Congratulations to the Teacher of the Year semifinalists!

August 20, 2021

Six outstanding teachers named semifinalists in Teacher of the Year competition

Superintendent North and others made the rounds on August 13 to surprise each semifinalist at her school. These six semifinalists will advance to the next phase of the competition, which includes a classroom observation and an interview with a panel of judges. The three finalists and one Douglas County Teacher of the Year will be named at a banquet on September 23. The Douglas County TOTY will represent DCSS in the state competition.

Elementary School Semifinalists

Avery Zachery, Winston Elementary School

Meagan Russell, Bright Star Elementary School

Middle School Semifinalists

Colette Bell, Yeager Middle School

Radiance Ruffin, Stewart Middle School

High School Semifinalists

Leah Mathis, Alexander High School

Tahira Chandler, New Manchester High School

Cam's Vision helps students see world of possibilities

Cam’s Vision Summer Camp opened up a world of excitement and possibility for students at Mason Creek Elementary School this summer. The camp supports visually impaired students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Camp founder Tee Morgan says during the two-week summer camp, campers and their siblings enjoyed golf, arts and crafts, basketball, bowling, and bicycle rides. Excited campers even visited the mill ruins at Sweetwater Creek State Park during a guided tour.

“Our camp is different because we offer inclusive opportunities,” Morgan explains. “We offer students who are visually impaired opportunities to participate. We meet them where they are in their abilities. Our activities help their sighted friends gain the opportunity to experience things the way they do. It helps them gain a deeper appreciation for their non-sighted friends.”

Through challenges like adaptive golf at West Pines Golf Club and bowling with blindfolds on, campers start seeing things from a fresh perspective.

“There is an exciting twist that sets this camp apart from typical camps. We function as any other camp except the activities are adapted to accommodate and highlight the special abilities of our blind children,” Morgan says.

Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office helped the 19 campers celebrate the final day of Cam’s Vision Camp. A sound truck provided summer music to dance to, while the Polar Patrol Ice Cream Truck provided icy treats. Campers also thanked Principal Kristin Martin for her support by presenting her with hand-painted stones to adorn the front of Mason Creek Elementary School.

The four-year-old summer camp is part of Cam’s Vision Foundation. Mason Creek Middle School student Christopher Morgan inspired CAM’s Vision Foundation, Inc. in 2016 to provide support and daily living services to families of blind and visually impaired children. For more information on Cam’s Vision, visit

http://camsvision.org/

Pictured above is Mason Creek Middle School's Christopher Morgan, the inspiration for Cam's Vision Foundation. Christopher is an award-winning Braille contestant. He earned first place in his division in the 2020 National Braille Challenge. In 2021, Christopher earned 3rd place overall in his division for the United States and Canada. Also pictured are campers enjoying adaptive golf at West Pines Golf Club.

Former CHHS star and Super Bowl champ meets Biden during White House visit

Very few football players are able to say they’ve visited the White House as Super Bowl Champions, but one Douglas County alum was recently added to the exclusive list.

Cam Gill, a 2016 graduate of Chapel Hill High School and Super Bowl LV Champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visited the White House and met President Joe Biden on July 20.

At the White House, Biden greeted and congratulated the team on its championship, but it was Gill who was one of the first to break the ice and ask for a photo with the President.

As Biden made his rounds congratulating players, Gill handed his phone to a teammate and after speaking briefly with the President, asked for a photograph that later found its way to social media.

At Chapel Hill, Gill was a standout on the field, earning First-Team All-Region as a senior before going on to Wagner College in New York, where he was eventually named a First-Team All-American.

Despite going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Gill was signed by Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent before making the team’s 53-man roster at the beginning of the season.

Gill was a backup linebacker and mostly played on special teams for the Buccaneers in 2020, and he registered a sack in the team’s Super Bowl win

Custodian runs Peachtree, motivates kids

Douglas County School System employee Henderson Parker completed his 39th Peachtree Road Race this past Fourth of July weekend at the age of 79. Parker is a veteran of DCSS, where he began working in 1982. He currently serves as a custodian at Mason Creek Elementary School.

Mr. Parker was excited to get back to his tradition of running in the annual race after sitting out last year due to changes in the race format caused by Covid-19. Parker’s incentive for running in the Peachtree Road Race for 39 years? “I just want to motivate the kids.”

“We are so proud of Mr. Parker and his accomplishments!” said Mason Creek Elementary Principal Kristin Martin. “He is amazing in so many ways. He is a hard worker and his hustle is nonstop. He truly inspires all of us to become healthier, stronger, and better people. I am sure that he has already started to train for next year's race!”

Reminder: Clear bag policy is in effect for all sporting events

Last year DCSS implemented a clear bag policy at all sporting events. The policy is similar to policies in place at college and professional stadiums and coliseums.

"The clear bag policy helps us keep dangerous or illegal items, including weapons, out of our venues," said Superintendent Trent North. "By allowing only clear bags, we can monitor what's coming into our stadiums and gyms and keep everyone safer with only a minor inconvenience to those in attendance. I appreciate the cooperation of our parents and students over the past year as we implemented this policy."

The following types of bags are permitted inside DCSS sporting events:

Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12"x6"x12"
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5"x6.5"

Are you ready for some football?

Spotlight on: Chapel Hill High School

Three C's guiding Chapel Hill into new season

Last season marked Chapel Hill’s first state playoff appearance since 2017, and the Panthers are looking to return in 2021 under new leadership.

Brad Stephens takes over as head coach of the Panthers after Justin DeShon left to become the head coach at Hillgrove.

2021 Chapel Hill High School Football Media Day

Stephens enters with an impressive resume, having taken South Atlanta High School to the state playoffs in four of his five seasons and winning the school’s first region title in 2020.

To return to the state playoffs, Stephens says the Panthers have been letting a simple philosophy guide them in their preparation for the new season.

“Since we’ve been there, the three C’s we’ve instilled in our kids are to be committed, coachable and to compete,” said Stephens.

Along with taking this mentality into the season, the Panthers have several impact players on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Komari Frye and cornerback and wide receiver Datakis Nunnally, who both received Region 6-5A All-Region Honorable Mention recognition.

Along with these two, the Panthers also expect solid contributions from running backs Rodrick Payne and Jelani Lovett, wide receiver Spencer Beauchamp, defensive end Aaron Redmond and lineman Andrew Dorsey.

The Panthers open their season tonight, Aug. 20, on the road at Alexander High School. For a season schedule for all five high schools, please click here.

Pictured are Datakis Nunnally, Komari Frye, Jelani Lovett, Rodrick Payne, Coach Brad Stephens, Andrew Dorsey, Spencer Beauchamp, Aaron Redmond, and offensive coordinator David Roberson.