HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS: Santa sighting today at Hamilton Crossing Elementary 👀👀👀👀👀
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SOCK DRIVE: Join the Bartow County School Wellness Committee in helping the Boys and Girls Club this holiday season! Each school will be accepting donations of SOCKS, GLOVES, HATS, & PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS from now until Jan. 19th!
NEW: Tonya Poe, our current assistant support specialist at Central Office, will be our new executive assistant to the superintendent!
Tonya has been with the Bartow County School System for almost 18 years! This former Colonel cheerleader graduated from Cass High School and so did all four of her sons! So, it's no surprise that Tonya's first job in the BCSS was taking the reins as a parent involvement coordinator at CHS!
Throughout the years, Tonya earned her associate degree in business administration from Georgia Highlands College and bachelor's degree in organizational management from Covenant College. She assumed many roles at CHS, including the administrative assistant position to the principal.
In 2018, Tonya left CHS and took the position of administrative assistant to the chief leadership and learning officer at Central Office.
Join us in congratulating Tonya! She's an important part of our BCSS FAMILY! She also loves decorating for Christmas, Disney, giraffes, motorcycle rides, and helping students and staff in the BCSS! (not necessarily in that order 😃)
IT'S OFFICIAL: A familiar face will soon be taking the reins as superintendent of Bartow County Schools.
The Bartow County Board of Education unanimously voted Monday night to appoint current Chief Leadership and Learning Officer Clint Terza.
With nearly 29 years in education, five in Bartow County, Terza will seamlessly transition to his new role at the end of this academic year.
“I have been so fortunate and blessed to work alongside Superintendent Page, someone I have known for about 15 years,” said Terza. “I have a high level of respect for him, as he always leads with faith, family, and an educational focus. This school system has seen an unprecedented number of historic moments under his leadership, and I hope to continue the legacy.”
Terza is a Pennsylvania native, but moved to Cobb County, Georgia, to teach in Coweta County immediately upon graduation from Clarion University.
“After surviving winters in central Pennsylvania, my wife and I thought the sunshine and job opportunities looked so much better in Georgia,” said Terza.
And he was right. He quickly landed his first job teaching fifth grade at Jefferson Parkway Elementary School and was selected as the Sallie Mae First Class Teacher.
You could very well say Terza followed in his family’s footsteps since his mother and father were both elementary school teachers.
“After a year at Jefferson Parkway Elementary, I moved to Birney Elementary in Cobb County,” said Terza. “There, I truly found my calling for educational leadership.”
Since then, Terza earned his master’s and specialist degree in Leadership and Administration and assumed the roles of administrative assistant, assistant principal, and principal at four other schools in Cobb County.
“I was the principal of Austell Intermediate School for seven years, Smitha Middle School for five years, and South Cobb High School for three years before serving in Bartow County,” said Terza.
He was also recognized by the United States Department of Education for leading a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence during that time.
In addition to the accolades, those who know Terza best, say his motivation, determination, and dedication set him apart from the rest.
“I don’t shy away from challenges,” said Terza. “One of my primary focuses is continually improving student achievement through collaboration and strong Tier I instruction.”
Outside of the classroom, you will find Terza with his wife of 26 years, Lauri, and children, Devin (23), Morgan (20), and Reese (18).
Since his children are in college now, he has a lot more time to enjoy the cinema-style theater he built, classic rock music, and cars. He maintains, “nothing beats a 63’ Corvette split window coupe!”
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: COGNIA SYSTEM OF DISTINCTION
“This recognition is based on the results of Cognia’s rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process,” said Bartow County School System Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “With over 1,100 engagement reviews for accreditation completed in the 2022-2023 academic year, Cognia only recognized 25 schools and eight systems in 12 states and five countries with this distinct honor! Wow! There was extensive internal preparation for this review, and I am so proud of our school system’s commitment to learning, collaboration, and results.”
Cognia provides an Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score as a measure of overall performance. With a maximum score of 400, the Bartow County School System received an IEQ score of 383.
“You and your team did the most complete self-study and detailed reporting of any that I have ever seen while working with Cognia,” said Dr. Erik Swanson, a Cognia regional accreditation evaluator. “I congratulate you on the work you are doing for learners.”
“The Bartow County School System is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning,” added Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia.
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: LYNN HUSKINS, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT
After 40 years in the field of education, Lynn, one of our biggest BCSS cheerleaders, is retiring. She is a fixture in our System, in our FAMILY. She is always the first person to smile at you, lend an ear, and help in any capacity. From school board packets and the organization of board meetings to contacting TV stations during inclement weather, Lynn does it all, and she does it with grace and passion.
Tonight, the Bartow County Board of Education recognized Lynn with a beautifully etched Waterford crystal vase, and on Wednesday, she will be honored with a reception.
Join us in congratulating Lynn on this next chapter of her story. We know she'll busy with her grandkids, gardening, and all those great car shows!
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: ADAIRSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL – HIGHEST DISTRICT GRADUATION RATE – 98.6%
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
David Gaspardo, Maintenance Department
“David has a can-do attitude and will work whatever hours, wherever needed, to see that the district is running properly. He works a lot of holidays and weekends and has never complained. He can always be counted on. He is truly a valuable member of the Maintenance team here in Bartow County.” – Maintenance Staff
THE BUZZ AROUND BARTOW: After several rounds of spelling in the Bartow County Spelling Bee, Cloverleaf Elementary fifth grader, Azaan Muhammad, spelled "effusive" to win! This year's runner-up is Madalie Furey, a fifth grader from Clear Creek Elementary! Congratulations!
AUTHOR VISIT: New York Times best-selling Author Dion Leonard and his now-famous dog, Gobi, visited White Elementary students Thursday! The wide eyes and wider smiles say it all! They really enjoyed hearing about how Gobi and Leonard found each other during a grueling 155-mile ultramarathon race across the Gobi Desert! High altitudes, excessive heat, wind, and sandstorms couldn't keep these two apart! Gobi even gave a few autographs with her right paw!
CARTERSVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE: Hard to miss Bartow County Schools last night! We gave out hundreds of books, all three high school bands, cheer, and JROTC showed out, Woodland Magnet students had a float, and so did School Nutrition! Our Cafeteria Crew handed out cookies and recipe cards! We love traditions in the BCSS!
CARTERSVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE: From books to cookies...we have it all at the Cartersville Exchange Club Christmas Parade! Watch for us! Bartow County School Nutrition will be handing out cookies and recipe cards during the parade!
BARTOW BOOK GIVEAWAY: Come one, come all, to Friendship Plaza for free books! We’re located right next to Santa! We’ll be here while supplies last📚🎄
DARE TO BE GREAT: Thirty-one years of Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., in Bartow County! It wouldn't be possible without Bartow County School Police, Bartow County Sheriff's Office, school administrators, and our faith-based community! We appreciate the individuals below for providing our children with good decision-making skills to lead safe and healthy lives.
-SRO Donnie Scott, BCSP
-Chief Billy Henson, BCSP
-Pastor Kyle Clayton, Grace Baptist Church
-D.A.R.E. Deputy Tyler Ingram, BCSO
-D.A.R.E. Lt. Hollie McKamey, BCSO
-D.A.R.E. Deputy Kaytlyn Armstrong, BCSO
-Sheriff Clark Millsap, BCSO
- Major Duane Smith, BCSP
GROW IN BARTOW: The District Mentor Program would like to spotlight Madonna Harris, first grade teacher at Emerson Elementary, and Amy Pullen, Reading Specialist at Cloverleaf Elementary, for exhibiting best practices in mentoring and support in their buildings. Madonna and Amy define what it means to be great in Bartow! Thank you for all the support you offer to our schools and this district.
GEORGIA STUDENT TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION: Join us in congratulating the students below! They are ADVANCING to the REGIONAL level and competing in the Northwest Georgia RESA Technology Competition in Rome on January 26th!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Get ready, one of our favorite events is right around the corner! This Thursday, before the legendary Cartersville Exchange Club Christmas Parade, we will host our BOOK GIVEAWAY! FREE BOOKS! Just stop by the BCSS table, which will be located next to Santa in the Christmas Parade Party in the Plaza. We'll be out there from about 3:30 p.m. until supplies last!
BIG LESSONS FROM A LITTLE BOY: Carter Abernathy, a third-grade student at White Elementary School, is not letting a rare neurologic condition define who he is. Instead, he is inspiring others through his actions and teaching classmates and teammates empathy and compassion. Read his remarkable story below!
---
August 30, 2018, isn’t a day many people vividly remember, but Cami Abernathy sure does.
“My son, Carter, was just three years old at the time,” said Abernathy, a first-grade teacher at White Elementary School. “He was sick with a respiratory illness and then his left arm became paralyzed. That night, we went to two emergency rooms and were told at both that he had nursemaid’s elbow and that he was just being stubborn and not moving his arm.”
However, Abernathy’s intuition told her otherwise. She made an appointment with Carter’s pediatrician the following morning, and that doctor sent them straight to Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta.
“Hearing that your child had a virus attack their spine, and they will never be the same, is something no parent ever wants to hear,” said Abernathy.
Acute Flaccid Myelitis was the diagnosis. It is a rare nerve-related condition that doctors say is similar to polio.
After seven days of intravenous steroids, two painful electromyography procedures, a nerve transfer surgery, and years of robotic rehabilitation, Carter regained a lot of arm movement but not a lot of strength.
Moving forward, Carter will need a 12-week round of intensive therapy at Scottish Rite once a year. He started another 12-week journey just this week.
“Just because something terrible happens to your child, it does not mean they do not have an amazing life ahead of them,” said Abernathy. “We believe that everything does happen for a reason and while we do not know the reason for Carter's AFM diagnosis, we do know that he is a huge inspiration to us and will be to others as well. Carter loves life and makes the best out of any situation.”
Carter will tell you with a resounding “no,” AFM has not slowed him down one bit.
As a third-grade student, he is active in the WES Garden Club and Chorus. He also plays baseball and football for the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department. He was the starting nose guard on his 10U football team this year and has big plans to play under the lights at Cass Middle School and Cass High School.
“I know I can do anything I try my hardest at,” said Carter. “I don’t mind making modifications to participate in activities. In baseball, I had to teach myself how to catch with my right hand, take the glove off by putting it under my left arm, and then throw the ball with my right hand. I also had to learn how to bat left-handed so all my strength could come from my right arm.”
What Carter may lack in physical strength, he makes up for in inner strength, and for that, he credits his extraordinary family, friends, teachers, and physical therapists.
“All of his friends know that Carter has a different left arm, and they are all so understanding and caring and help him when he needs it,” said Abernathy. “Every Bartow County teacher Carter has had has been amazing with him.”
Carter will tell you his number one supporter and cheerleader, though, is his brother, Copeland, a fifth grader at WES.
“I want him and everyone else to know this,” said Carter. “Never give up on anything you want to do. Anything you set your mind to, you can achieve it!”
HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD: Santa, games, crafts, pizza, and so much more! Holidays Around the World, hosted Thursday by Bartow County ESOL for ESOL families, was a major success! More than 300 people enjoyed the festive activities! HOPE students from Adairsville High and Cass High organized games that represented several different countries, nine community tables shared free resources, the Bookmobile gave out books, and we made sure that we shared information on ACCESS Testing, literacy, high school, and post-secondary opportunities - in multiple languages, of course!
Special thanks to our organizer, Kristy Mitchell, and our sponsors, Glenda Mitchell, Atlanta Water Fire Damage, and Latitude Design and Construction!
CHECK IT OUT: Catherine Hampton, a fourth-grade teacher at Hamilton Crossing Elementary School, now sits on the Georgia Department of Education’s 2023-2024 Teacher Policy Fellowship.
She was one of only 20 educators from across Georgia selected this week.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, the Teacher Policy Fellowship is a unique nine-month professional learning opportunity designed to introduce classroom teachers to the field of public education policy and policymaking. The fellowship uses a blended virtual and face-to-face learning approach so fellows can continue teaching in their classrooms while participating in the program. Throughout the program, fellows will gain knowledge and information on policy design and implementation at the state level.
“I applied with a written application and essay about current legislation I felt was important to educators in Georgia,” said Hampton. “Following that, I was contacted to participate in a phone interview with the Georgia Department of Education. I was elated to be chosen and grateful for the opportunity to become a part of educational change and innovation in Georgia. My fellowship will end with a capstone project presented to Georgia Department of Education members, current legislators, and cohort members. I am anxious to understand the processes that shape educational legislation and to represent teacher voice in the process.”
