Cobb Students Put Pen to Paper, Win Statewide Recognition for Excellence in Cursive Writing

Oct. 3, 2025

October 3, 2025—The Georgia Department of Education, led by State Superintendent Richard Woods, recently awarded Cobb five elementary schools for their outstanding achievement in cursive handwriting through the John Hancock Award.

During the 2024-2025 school year, more than 300 schools applied for the award, resulting in 93 schools earning the Ribbon of Distinction and 188 schools recognized with the Proficiency Ribbon.

Five Cobb County elementary schools stood out for their excellence in cursive handwriting.

Ribbon of Distinction:

Powers Ferry Elementary School

Powers Ferry Elementary Group Photo Powers Ferry Elementary

Proficiency Ribbon:

Davis Elementary School
Garrison Mill Elementary School
Keheley Elementary School
Pickett's Mill Elementary School

Davis Elementary	Keheley Elementary
Pickett's Mill Elementary	Garrison Mill Elementary

Dr. Ashley Beasley, principal of Davis Elementary School, said the recognition reflected the hard work of both students and staff.

"Our third-grade students worked really hard, and so did our staff members, making sure each student was able to sign his or her first and last name," Dr. Beasley said, "Having the opportunity to see them recognized for their work was great."

At Powers Ferry Elementary, where students earned the Ribbon of Distinction by going beyond signatures to write the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in cursive, Principal Elayna Wilson described the energy that teachers bring to the classroom.

"Our teachers have such energy that when they bring anything to our students, they embrace it," Principal Wilson said. "Not only were they able to write their names, but they also wrote the Preamble in cursive. That motivation really shows the dedication of our teachers and the eagerness of our students."

Pickett's Mill Elementary School hosted the award ceremony. Principal Dr. Benji Morrell said the opportunity to win this award was motivating not only to him but also to his team.

"We received a math award from State Superintendent Woods this spring, and he mentioned the John Hancock award. We brought that back to our team, and they're a very competitive group. They said if there's an award out there, we're going to try and win it," Dr. Morrell shared.

State Superintendent Woods emphasized the lifelong value of cursive writing, noting its significance in both practical and historical contexts.

"Every student needs to own their signature. It's something they'll carry with them for the rest of their life," Superintendent Woods said.

The John Hancock Award recognizes schools where at least 90% of students can sign their names in cursive (Proficiency Ribbon) or where 90% of students can also write the preamble in cursive (Ribbon of Distinction).