Georgia’s state school superintendent Richard Woods visited Pike County teachers and administrators Dec. 5 to congratulate them on local academic achievements and present them with banners and ribbons representing their successes. Woods is promoting a system in which individual schools are recognized for academic success and growth in literacy and math with Georgia’s Literacy Leaders and Georgia’s Masters of Mathematics banners to display at the schools. The banners are awarded for significant improvement with measurements focusing on third grade, sixth grade and high school literacy results as well as fifth grade, eighth grade and high school math results.
“In order to receive these honors, we look at growth and recognize that growth looks different across the 100-point spectrum so it is tiered across each level. We have to see significant growth that shows students moving forward in a very meaningful way,” said superintendent Woods. “The thing is, everyone can grow. Ultimately, we want students to reach proficiency and have a 90% pass rate on the Milestones. Results in high school are really a mirror and reflection of everything that led up to then and success at that level is a celebration of the entire system and everyone who helped those students along the way.”
In math, Pike County High School earned the distinction of Math Leader in Growth with a 21% increase in the number of students scoring proficient or higher on the End of Course Assessment in Algebra I at the Ninth Grade Academy and Pike County High School.
“This is really the hardest banner to earn and there have only been 49 high schools in Georgia to earn this honor,” said superintendent Woods as he presented it to teachers and administrators from the school.
Pike County Middle School needed a 10-point gain in eighth grade Algebra I to meet the growth requirement and exceeded that with a 40% gain. They need a 90% for achievement and got exactly that.
In language, Pike County Middle School’s sixth grade gateway growth needed a 15-point gain to earn the literacy banner and recognition and did so with a 19-point gain. Zebulon High School needed a 15 point gain in ELA and met that goal to earn the Georgia’s Literacy Leaders banner.
Woods noted that he was a teacher and coach and recognizes the importance of displaying state championship banners for all to see and appreciate.
“We have seven eyelets for ribbons at the bottom of the banner and I look forward to returning for a pinning ceremony to fill up those banners and for other schools to earn banners,” he said. “For us, this is an academic state championship banner because math and literature are the two core components of education. Kids have to be able to read and do math because that touches every subject and opens every career door.”
Woods noted that every single person in the school system is instrumental in the overall success of the students who pass through, from bus drivers and cafeteria workers to janitorial staff and counselors.
“Whatever happens in those different areas funnels through to the classroom,” he said. “Today is a day of celebration but we have more to do.”
He noted that the school system can receive the John Hancock banner if all third graders are able to write their names in cursive.
“I think it’s extremely important that every child know how to sign their name in cursive and to read cursive,” he said. “All of our original government documents were written in cursive.”
Woods also noted that in addition to literacy and math banners, he would like to create banners that celebrate growth and proficiency in CTAE accomplishments, graduation rate and SAT and ACT scores.