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Spotlight on . . .
Cobb
County’s
Teacher of the Year
2003-04 Cobb County
Teacher of the Year:
Jennifer Tumlin
Read about Ms. Tumlin
2002-03 Cobb County
Teacher of the Year:
Mary Ann Lasseter
Read about Ms.
Lasseter
Each year, the Cobb County School District
recognizes its top educator with the title “Teacher of the Year.”
This high honor is bestowed upon the District’s leading educator,
chosen from among the top teachers from each school.
Cobb County and Marietta City school systems celebrate their
district-wide Teachers of the Year, as well as each school’s
leading educator, during the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s annual
“Give Our Schools a Hand” week. The Teachers of the Year are
recognized with a special handprint ceremony on the Marietta
Square and a special reception in their honor.
This achievement is special as it marks one unique individual as
Cobb County’s top educator for the year. |
The
Cobb County School District is proud of its high level of involvement
by its community members. From local business leaders to parents and
other community leaders, the Cobb County community consistently
demonstrates its commitment to promoting quality education in Cobb
County. Various groups and organizations support the District’s goal
of excellence in education.
School Councils
As required by The A+ Education Reform Act of 2000 (House Bill 1187),
all regular Cobb schools have now installed school councils. These
school councils are intended to provide advice and recommendations to
the principal, the superintendent and potentially, the Cobb County
Board of Education. An advisory body, the council is made up of the
principal, two certified teacher members, two parents/guardians, and
two members of the business community. Council members may study a
wide range of issues, including student achievement, the school
improvement plan, curriculum and instruction, school and community
communications, and local school board policies.
Each school council publicizes its annual meeting schedule and shares
meeting minutes and information about its deliberations with the
broader school community. Parents or members of the school community
may visit school council meetings to hear the discussion. Cobb County
Board of Education policy permits councils in an Area or feeder
pattern to meet at least once annually to consider items of mutual
interest and concern.
Before the implementation of councils, each school maintained a
citizens advisory council, and the District operated a similar
representative group. With the advent of school councils, local
schools have discontinued their Citizens Advisory Councils. School
councils represent yet another phase in the District tradition of
community collaboration and involvement.
Parent Teacher Associations
Cobb
County boasts nearly 100 percent participation at each school in the
Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). Cobb’s PTA groups provide
leadership, support and guidance to every school through volunteerism,
program support, legislative advocacy and fund-raising.
Cobb PTAs actively support programs to increase parental/family
involvement in education and endorse community efforts in critical
areas such as driver education and underage drinking. Ninth District
PTA leaders, representing four Cobb councils, meet with the
superintendent to encourage communication and understanding of common
projects and concerns.
In addition, Cobb PTAs have worked with the United Way and other
community agencies to introduce Building Successful Partnerships (BSP),
a national PTA program featuring training for school/parent teams,
into a number of Cobb schools. Local PTA leadership also works to
support the Georgia PTA’s efforts to endorse legislative endeavors
that support education, both at the state and local levels.
Partners in Education
Through
the Partners in Education program, the Cobb County School District
receives a tremendous amount of support from businesses and business
leaders within the county.
A partnership among the Cobb County School District, Marietta City
Schools and the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, the Partners in
Education program boasts an impressive 692 business partners. With
retention as high as 90 percent, business leaders throughout the
county demonstrate their support of education.
Partners provide a variety of support for Cobb schools. Many partners
make substantial monetary donations to schools for scholarships and
materials schools may need. Additional assistance includes hands-on
support such as mentoring, tutoring, assisting with school facility
projects such as grounds clean-ups, and other volunteer activities.
Each school has at least one business partner, with many schools
establishing partnerships with several businesses.
Character Education
The Cobb County Character Education program was formed to support
parents' efforts in developing good character in their children. The
schools, parents and communities identified a list of character words
and definitions deemed important regardless of a person's political
leanings, race, gender or religious convictions.
The character traits associated with each character word of the week
are imbedded throughout the curriculum and are a daily focus of both
students and school staff members. These words and definitions focus
on the attitudes and personal qualities that build a foundation for
success in life and work.
Parents and school Partners in Education are encouraged to participate
in the Character Education program by focusing on the associated
traits and demonstrating the qualities of the weekly character words
at home and in school-sponsored activities.
In addition to the Character Education program that exists in every
school in Cobb County, a positive leadership development class exists
in each high school. These classes, called Principled Thinking, focus
on development of positive student leadership skills. The purpose of
the Principled Thinking class is to establish and promote character
driven student leaders for the community and school.
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