the utmost integrity. I always want to show them the value of a honest days work and teach them that whatever they do in life to be honest, fair and always take pride in their work.
- Tim White
School Principals
Dawson County Schools enroll more than 4,100 students across seven sites, consisting of four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high school, one high school, with a nontraditional academy campus and the central office.
ROBINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Linda Bearden, Principal 1150 Perimeter Road (706) 265-6544
KILOUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Kim Bennett, Principal 1063 Kilough Church Road (706) 216-8595
DAWSON COUNTY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Brody Hughes, Principal 109 Allen Street (706) 216-5801
BLACK’S MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Cindy Kinney, Principal 1860 Dawson Forest Road E (706) 216-3300 With
DAWSON COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dr. Paige Galt, Principal 5126 Hwy. 9 S (706) 216-4849
RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Adam Maroney, Principal 370 Dawson Forest Road E (706) 216-5812
DAWSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Michael Negley, Principal 1665 Perimeter Road (706) 265-6555
MySchoolBucks
MySchoolBucks makes school meal payments easy for busy parents on-the-go! Quickly and securely add money to your student’sa school meal account using your credit card, debit card or electronic check. You can also view recent cafeteria purchases and check current meal account balances for each student.
Schoology
Schoology brings together the best K-12 learning management system with assessment management to improve student performance, support collaboration, and personalize learning. Through the power of Schoology, you will get a holistic view of your students, including grades, assignments, and assessments, to help you create personalized learning paths that fit each individual student’s own needs.
ClassLink launchpad (OneDawson Portal)
ClassLink LaunchPad gives you personalized, single sign-on access to all your school resources. With one click, you can have instant access to any of thousands of learning, productivity, and educational apps. With LaunchPad you spend more time learning, and less time logging in.
powerschool
As the leading provider of cloud-based software in K-12 education, PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents with the shared goal of improving student outcomes.
RIDE360
The Traversa Ride 360 mobile app provides secure access to student routing information, student scans as well as current bus location and planned bus paths. Ride 360 provides quick access to your child’s routing information, which can include the bus stop, route, driver and bus number. Ride 360 can also utilize GPS data to give parents and guardians access to information on where their child’s school bus is, the planned bus path and what time it is expected to be at their scheduled bus stop.
TUESDAY
Teaching & Learning
IN DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOLS
The Dawson County School District believes students deserve a well-rounded education that includes academic and non-academic skills. The district strives to graduate college and career ready students who excel in both. Each school takes great care to provide a secure, supportive learning environment, high quality, engaging learning experiences that are rigorous and relevant, and current and emerging technologies to support 21st-century learning. All curriculum and instruction in Dawson County are based on the foundation of the Georgia Standards of Excellence. For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Education website.
Dawson County Schools offers a wide range of learning opportunities including special assistance in remediation and enrichment of basic skills, classes for gifted and talented, advanced placement courses for college credit, dual enrollment opportunities, and professional technical courses for career pathways. Assessments and data help teachers determine how to fulfill the individual needs of every child. Tutorials, interventions, and other district-wide programs allow staff to provide better quality, personalized instruction that meets the unique needs of every child. In addition to classroom instruction, extracurricular programs at all levels offer enrichment in academics, the arts, athletics, and areas of special interest to students. Media services and technology are provided at each school to support student learning.
The school district is dedicated to helping all children learn and believes that every child can be successful in school and beyond. We are committed to providing highly engaging learning experiences that are rigorous and relevant. School leaders believe that purposeful planning, quality teaching, balanced assessment, and collaboration with colleagues and students is the key to improving student achievement. The district aims to provide exemplary support to the teachers and staff members, equipping them with the tools, skills, and resources to pursue excellence for every student!
DR. JANICE DARNELL
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning janice.darnell@dawsoncountyschools.org
DR. NATHAN HAND
Director of Instructional Services, Secondary nathan.hand@dawsoncountyschools.org
MRS. PAGE ARNETTE
Director of Instructional Services, Elementary page.arnette@dawsoncountyschools.org
DR. DENISE REYNOLDS
Director of Federal Programs, Assessment & Accountability denise.reynolds@dawsoncountyschools.org
INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK
The Dawson County Schools Instructional Framework is the result of intentional and focused collaborative work by teachers and leaders within the school district. This framework supports our teachers, sets clear and high expectations, and shares the vision of the most important work teachers do to achieve the desired results for students. Additionally, the Instructional Framework will be a cornerstone for modeling continued improvement in student achievement in all schools.
WHAT IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK?
An instructional framework is an interrelated set of systems and expectations that guide curriculum, instruction, assessment, and the learning environment. It provides a structure that supports teachers in the design and delivery of effective instruction. This framework also identifies elements found in exemplary teaching, thus allowing teachers, school administrators, and district staff to recognize and communicate those elements with a common language. The Dawson County Schools Instructional Framework conveys to all stakeholders a clear definition of effective teaching by illustrating what teachers should know and be able to do in the domains of Curriculum, Instruction, Data and Evaluation, and Environment.
WHY HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK?
Establishes expected professional practices - This ensures all teachers (veteran, experienced, and those new to the profession or district), have a clear picture of our vision of excellence in teaching. The DCS Instructional Framework outlines the teacher’s responsibilities and the specific evidence of those responsibilities that constitute effective teaching.
Ensures greater consistency in teaching across the districtThis supports the research-based assertion that the single most important factor leading to student growth is the effectiveness of the classroom teacher. A well-articulated common instructional framework provides greater consistency of instruction from classroom-to-classroom, grade-to-grade, subject-to-subject, and school-to-school. The DCS Instructional Framework is a snapshot portrait of what should occur with regard to teaching and learning within every classroom and school across the district.
Provides a guide for improving teaching practicesBy supporting and encouraging teachers to be reflective practitioners, the common language and shared meaning of an instructional framework builds a clear definition of effective practices and their expectations among teachers, administrators, and instructional support team members. During conversations about practice, particularly when such conversations are organized around a common framework, teachers are able to learn from one another and enrich their own teaching. This joint collaborative learning process allows the conversations to become rich and valuable.
2024-2025 Staff Planner
Nutrition Program
Dawson County School Nutrition program continues to feed children nutritious and delicious food during both breakfast and lunch. This coming school year, one of the goals for the School Nutrition Department will be to increase breakfast participation and offer more inclusive meals to match the diverse population of our students. Research shows that students who regularly eat breakfast are more likely to meet all their vitamin and mineral needs, are less likely to be overweight, have lower cholesterol, have better school attendance, and perform better on standardized tests. Breakfast meals rich in dairy, fruit, and wholegrain give children the nutrition needed to improve concentration and cognition. Enjoying a well balanced breakfast just makes good sense. Dawson County School Nutrition always offers several breakfast options for all students from pre-k to the twelfth grade. It makes great economic sense too. Breakfast is offered to students for only $1.50. Make sure your student is nutritionally “fueled up” and ready to learn by having them visit the breakfast line every day when they come to school; and do not forget about the
delicious grab-n-go fruit smoothies available in grades 6-12. Likewise, offering more variety in our lunch program will allow more students to choose healthy, nutrient-rich meals. We will be increasing our vegetarian offerings and adding a few ethnic flavors to our meals. It is the hope of the Nutrition Department that all students will be able to find something they can enjoy in our school meal program.
This past year, Dawson County was part of the Georgia Grown Farm-toTable Pilot Program. This program allowed set aside money for the purchase of locally grown products to be used in the school nutrition program. We partnered with several local and regional farmers to bring garden fresh foods to the cafeteria. This year, Dawson County will continue with those local partnerships and provide fresh, locally grown products in our school breakfast and lunch programs. Along with partnering with local farmers, the Nutrition Department partnered with The Place and the Chestatee Regional Library for its summer feeding programs. The Nutrition Department provided weekend meal
kits for children ages 0-18 and The Place and the Chestatee Regional Library set up a mobile food pantry and a book give-a-way for children and families to enjoy. Working with community partners shows that we are all working hard to reduce child hunger in Dawson County.
The Dawson County School Nutrition Program will again offer families the opportunity to apply for free or reduced meal pricing Beginning July 1. This year, the school meals application is made available through the district website and is even easier to complete. Parents wishing to complete the application online need to visit www.dawsoncountyschools. org and click on the School Meals Application button on the main page of the Dawson County Schools website. The school meals application and eligibility guidelines can also be found by going to the My School Apps website at www. myschoolapps.com, putting in the zip code of the school your student attends (30534), and choosing “Dawson County” when prompted. Every month, menus are posted on the district website. Parents are able to view menus of fresh selections and then
go to www.myschoolbucks. com and pre-pay for student meals. The process is fast, easy, and allows for students not to have a need to bring money to school for meals. If a student has a special dietary concern or food allergy, parents can contact the school nutrition office or the school nurse to request an individualized meal plan. Dawson County School Nutrition is here for its students and parents. All kitchens are inspected twice a year by the Department of Public Health and received near perfect scores on their kitchen inspections. All kitchen managers and assistant managers are Servsafe certified and undergo yearly training to ensure Dawson County students only consume the very best food. If you have a question or concern, please call the Nutrition office.
SCOTT RICHARDSON
Nutrition Director scott.richardson@ dawsoncountyschools.org
RITA GILLELAND
Administrative Assistant rita.gilleland@ dawsoncountyschools.org
Jeff Johnson
Black’s Mill Elementary School Kilough Elementary School
The BMES Music Club is an extra-curricular program that allows students in grades 3-5 to enhance their musical skills and reading music. Students learn how to play instruments, sing, and perform dances by expanding upon what is learned in the general music curriculum. This club is also to prepare students who are interested in continuing music activities after exiting the elementary school level.
The individuals involved are the Music Teacher, parents, and students in grades 3-5. Students perform for community events such as Dawson Family Night, Veterans Day Assembly, Santa Night, and they perform in a Fall and Spring Performance. Parents are encouraged to have their students practice their songs at home so that students are prepared for music club rehearsals and performances.
Resources used for the Music Club are songs from the organization Plank Road Publishing with their Music K8 subscription, New England Dancing Masters dancing instructional books for children and community dances, and the Quaver Music Curriculum along with classroom and Orff instruments.
The results seen from this club have been an increase in the ability for students to be leaders inside and outside the general music classroom. Students are expected to show exemplary behavior, knowledge of general music theory and techniques for playing music, and leading whole group singing with stronger and more confident singing voices. Our BEARS love participating in our Music Club.
Recycled Rhythms Concert:
As part of a Charter mini grant, Kilough students were able to create musical instruments from recycled items. The grant was used to celebrate recycling and learn more about Earth Day. KES staff members planned and implemented this project in hopes that students would be able to understand the importance of giving back to the planet, as well as be able to communicate to others the importance of recycling. Recycling helps to create safe, clean spaces for everyone to enjoy! Special thank you to teachers, Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Sarratt, for coordinating the grants and project. Toward the end of the school year, Kilough students and staff met for a school-wide Recycled Rhythms concert to show off their instruments and create beautiful music.
Riverview Elementary School
Riverview is fortunate to have a very active Parent Teacher Organization and School Governance Council. Both organizations work with teachers and staff to enhance the quality of educational experiences students receive at Riverview. Both organizations have strong membership, and volunteers can regularly be found throughout the building. This year, Riverview worked to increase the engagement of families and community members. This was done by hosting two new events for the school: Celebrity Reader Day and Truck and Tool Day. Both events were huge successes and brought parents and community members to the school in droves.
In October, Riverview hosted a Celebrity Reader Day. Parents and community members were encouraged to come to the school and read to the students. The school partnered with the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club to solicit as many volunteers as possible. Volunteers were encouraged to bring their own books, or books were provided for them. It was an incredible day, with over 75 celebrities coming in to read to students. Community members and parents were encouraged to talk about themselves and their profession to broaden students’ horizons. The day was capped off with a published author and illustrator who came in and taught students first-hand about the writing and publishing process. It was an amazing day of learning and sharing for the students and the adults.
Our Men on the Hill organization is a group of fathers, grandfathers, and special males in our students’ lives. These gentlemen come together to help support their children in school. Once a month, they open car doors, volunteer around the building, and are just a positive influence in the building. In April, they hosted a Truck and Tool Day. In Dawson County, we prepare students to be college- or career-ready when they graduate. Much emphasis is placed on the collegeready piece. However, some of our students will not attend college and will join the military or go straight into the workforce. The goal of the day was to expose students to careers they may not know about. They also had an opportunity to put their hands on some of the tools they would see in that career and climb in and around the trucks and vehicles used in those careers. The community was happy to come out and support our students. The students heard from the sheriff’s office, electricians, home builders, road builders, boat salesmen, tree cutters, and landscapers.
Given the smiles on the faces of students and the positive feedback from the community, these events will become part of the Riverview tradition. They will also be looking for other ways to increase parent and community engagement.
Proudly Supporting Dawson County Schools
Robinson Elementary School
Robinson is thrilled to have introduced STEM as an auxiliary class starting with the 2023-2024 school year. Students from kindergarten through fifth grade had the opportunity to engage in activities that prepared them for future STEM courses and careers. Mrs. Dean collaborated with gradelevel teachers to support and enhance science and math standards.
Throughout the year, students have enjoyed activities that integrate science, math, technology, and engineering. While studying electricity and magnetism, they built and
tested electromagnets. They also conducted experiments demonstrating chemical changes, such as making elephant toothpaste. Younger students explored chemical reactions by inflating balloons using yeast and sugar, a fun way to understand the importance of brushing their teeth. Light and sound activities included creating homemade sundials to observe shadows, testing sound and light waves with tuning forks, and using prisms to create rainbows. They also studied simple machines by constructing ramps, racetracks, zip lines, and conveyor belts to explore force and motion.
Beyond Mrs. Dean’s STEM class, school-wide STEM days were held throughout the year. In the fall, Mrs. Bearden read Giraffes Can’t Dance to all students, who then completed a related writing assignment. STEM activities included “dancing giraffes,” which demonstrated chemical reactions, and projects involving measuring, graphing, and construction. Holiday-themed activities featured turkey rockets for Thanksgiving, rainbow bridges
for St. Patrick’s Day, and dissolving chicks for Easter.
RES also established a STEM Club, where students collaborated with teachers and community members to explore various STEM courses and careers. Mr. Skorich and his students from DCHS presented a competition robot they were building and demonstrated a laser cutter and digital router. The highlight was a competition using a large panel/controller to play older format Nintendo games.
Mrs. Beth Hamby and her students from DCHS worked with our STEM Club members on coding projects. Using Code.org, students created dance video apps with
JavaScript and began coding games with Scratch. One of our parents at RES, Mrs. Leslie Hixson helped students extract and study DNA from strawberries.
To cap off the year, Mr. Bob Roe and the North GA Model Aviators hosted an aviation afternoon. Students watched demonstrations and flew model airplanes themselves. Looking ahead, we aim to continue and expand our partnerships within the school system and the community.
Overall, the introduction of STEM classes and hands-on experiences has significantly enhanced learning for all students at RES!
Dawson County High School
During the 2023-24 school year, the FFA chapter of Dawson County High School held its inaugural cow show in the Roger Slaton Agriscience Center! Mr. Slaton was a longtime member of the Dawson County Board of Education, and he was a huge supporter of Agriculture Education and the FFA program. This show was well attended by local FFA chapters, and the show ended with a celebrity showing round. Current BOE member (and son of Roger Slaton) Barry Slation was named the winner of the celebrity showing! This show set the stage for future cow and hog shows at DCHS in our state-of-the-art facility.
In the spring of 2024, DCHS was awarded the Sportsmanship Award for Region 7AAA. This award goes to the single school in the region who has displayed sportsmanship and high character through both fans and participants at all region events throughout the year. The award is voted on by the athletic directors and principals from each school in the region, and it is sponsored by GHSA and local EMCs. We are so proud of our students, coaches, sponsors, and fans for representing DCHS so well!
Dawson County Junior High School
Growth in Agricultural Education Programs:
Agricultural Education and FFA have long been a part of education in Dawson County. The program was chartered for Dawson County High School in 1933. Since that time, the Dawson County Agricultural Education has grown to be a successful and well-known program throughout North Georgia, boasting area, state, and national winnings, as well as many State and American FFA Degrees, which are the two highest marks a student can earn through FFA. Through the success of the program at DCHS, a new program at Dawson County Junior High and Middle School was chartered this year. The new agricultural education program gives younger students an opportunity to learn more about Georgia’s number one industry, agriculture, and provides students an opportunity to get involved in The National FFA Organization. Through this program, students are engaged in hands-on learning activities and labs that focus on Georgia’s top commodities, livestock production processes, plant propagation methods, and even the management of the state’s natural resources. The classes also give students the opportunity to develop employability skills by practicing record keeping, learning about workplace etiquette, and researching career pathways. Mrs. Cassidy Samples is the teacher for the agricultural education classes at DCJH and DCMS. One of her main goals is to get students excited about agriculture, while helping them become better leaders in their community and more informed consumers. “I believe that agricultural education has something to offer all students, whether they plan to go into the industry or not, it is important to know where your food comes from and how it gets produced.” She states.
Even though this year was the first year for the program, students still got to be involved in some pretty exciting activities! Students from DCJH visited the beef and dairy heifers that were housed at the high school, and students got to evaluate the hogs at the new growout facility within the Roger D. Slaton Agriscience Center. These activities helped to reinforce classroom activities based around livestock identification methods and grow-out processes. In both the fall and spring semesters, students were involved in the chick development process by incubating and hatching out chicken eggs in Mrs. Sample’s classroom, and students this spring propagated different house plants
by taking cuttings and placing them in water to grow roots, learning about the different ways that plants can reproduce. In addition, students conducted labs in the classroom based on dairy production, forestry products, tool identification, and wildlife identification. Several students from DCJH also got to experience and work Ag Days this year where they helped to run the 17 different agriculture-related stations for all the elementary students to visit. Students have been engaged in all sorts of learning experiences this year and we are excited to see what the second year of this program offers our students!
Outside of the classroom, several of our students from Dawson County Junior High have stepped out to become active members of the Dawson County FFA program as well. Any student enrolled in agricultural education classes across the state are automatically FFA members based on the state’s affiliation status, opening up a whole realm of exciting opportunities for students. This year, several students took advantage of their membership and participated in different career development events. These events, also known as CDEs, are contests geared toward popular career pathways in the agricultural industry. Students from DCJH were involved in five of the different CDEs this year including Floral Design, Wildlife Management, Veterinary Science, Creed Speaking and Discussion Meet. Our students were very competitive in each of the events, and we have plans to get involved in several more CDEs this next year including Poultry Evaluation, Dairy Evaluation, Environmental Natural Resources, and FFA Quiz. In addition to CDEs, several students joined the Dawson County FFA Livestock Show Teams this year to learn new skills related to exhibiting livestock. We had three 9th grade students and two 8th grade students exhibit hogs for the very first time this past season. Students worked countless hours throughout the season to build a bond with their hog and train their hogs for the show ring. Those students exhibited their animals in six different local shows and several of them even traveled to Perry, Georgia to show their hogs at the Georgia Junior Livestock Show. “Showing livestock is a great way for students to get involved with our program outside of school, and it gives them an opportunity to do something that is different from anything they have ever done before,” says Mrs. Samples.
Mrs. Samples understands the importance of agricultural education and has a passion for what she teaches. She is a product of the Dawson County High School’s FFA program where she was taught by Mr. Reggie Stowers and Mr. Eric Hickox. She was an involved member during her four years at DCHS where she served as a chapter officer, traveled to Washington D.C. on scholarship, exhibited both dairy heifers and hogs, and competed in several CDEs. “FFA is about more than cows and pigs. It is an organization that can help students develop their leadership skills and provides them with opportunities they might have never had access to otherwise. I feel so blessed to be back home teaching something that I love!” She is honored to be back at home teaching something new and exciting to most students while helping to build the program that gave so much to her. The program has intentions to get more involved with the community and provide students with additional hands-on experiences next year. Overall, it has been a great addition to Dawson County Junior High and we look forward to seeing the success that comes from the program as a whole!
Dawson County Middle School
The 2023-24 school year at DCMS brought a wealth of opportunities for students to learn and apply their learning outside the classroom. During school hours, DCMS focused on creating an environment that nurtured the development of young minds by offering diverse opportunities and cultivating invaluable experiences. Teachers and staff worked diligently to ensure students could achieve success both inside and outside the classroom.
All students participated in the school science and social studies fairs. These events not only emphasized social studies and science concepts but also integrated reading and writing skills as students applied what they learned in English class to compose the written portions of their projects. From the school-level social studies projects, sixteen students advanced to the regional competition, and three students from grades 6-12 progressed to the state level. Remarkably, all three projects won first place at the Georgia State Social Studies Fair, earning small scholarship awards and significant bragging rights.
The introduction of Agricultural Science as a program at DCMS marked a significant step in providing diverse learning opportunities. In the classroom, students explored fundamental concepts of plant and animal science and gained hands-on experience with baby chicks. Beyond the classroom, they participated in 4H and Future Farmers of America competitions,
where they excelled and received accolades at the local and state levels.
Math students also extended their learning beyond the classroom by participating in the Georgia Council for Economic Education Stock Market Game. This game offered students the chance to learn about economics, finance, and the American economic system. DCMS teams won the fall and spring competitions for their Congressional District and were named overall state winners for the middle school division.
The addition of football cheerleading as a sport expanded extracurricular opportunities, bringing the total number of organizations to 20. More than 60% of all students participated in at least one organization, with many involved in multiple groups. The benefits of participation included a sense of belonging, enhanced mental health, and smoother transitions from middle school to junior high. These organizations fostered a deeper connection to DCMS and instilled pride in the school community.
DCMS understands that education extends beyond the classroom and is dedicated to offering a wide range of opportunities for students to explore their passions, develop new skills, and broaden their horizons. This growth and development would not have been possible without the support of dedicated teachers, staff, parents, the incredible student body, and the Dawson community.
P3 CAMPUS
As part of Dawson County School District’s commitment to student safety and mental health, we have launched an anonymous reporting program, called P3 Campus, allowing parents, guardians, students and community members to report safety concerns or student wellness issues.
The P3 Campus app can be used to report bullying, suicide concerns, depression, sexting, stealing, threats, butting, abuse, dating and domestic violence, fights, drugs, alcohol, weapons, or other types of dangerous situations that may threaten individual safety or the safety of others.
This resource is readily available to all parents, guardians, and community members through the Dawson County School’s website, www. p3campus.com, or downloadable through Apple or Google Play. We encourage you and your student(s) to use this resource to support our continuous efforts to keep our students, teachers, and staff safe.
How Dawson County Schools is keeping students and staff safe on campus
By Erica Jones ejones@dawsonnews.com
With school safety so often in the forefront of national news, administration in the Dawson County School System is doing everything possible to keep students and staff safe at all times from any potential situation.
With this thought in mind, the school system has recently turned a room at the high school into its Emergency Preparedness Center — a hub for Safe Schools Coordinator Tony Wooten and his team to monitor the weather, cameras at all of the schools and the system’s anonymous tip line and to get ahead of any potential situation that may arise, no matter how big or small.
RADAROMEGA WEATHER TRACKING
The school system uses a program, called RadarOmega, to track storms and other potential weather systems as they move toward Dawson County. The Dawson County School System was the first K-12 system in the country to use this program, and it allows the system to begin tracking and monitoring potential weather situations several days in advance.
“We start looking at weather days in advance to see how or if it’s going to affect us,” Wooten said. “We use it for potential for early dismissal, we use it for letting our buses go at the end of the day, our transfer buses from the junior high to the high school and more. It’s like getting your own news straight from your office.”
The storm tracking program allows Wooten and his team to look at any storm, wherever it is in the nation, and see what damage it’s causing, how fast it’s moving and more. With the program, they can also see detailed weather information
and reports from any other RadarOmega site across the country.
They can also look at exactly when a storm could arrive in Dawson County if it continues, allowing them to make decisions based off of that predicted timing.
RadarOmega also has four meteorologists on staff that are available to answer questions or provide information, as well as email and text message alerts for anything urgent or important that might happen at any time of the day.
“The days of waiting until the weather happens are over,” Wooten said. “Once you’re already in it you’re already under it and that’s too late — I want to know way outside of that.”
CAMERA SYSTEM
The school system has over 400 cameras between its seven schools, and Wooten and his team can monitor any of them individually or as a grid.
“Each individual camera can have its own custom alerts,” Wooten said. “So during the day I can turn on alerts for cameras monitoring places where we wouldn’t expect to have people, and if there’s motion it sends me an alert so I know about it. And the alert actually has the footage of what it just recorded, so I can click straight on that and see what it’s showing.”
The camera system also allows Wooten and his team to set up custom grids depending on the time of day or any events that are going on, so he can monitor specific parts of each school during arrival and dismissal times, multiple angles on Tiger Stadium during the graduation ceremony and more.
“It’s not just the number of cameras we have, it’s also the function and being able to use the cameras with everything and the alerts,” Wooten said.
SCHOOL MAPS
This year, the school system had all-new maps of each of the county’s schools made, allowing them to share those with school administrators, DCSO, fire and EMS personnel and anyone else who needs to have the exact layout of a school in case of an emergency.
“In every classroom the teacher has a wearable mic and an emergency button; if they press that button then every principal and assistant principal, myself, the nurse, SRO and others at the school all get alerts, and we also have people in the sheriff’s office that get it,” Wooten said. “If we needed to go into lockdown for whatever reason, they would know immediately that we went into lockdown and they’d know where exactly that button got pressed. And they have our maps, so they would also know what the closest access point to that button is, so they’d know where to enter the building and exactly where to go.”
Wooten also has the ability to remotely lock down any individual school if that need arises, making it as immediate as possible in the case that any situation would come up.
P3 ANONYMOUS TIP LINE
The school system recently
implemented P3 Campus, an anonymous reporting app that allows anyone in any of the schools or the community to send tips about safety concerns or wellness issues.
Unlike many other tip line apps, P3 allows Wooten and his team to respond back to the tipster if they have additional questions or need additional information. It’s also unique in that it allows those submitting tips to do so directly through the app, rather than having to fill out an online form or log in online.
IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER
In the end, Wooten said, the goal is for all of these pieces to work together to ensure the safety of students and staff at all times, and the Emergency Preparedness Center gives him and his team a central hub to monitor weather and cameras from, meet, drill and discuss anything pertaining to school safety.
“This is kind of like the hidden place nobody knows about where we’re doing all this work,” Wooten said. “We’re prepared for any case; we’re prepared for something to go wrong and how can we respond and communicate quickly so we can handle it and keep our kids safe.”
Safe Schools Coordinator Tony Wooten demonstrates how the school’s weather tracking and camera monitoring programs work in the high school’s Emergency Preparedness Center. Photo by Erica Jones.
Economic Collaboration
The collaboration involving third-grade students at BMES and economic classes at DCHS resulted in a variety of advantages. By bringing together students from different age groups and educational levels, the program facilitated a dynamic learning environment that catered to various learning styles and needs. High school students had the unique opportunity to share their knowledge of personal finance with younger peers. This peer teaching not only reinforced their own understanding of economic concepts but also cultivated leadership and communication skills. For the elementary students, the program offered invaluable exposure to practical financial literacy skills in a relatable and engaging manner, building on their real-world
experiences from their grade level in-depth immersive learning environments like the Coffee Shop and Donut Shop. Through interactive activities such as economic presentations, vocabulary games, and the allowance game, they gained handson experience in managing money and understanding economic principles. Moreover, the collaboration fostered a sense of community within the school district, promoting mentorship, cooperation, and a shared commitment to education. Overall, the initiative not only enhanced students’ comprehension of economics but also instilled crucial life skills and nurtured a supportive learning environment. We look forward to continuing this relationship in the future.
ESPLOST FOR EDUCATION
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS
Thank you to the citizens of Dawson County for your unwavering support of ESPLOST VII, the 1% sales tax that is transforming the future of our students and schools. Your investment is not just a contribution; it’s a testament to our community’s commitment to education!
WHAT IS ESPLOST?
E-SPLOST is a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for education. It is a one-cent sales tax on all retail purchases. This means that every single person who makes a purchase in our county, be it a citizen or a visitor, is playing a crucial role in educating our students. It’s a collective responsibility we all share.
WHAT WILL THE CONTINUED PENNY ESPLOST PROVIDE?
By Georgia law, the funds can only be used for capital improvements. They cannot be used to pay the salaries of any school system employee. The money can be used to:
• Build new schools and facilities
• Purchase new school buses
• Upgrade technology
• Provide safety and security measures
• Improve existing schools and facilities (HVAC, roofs, paving, cafeteria equipment, etc.)
RECENT & FUTURE
PROJECTS FUNDED WITH ESPLOST
• Emergency Preparedness
Center
• DCHS Pole Barn and Solar Panel for Agriscience Center
• DCMS Field House with concessions and restrooms
• RES Parent Drop-Off Drive
• DCHS Softball and Baseball Complex Upgrades
• New Classroom Furniture
• Safety Window Tinting, Door Lock Upgrades, and Camera Upgrades
• New Construction & Land Acquisition
• Elementary Facility Upgrades & Renovations
• Additional Investments in School Safety, Technology, & Transportation
2023-2024 Teachers of the Year
2024-2025 Teachers of the Year
Dawson County Schools Retirees
Congrats to the 2024 DCS Retirees! Thank you and best wishes!
• Jacqueline Abe
• Michael Archer
• Magaly Braz
• Susie Charles-Carr
• Teresa Conowal
• Gayle Jones
• John Kenny
• Barry Kimsey
• Ruth Leonard
• Donna Melton
• Chad Pittman
• Cindy Sanford
• Teri Wilkins
• Stan Williams
• Jennifer Wright
Thank you to Dawson County Chamber of Commerce for supporting our Teachers of the Year!
BMES: Brooke Walker KES: Shannon Thomas
RvES: Cassy Dunigan
RES: Amy Swafford
DCMS: Linda Sperin
DCJH: Jennifer Parker
DCHS: Susan Wright
Keith Family Medicine, founded by Dr. Nabil Keith, provides exceptional, patient-centered healthcare to families in Dawsonville and nearby areas.
Keith Family Medicine
(706) 216-4444 https://keithfamilymedicine.com/
Dr. Nabil Keith, Family Physician
Joane Buteau, Physician Assistant
Dr. Megan Appleby, Family Physician
Shelley Martin, Nurse Practitionner
Exceptional Children Student Support Services
The Department of Exceptional Children and Dawson County Schools are working to ensure all students have opportunities to grow and excel in their academic and skills based activities. Dawson County Students are currently working in Dawson County Schools cafeterias, custodial programs, coffee carts and at over 15 local businesses in the community. We are excited about the local support for Dawson students and this year the high school is adding a living skills classroom to continue to develop students’ abilities to live independently. This is another example of how the community, teachers, administrators and support staff are working together to have all students college and career ready.
Title I
Title I, Part A provides federal funds through the Georgia Department of Education to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged children to help ensure that all children meet challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards. Black’s Mill Elementary, Kilough Elementary, Riverview Elementary, and Robinson Elementary all receive funding as a Title I Schoolwide School.
Each Title I school works to actively engage parents as partners in the educational program. The schools have parent compact agreements that outline the ways the school, parents, and students will commit to working together for a great school year. The schools also create plans to involve parents in all aspects of their student’s educational experience. Parents have the opportunity to learn about ways to support their child’s learning by attending special events throughout the year. Each Title I school also has a parent resource room filled with games, resources, activities, and computer access to assist parents with helping their child to be successful.
ESOL
(English to Speakers of Other Languages)
ESOL is a state-funded instructional program for eligible English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12. The program emphasizes academic and social language development and its coursework is based on the WIDA Consortium English Language Development (ELD) standards. Dawson County Schools provides language support services to EL students in multiple formats. Schools utilize push-in and pull-out support from a certified ESOL teacher, scheduled ESOL courses, and online supplemental computer assisted instruction. Once an EL student meets language proficiency requirements, the student is exited from supplemental language services.
Early Intervention Program
Children start school at a designated chronological age, but differ greatly in their individual development and experience base. The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is designed to serve students who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade level. The purpose of the Early Intervention Program is to provide additional instructional resources to help students who are performing below grade level obtain the necessary academic skills to reach grade level performance in the shortest possible time.
Remedial Education Program
The Remedial Education Program (REP) is an instructional program designed for students in grades 6-12 who have identified deficiencies in reading, writing, or math. This program provides basic skills instruction as mandated by Georgia Law in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. The instruction may be provided as a scheduled class with push-in support, a smaller class size, or pull-out support.
Gifted Education
The vision of the Dawson County Gifted Program is to be an exemplary program as we advocate for and meet the needs of each gifted child. Dawson County Schools provide services to those students who meet the local and state criteria for gifted eligibility utilizing one or more of the following models of service: cluster grouping within a traditional classroom, advanced & accelerated content courses, enrichment & resource support courses, and internships. Gifted students must meet and maintain high performance in both gifted and non-gifted courses to continue services in the program.
Counselors & Support
Each school in the district has a full-time counselor who works to provide students with academic guidance and social-emotional support. The counselors work with teachers and administrators in monitoring and assessing student academic progress. They help to provide scheduling of appropriate interventions that may be needed to help struggling students, as well as, high performing students. Counselors provide career cluster and guidance lessons to students as they work toward becoming college and career ready.
Crisis Prevention
If you or your child are in crisis, please call toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline*
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Georgia Crisis & Access Line* | 1-800-715-4225
Crisis Text Line* | Text “HOME” to 741741
*All calls are confidential and answered 24/7.
Each school counselor works to support the districtwide initiative to partner with families and the community in addressing issues and concerns related to suicide, substance
abuse, and mental health. Schools will implement the following programs:
Riding the Waves: 5th graders will learn about healthy emotional development, depression, and anxiety. Through a series of 12 lessons throughout the year, the students will learn ways to make healthy decisions, strategies for coping with difficult situations, and how/ who/when to ask for help.
Signs of Suicide: 6th & 12th graders will be provided with age-appropriate lessons that raise awareness about suicide and depression. Students are taught the action steps to take if they encounter a situation that requires help from a trusted adult.
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS & SUPPORTS (PBIS)
All Dawson County Schools utilize the PBIS as a framework to prevention and intervention to support academic, social, emotional, and behavioral learning for all students. Through this framework, each school develops positive, predictable, and safe environments that foster the creation of strong interpersonal relationships through teaching, modeling, and providing encouragement. Students are taught social skills and appropriate social behavior expectations. Through this teaching, combined with acknowledgement and
feedback, there is an increase in positive behaviors, which promotes a greater climate of productivity, safety, and learning.
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISON
The district social workers and McKinney-Vento liaison continually works with the local law enforcement, judicial system, and health care professionals to address the needs of students and their families. They work to address problems students and families face when enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. The district will continue its partnership with AVITA to provide professional mental health counseling services.
Athletics & Clubs
Golden
Pass Available at DCHS
If you are a Dawson resident who will be 65+ during the 2024-2025 school year, or if you are a Dawson County Schools retiree, you are eligible to receive an annual 1D Golden Pass.
The 1D Golden Pass entitles you to the following special privilege:
• Admission to DCS home high school athletic events. (Free admission does not extend to away games, play-off games, graduation or PTO/A sponsored events.)
• Golden Passes are issued at Dawson County High School front office, 1665 Perimeter Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534, Monday-Friday of regular school days, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please present a valid Driver’s License or I.D.
• $20 card processing fee.
Congratulations to DCHS 2024 Graduate Colton Schuette for earning a GHSA state title in wrestling!
HEALTH SERVICES
Dawson County School District is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare services to all students, faculty, and staff members and it is evident through its exemplary Health Service Department. With a team of dedicated professionals following state and federal laws, evidence-based guidelines, and the NASN framework, the goal of ensuring that every child is healthy, safe, and ready to learn is being met through a holistic approach that addresses various healthcare needs. The nurses and clinical staff play a crucial role in managing medical conditions, advocating for students, and promoting overall well-being within the school setting.
The level of dedication and comprehensive approach to healthcare within Dawson County School District is commendable and showcases a strong commitment to the well-being of all individuals in its community. By having an expert team with various qualifications and roles, the district is well-equipped to address the diverse needs of our students and their family. The Health Services team ensures that students come to school and have a safe and supportive environment but also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing overall individual wellness in the educational settings. For example, in the last school year, the Health Services Department services have:
• Documented almost 50,000 clinic visits, keeping 95% of the student at school and learning and sending only 5% home for an illness or injury-related reasons,
• Facilitated and conducted Mass Hearing and Vision Screenings for elementary and middle schools students, with the partnership of the Dawson County Lions Club,
• Facilitated and conducted Scoliosis Screening for all middle school students, with the partnership of the Dawson County Health Department,
• Facilitated and implemented School-Based Flu Vaccination Clinics for all students, teachers, and staff, with the partnership of the Dawson County Health Department,
• Facilitated and implemented School-Based Meningitis Vaccination Clinics for all rising 11th graders, with the partnership of the Dawson County Health Department,
• Facilitated and implemented a School-Based Dental Outreach Program providing preventative and restorative dental services to all students, with the partnership of the Help a Child Smile Bus
• Facilitated and implemented of Telehealth and Teletherapy services for all schools, with the partnership of of ESE Telehealth
• Facilitated and implemented an Electronic Medical Records Portal for all students, with the partnership of SNAP Health Portal,
• Facilitated and implemented various training throughout the year for staff members including CPR and AED certification, Stop the Bleed, Opioid awareness and Narcan administration, emergency seizure respsonse, diabteic emergency response
The unwavering commitment of Dawson County School District to prioritize the health and well-being of every student, as well as the broader community, is a testament to the district's dedication to fostering a supportive and nurturing educational environment. By placing such a high value on healthcare and holistic wellness, the district is ensuring that all individuals entrusted to their care have the resources and support needed to thrive both academically and personally. This steadfast commitment underscores the district's genuine concern for the overall welfare of its students and community members. Dawson County School District’s Health Services Department will always remain devoted to providing the highest level of care to each individual we serve and improving the health and well-being of our entire community.
Dr. Vikki Brannon DNP, MSN, BSN, RN, NCSN Director of Youth Health Services vikki.brannon@dawsoncountyschools.org
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
KEATON TOAL
By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com
Keaton Toal has been away from his hometown for quite a while now, but Dawsonville is often on the mind of the 2014 DCHS graduate.
The former multi-sport student-athlete is about to reach the five-year mark in the Marine Corps, where he has made strides as a leader and man.
Currently stationed at Quantico, Toal has been able to utilize the discipline and work ethic required to be in the USMC to grow into a course instructor and future company commander.
“Near term I would like to become the best instructor I can,” he said. “I’ve found my role as a Warfighting and Infantry Officer Course instructor to be eye opening. Both in the sense of being humbled everyday by the men and women that I work with as well as the task at hand when teaching many of the Marine Corps future young leaders.”
Affectionately known as ‘Keater’ in his days as a Tiger, Toal was a standout in football, baseball and wrestling at DCHS.
From the time he was a toddler, he watched his siblings play locally in Parks and Rec and the school system. By the time he reached high school, the coaches, parents and the community at large had a significant impact on him.
“What I always appreciated about the community in Dawson was the overwhelming support for the youth,” he said. “While that may sound cliche, it really felt different back home. I was able to see that through the lens of athletics as well as through some of the school’s arts programs such as Chamber Singers.”
Dawson County’s influence on Toal reached far beyond the field. He credits Teresa Conowal as the first teacher who truly understood him and remembers her fondly to this day.
But when it comes to the moments of his sports career, there is so much he still cherishes — from coaches such as Jeff Lee to the many teammates he made memories with to the supporters all across town.
“I still think of how amazing it was to walk on the field for a football game, looking up in the stands, and seeing so many faithful supporters of ours,” he said. “Now looking back on that, it was so much more than football. It was just good people who cared, kids who dreamed, and a community sharing experiences together at any opportunity. While my son wasn’t born in Dawsonville — in fact he’s technically a California boy due to our military life — we tell him often that home is Dawsonville.”
Toal’s journey to military service wasn’t an easy one. He played a year of collegiate football at Reinhardt University before making the difficult choice to end his playing career. He credits his father with helping him through that tough time.
Ultimately, it was Toal’s interest in leadership and belief in the importance of service to the country that led him down the path he’s on now. He also credits his wife for helping motivate him and being a supportive pillar when he was deciding to join the military.
If the past few years have shown the vast potential of Toal’s skills and abilities, the future is full of possibilities as the smalltown kid continues to grow as a leader.
“Further down the road I hope to go to the Expeditionary Warfare School and then become a Rifle Company Commander after the next 3 years,” he said. “I hope to translate some of the skills that I’ve learned here in Quantico over to my time leading a company of Marines and [then] just becoming the best husband and father I can be. Regardless of when I get out of the Military, I hope to come back home to Dawson County, buy some land, settle down with my family, and begin to find ways to give back to the community that provided so much to me.”
TYLER DOMINY
By Rio White riowhite@dawsonnews.com
Tyler Dominy has always shown an inclination toward leadership. From his days as the starting quarterback at Dawson County High School to his time as a basketball player at the University of North Georgia, Tyler has had many opportunities to learn from others and lead by example.
Now that the 2013 DCHS graduate is well into his professional career, all those years of personal growth have come full circle.
For the past three years, Dominy has been paying forward the wisdom he’s gained by being a part of Junior Achievement — a global education nonprofit based in Cumming.
There, Dominy has thrived in a directorial role where he helps put together student support groups and partnerships that focus on assisting middle schoolers with career preparation, financial literacy, and more.
“I work with corporate partners, community partners,
colleges, and a whole host of different people to help organize and strategize people engagement to help support our programs,” he said. “It’s really been a perfect fit. I believe in the program and the impact it’s making in the community. Getting [students] to start thinking about what life looks like as you grow into being an adult — it’s very powerful.”
Meanwhile, he earned his Master of Public Administration degree from UNG in 2022 — also serving as a recruiter and athletic liaison for the school.
For all of those achievements, Dominy maintains that his current place in life is a credit to the many impactful people he’s met along the way
“Finding different ways that my coaches and mentors would push me to get outside my comfort zone and develop those leadership skills — those are things I’m incredibly grateful for,” he said. “I was very lucky to have a lot of great leaders and coaches growing up.”
One of those mentors is his former college basketball coach, Chris Faulkner. Under the longtime head coach of UNG, Tyler was able to show both his athletic skill and strong character.
“Tyler had the type of personality that others instantly gravitated to,” Faulkner said. “Even early on in his career, other members of the team looked up to him and respected him. He was always someone who was positive and carried himself in a way that others wanted to be like.”
As much as Faulkner saw the progression of Dominy’s career, the coach himself was impacted by the young man.
“I think the biggest thing I learned from Tyler was kindness and gratitude,” he said. “I’ll never forget [that] when we offered him a scholarship, his response to me was ‘thank you’. Throughout his time at North Georgia, he was always friendly to everyone on campus and was always thankful for every opportunity he had.”
Dominy is also grateful for the impact that his Dawson County upbringing had on his life. From coaches Jeff Lee and Thad Burgess to many others, Tyler has always remembered those that inspired him.
“I can’t think of a teacher or a coach who didn’t have my best interests at heart,” he said. “These people who come through your life who are there for specific reasons and are willing to invest in the community — I think that’s what makes Dawson County a great place.”
Last fall, Dominy was inducted into the DCHS Hall of Fame, something he said he was humbled by. For all of the accolades he collected in his Tigers career, he’s just as grateful for the relationships and memories made with friends and teammates during those years.
More recently, Dominy got engaged to his girlfriend Kennedy, with whom he purchased a home in Forsyth County. He maintains relationships with many of his old Dawson County friends and looks forward to keeping up with DCHS athletics.
