RIGHT WORK: Let's recognize our new Ms. Dot STAR Award winners for going above and beyond in their line of work. Their impact can truly be felt districtwide!
CONGRATULATIONS:
Tracy McDowell, Title 1 Paraprofessional, Clear Creek Elementary School
Reagan Doss, Exceptional Education Paraprofessional, Emerson Elementary School
Ann Ward, Head Custodian, Adairsville High School
NEW: The Bartow County Board of Education votes to nominate Bartow County School System Chief Leadership and Learning Officer Clint Terza as the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of Bartow County Schools.
Monday night, Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2024.
“I am truly humbled and honored,” said Terza. “If this opportunity comes to fruition, I look forward to continuing the work of our Professional Learning Communities while working with the System Guiding Coalition to focus on Tier I instruction. Together, with our dedicated educators, staff, parents, students, and our faith and business communities, I am eager to contribute to the continued success and growth of our schools. I look forward to the opportunity to lead and serve, working collaboratively to ensure that all students remain focused on our fundamental purpose of learning.”
Terza came to the Bartow County School System in 2019, filling the chief leadership and learning role left vacant by Dr. Kimberly Fraker when she was named the sole finalist for the superintendent’s position in the Gordon County School District.
Terza has more than 28 years of experience in public education. Over the last 20 years, he held many leadership roles, including principalship positions in Cobb County elementary, middle, and high schools. In Bartow County, over the last five years, Terza’s responsibilities included principal and school-related operations, safety and security, capital improvement projects, transportation, athletics, and evaluation systems.
By Georgia law, the school board is now required to wait at least 14 calendar days. Final action on the position could come as early as December 11, 2023. If Terza is appointed, he will assume his new role June 1, 2024.
NEW: Bartow County School System Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page announces his retirement after successfully serving 33 years in education.
Over the last five years, Dr. Page led a culture shift in Bartow County through the implementation of Professional Learning Communities. Standing at the forefront of reform, he helped raise student achievement and earn National recognition.
From a Model PLC District to a Cognia System of Distinction, Bartow County recently recorded a near perfect score during the rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process. It is one of only eight systems in the world to achieve this.
Since Dr. Page took the helm in 2018, the graduation rate, which is another key indicator of success for a system, skyrocketed from 87.1% to 95% today.
Dr. Page supported the creation of Magnet Programs in Bartow County, along with several other key community-based programs, such as ContinUed Bartow, Read to Grow, and Bartow Cares.
He also supported Bartow County’s first-ever mass communication system and app to reinforce a strong connection between home and school.
Under the leadership of Dr. Page, employees saw one-time pay supplements and raises to support teacher recruitment and retention efforts and remain competitive in today’s workforce.
The list of notable achievements over the last five years is innumerable, but if you ask Dr. Page, he will simply say, “there’s still work to do.” The Bartow County School System will miss that never complacent, forward-thinking attitude when he retires on June 30, 2024, but excitement is building as current Chief Leadership and Learning Officer Clint Terza looks to build on this foundation as sole finalist for the position of Bartow County School System Superintendent.
NEW: After 30 years of dedicated service in public education, Bartow County School System Deputy Superintendent Dr. David Chiprany announces his intent to retire on June 30, 2024.
Dr. Chiprany served as the chief academic officer in Bartow County for one year before being promoted to the newly created position of deputy superintendent in 2019.
Dr. Chiprany is a relationship-oriented leader. Connection-building is truly the foundation of his role. While creating a collaborative culture, he naturally inspires group decision making and innovation. Those skills led to the Model Professional Learning Community District designation and subsequent National recognition. He also assisted 18 out of 20 Bartow County schools to achieve similar status.
If you are an employee of the Bartow County School System, you know the most prestigious award you can receive is an A-Team Award. Dr. Chiprany has been very involved in the process of celebrating collaborative teams that are focused on the right work. From idea conception to interviews and awards, Dr. Chiprany mentors teams and assists with board meeting presentations.
Dr. Chiprany also played a major role in the extensive internal preparation for Cognia’s Accreditation Engagement Review process. He carefully worked through survey data and more from students, parents, and teachers. It earned the system one of the best scores in the world.
Dr. Chiprany leads professional learning in all schools, at all levels, and Central Office. He models exactly what is expected and is always looking for ways to improve the learning process.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, along with Advanced Placement participation, have grown exponentially under the leadership of Dr. Chiprany. All schools are District STEM Certified and one middle school is State STEM Certified. College Board’s newly released AP Scholar roster includes 193 Bartow County School System students earning 236 awards – the highest numbers ever recorded in Bartow County.
It is not all “business,” though, when it comes to Dr. Chiprany. You may remember, last year, he endured countless hours of choreography to embody the one and only Maverick from Top Gun in Cartersville Dances with the Stars to support Backpack Buddies and the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter. This is yet another example of Dr. Chiprany’s “whatever it takes” attitude that we will miss when he retires at the end of this academic year to focus on his family and farm.
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: Ms. Dot Frasier, Bartow Education Foundation Executive Director
“The North Georgia Community Foundation has an incredible fundholder who is passionate about the educational work of Dot Frasier in this community,” said Michelle Prater, President and CEO of the North Georgia Community Foundation. “To honor the legacy that Dot has begun, our fundholder created the Dot Frasier Educational Enrichment Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide resources to the educators of the Bartow County School System for support in creating unique educational opportunities and experiences that will directly impact students in grades K-12 through curriculum development grants. The Dot Frasier Educational Enrichment Fund was established as an endowment, which means the educational impact will continue today, tomorrow and in perpetuity. I am honored to be here today, on behalf of our fundholder, to present this check in the amount of $12,291.87 for the educators of the Bartow County School System.”
“Wow, I am speechless,” added Ms. Dot. “This money will help fund a lot of classroom supplies that our teachers would not have been able to fund otherwise. I am incredibly thankful for this fundholder’s generous contribution to the Bartow County community.”
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH – Ms. Wanda Williams, BCSS Bus Driver
“She never complains or has discipline issues on her bus. The students are packed out on her bus and Ms. Wanda has a very orderly system, just like a classroom. Ms. Wanda has been driving over 37 years and still going strong. I can remember when my own kids would ride her bus from White Elementary every afternoon to Cass Middle, and I never worried about them or their safety. She is our point person for athletics and after school transportation. Ms. Wanda schedules the buses to take the athletic teams, band, chorus, and any other field trips we may have at Cass Middle.” – Gregg Hedden, CMS Assistant Principal
THANK YOU, VETERANS: It's always standing room only at Woodland Middle School's Annual Veteran's Day Ceremony, and this year was no different! Administrators planned for months and executed yet another power, poignant program filled with the Presentation of Colors by Adairsville High School's JROTC, chorus and band performances, slide shows, POW/MIA Table Ceremony, and several student reflection stories. Students also presented cards to our local Veterans, and at the end, the building erupted in applause and a much-deserved standing ovation!
THANK YOU, VETERANS: Sweet smiles in a sea of red, white, and blue...all to support our Veterans! These Hamilton Crossing Knights did a great job singing, saluting, and thanking our heroes with hand-written letters!
TOTY BANQUET: The celebration continues! Enjoy these candid photos from our Teacher of the Year banquet at the Booth Western Art Museum!
TOTY BANQUET: What an exciting night at the Booth Western Art Museum as we honored some of the very BEST IN EDUCATION!
Congratulations to our 2023 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR!
Britney Ouellette - ELEMENTARY TOTY
Jesse Simpson - MIDDLE SCHOOL TOTY
Alison Burkhalter - HIGH SCHOOL TOTY & SYSTEM TOTY
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Adairsville Elementary School – Britney Ouellette
Allatoona Elementary School – Cathy Youmans
Clear Creek Elementary School – Kaleb Harkins
Cloverleaf Elementary School – Katie Hawkins
Emerson Elementary School – Amber Graham
Euharlee Elementary School – April West
Hamilton Crossing Elementary School – Allison Ross
Kingston Elementary School – Colleen Allen
Mission Road Elementary School – Anita Webb
Pine Log Elementary School – Eva Brown
Taylorsville Elementary School – Georgia Holt
White Elementary School – Amy Croft
Adairsville Middle School – Summer Perry
Cass Middle School – Jesse Simpson
Red Top Middle School – Karlene Boyd
Woodland Middle School – Lucy Costello
Adairsville High School – Melissa Winters
Cass High School – Katherine Shofner
Woodland High School – Nicholas Shields
Bartow College & Career Academy – Alison Burkhalter
Special thanks to Ms. Dot and the Bartow Education Foundation, Dr. Davis Nelson, and everyone who donated to this year's event!
NEW: Alison Burkhalter, our Bartow County College and Career Academy Teaching as a Profession Instructor, has just been named the 2023 System Teacher of the Year!
DOSE OF REALITY: Our last group of freshmen walked through the Reality Store today and came out better prepared for the "real world!"
The Reality Store is a financial simulation that allows students to learn more about career planning, money management, budgeting, and decision making. Students go through the process of choosing a career, receiving a “paycheck,” and learning to budget their money to meet monthly expenses, along with unexpected expenses.
Special thanks to our community volunteers who helped make this event a REALITY for hundreds of students!
LET’S CELEBRATE: It’s here – the highly anticipated and exciting MS. DOT DAY!
Before we “crown” our System Teacher of the Year tonight at the Booth Western Art Museum, we want to pay homage to the Queen of Education, the one who has spent the last 65 years serving our great community, Ms. Dot Frasier!
With appreciation and admiration, the Bartow County Board of Education signed a proclamation in 2021 to establish Ms. Dot Day.
The proclamation reads in part, “The Bartow County Board of Education and Superintendent of the Bartow County School System do hereby honor Ms. Dot Frasier as the first Teacher of the Year in the Bartow County School System in the year nineteen sixty-nine. Each subsequent year on the date of the System Teacher of the Year banquet will be proclaimed as ‘Ms. Dot Day’ within the Bartow County School System.”
DANCING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT: Guess who's ready to hit the dance floor when he clocks out as principal and CEO of the award-winning Bartow County College and Career Academy? Dr. Greg Doss and his wife, Lisa! We don't know if Dr. Doss has two left feet or if he's the next Fred Astaire, but we know he'll be entertaining AND it's all for a great cause - Backpack Buddies and the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter!
PRIDE IN THE PREPARATION: Congratulations to the BCCCA Public Safety SWAT Team! During the Georgia Police Explorer State Championship, they took first place in the Traffic Stop category and third place in the Officer Rescue category! Hunter Barrett also won first place in the Physical Agility component and Madden Boyce took third! Cadet Captain Eubanks led the team courageously 🏆
NATIONAL STEM DAY: What better way to celebrate National STEM Day than to show you some of our fifth grade GATEWAY students enjoying their trip to Camp Jekyll this week! Here they are participating in a beach ecology class, slough study, and fishing exploration!
A "SUPER" VISIT TO APPLAUD THREE BARTOW COUNTY SCHOOLS: State School Superintendent Richard Woods made his way from Atlanta to Cartersville today to present Hamilton Crossing Elementary School, Euharlee Elementary School, and Emerson Elementary School with Literacy Leader Awards! Through a lot of intentionality and collaboration, these schools were recognized by the state for outstanding growth in third grade literacy levels! Congratulations!
GROW IN BARTOW: The District Mentor Program wishes to spotlight Allie Ingle, a teacher at Red Top Middle, and Natalie Taylor, a Reading Interventionist at Clear Creek Elementary, for exhibiting best practices in mentoring and support in their buildings. Allie and Natalie define what it means to be great in Bartow!
HONORING OUR HEROES: We're proud to say several of our students have had a hand in the creation of this 5K! Check it out! It's on Nov. 12th!
LOVING LITERACY: Through our L4 grant money, we were able to give away more than 800 books at Adairsville's Halloween on the Square event! Next stop...the Cartersville Christmas Parade! Additional details to come! 🎄