Stan Jordan named DCSS Teacher of the Year

September 23, 2022

Stan Jordan, special education teacher at New Manchester High School (NMHS), has been named the Douglas County School System (DCSS) Teacher of the Year for 2022-23. Jordan was recognized at a banquet Thursday night along with the other 35 school-level Teachers of the Year.

During the TOTY judging process, judges were captured by Jordan’s story of resilience and sacrifice. Many saying his positive attitude and determination to find a way for all students to learn set him apart. Another remarked that Jordan had a unique insight to what it takes to educate within the Program for Exceptional Children. While another added that he invests in building a solid relationship with each student in his class.

“My goal is to help students find success and belonging both inside and outside of the classroom,” Jordan said. “I have an obligation to help bring more awareness and understanding of various disabilities and how they affect students in order to continue fostering a safe, supportive learning environment for all.”

Upon graduating from Alexander High School, Jordan attended the University of West Georgia and graduated with a degree in business administration. For nine years after that, he ran a tile and stone warehouse before deciding that teaching was his true calling. At NMHS, Jordan serves students of all grade levels as a co-teacher in algebra and world history classes. He is also the AU4 Autism Program teacher at NMHS, and this past year, the program had its first graduate in NMHS history.

“I told the parent of the first student I ever worked with that, ‘The only way I know to do this is treat him like he is mine.’ That said, I believe that I have made lifelong connections with my students, and my responsibility to them has no start or end date.”

At the banquet, Tammy Odom, a Lithia Springs Elementary School special education teacher, was named Elementary School TOTY, and Bryant Hand, a seventh-grade teacher at Yeager Middle School, was named Middle School TOTY.

Other semifinalists for district TOTY in addition to Jordan, Odom and Bryant were Karen Gorzynski of Bill Arp Elementary School, Nancy Cannon of Mason Creek Middle School and LaShawna Bryant of Lithia Springs High School.

The 2022-23 Douglas County School System TOTY will represent Douglas County for the next year at various speaking engagements and will compete for 2022-23 Georgia Teacher of the Year.

CHMS French Club Plays "Escargot"

For the first meeting of the French Club at Chapel Hill Middle School, 7th and 8th grade students learned about the French version of hopscotch, Escargot. Named after its snail shell-like pattern, Escargot--or "Snail" in English--is played similarly to how hopscotch is played in the United States, but with extra rules.

Students have to hop on one foot all the way to the center of the snail shell and hop all the way out without stepping outside the lines. If they succeed, then they write their initials in any square of their choosing to claim it as theirs, and now other players have to jump over that square during their turn.

Soon, the game board is covered with the initials of players in the squares and it becomes very difficult to hop to the center. It's more complicated than our hopscotch, but the students had fun!

SWES Musical ARTSventure

Musical ARTSventure Delights Sweetwater Students

The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County delighted Sweetwater Elementary School students this month with a musical ARTSventure.

Singer Arietha Lockhart began the journey by leading students on a joy-filled operatic adventure. The music educator and opening music act for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is known for meeting children where they are and guiding them into songs about self-reflection. On this visit, Lockhart focused on character building. Lockhart talked about what it means to be a person of outstanding character.

Lockhart's lyrics encourage audience participation. Her voice invites the audience to sing along, with lyrics reminding them that everything they do is a choice. Throughout her performances, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus soloist inspired Sweetwater Knights to always be students of integrity. Lockart reminded them that they are community citizens and must seek to be actively informed. Through listening and repeating, Lockhart shared profound and valuable life truths.

Lockhart's visit was made possible by the Cultural Arts Council and sponsorship from Georgia Council for the Arts, Greystone Power Foundation, and Gwendolyn Parker. One lucky school is chosen every month during the school year to receive an ARTSventure performance. Each monthly performance provides age-specific lessons on everything from culture to curriculum.

DSES Student Data Day

Students at Dorsett Shoals Elementary had a fantastic Data Day assembly! Cheerleaders and the drum line from Alexander High School (AHS) came over to cheer on, motivate, celebrate and kick off Data Day!

Principals and teachers use data to make decisions about instruction and strategies all of the time. Data Day gives students the opportunity to connect with their results and make goals for improvement.

The hallways were filled with cheer and music as students paraded and sang along. All of the AHS cheerleaders and band participated in the hallway parade, but two high schoolers gave a speech about setting goals and working hard to achieve them. Every student spent the rest of the day looking at their data (STAR Scores, GMAS goals and other assessments) to set their own personal goals based on where they are, and where they are going!

Roselani is a fantastic fifth grader enrolled in the Dual Language Immersion program at Beulah Elementary School. Roselani is a hard-working student and a trusted leader among her peers. She currently maintains all A’s in her classes and is always ready to ask questions and participate in class discussions. Principal Lisa Golden says Roselani is the very first person to introduce herself to anyone new and never meets a stranger. She is a great friend who goes above and beyond to make everyone feel loved, welcomed, and safe. Roselani is also part of many clubs at Beulah. She is a member of the chorus, Road Runners Safety Patrol. Roselani’s teachers say she is not only a gifted student, but she is also a wonderful human being. She is carving an amazing path for herself, and Beulah Elementary School is excited to see her grow this year! Congratulations, Roselani!