U.S. Rep. Max Burns, R-Ga., plans to visit C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School today. All Georgia Schools of Excellence winners will be honored at a banquet in Atlanta in May.
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C.T. Walker first grade teacher Constance Davis reads to her students Wednesday. The school was awarded the 2004 Georgia School of Excellence.
Chris Thelen/Staff
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Casey Duffie, a sophomore at Evans High School, works on a lesson in her language arts class. Evans also was named a School of Excellence by the Georgia Department of Education.
Excellent work
Paula Baker was downright giddy Wednesday as she roamed the hallways of C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School with the good news.
"Whaddaya think?" the principal asked teachers as they escorted their classes past her. She got a glowing response each time.
The Augusta school, where pupils take their books to lunch and listen to Beethoven over a boom box, was named a Georgia School of Excellence in Student Achievement, one of only 26 in the state.
"I will be honest about this. I wasn't expecting it at all," Ms. Baker said. "But it underscores what we do on a daily basis."
The school enjoyed the same sort of day as Evans High School, where Debbie Daniel let out a cheer when Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price called to notify them of the same honor.
"I am thrilled, I am thrilled," said Ms. Daniel, who serves as the school improvement co-chairwoman along with Laura Hooven.
"They are just justifying what we already knew about Evans High, anyway," said Ms. Hooven, a language arts teacher.
State Superintendent Kathy Cox announced the school honors during a news conference Wednesday in Atlanta.
"These schools are working hard and getting the job done," she said.
The Georgia Schools of Excellence program was restructured this year to recognize schools that have shown significant improvement and those that are consistent top performers. It has evolved from a subjective application process to a data-driven model that uses test scores.
At Evans High School, Don Brigdon is serving his third year as principal. The 24-year-old school has been named a school of excellence two other times, but not in recent history.
"Wow! It sets us apart, puts us up there with the top 10 percent and proves we are doing what we are supposed to be doing," he said.
"Just to think, last year we were 'at risk,"' said Counselor Sharon Davies, referring to the school's placement on the federal No Child Left Behind program's needs-improvement list because of poor attendance during test-taking time. The school appealed and was recently taken off the list.
Mr. Brigdon said his school has experienced teachers dedicated to their jobs.
"Our staff is willing to do what's necessary," he said.
At C.T. Walker, the K-8 magnet school selects its pupils, accepting applications each year and judging applicants on grades and discipline records. Pupils must then sign a contract, keep a grade average of 75 or better and maintain a high level of discipline.
At least 80 percent of the teaching staff has a master's degree or higher.
Eighth-grader Kirstin Greene has attended the school since kindergarten. She said she learned material in fifth grade that her friends didn't learn until eighth grade at other schools.
"The teachers here try to get you to understand, and they do everything they can do to help you pass," Kirstin said.
On Wednesday, Ms. Baker passed out free ice cream to pupils and offered 15 extra minutes of recess.
"They get an extra recess and then back to excellence," the principal said. "We don't want to mess it up."
Reach Melissa Hall and Greg Rickabaugh at (706) 724-0851 or newsroom@augustachronicle.com.
