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Wishing Josey the student body, their new principal and administrators much success. I hate to say it but after Mr. Barnes left, Josey has never been the same, he didn't play. Lord knows we need a new principal at Laney.
Ronald Wiggins is quick to point out that teamwork is vital to turning around Josey High School.
Before school began this year, Josey's new principal, his father, his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers and the school's faculty and staff began changing the facility's physical appearance to set the tone for the changes to take place within its classrooms.
The group painted doors and cut grass, some of it so tall that it was growing through windows.
Fraternity President Daniel Sapp participated in the cleanup and said it was great to see the school and the community grow.
Josey is also reaching out to the community for greater teamwork, Dr. Wiggins said, building partnerships with businesses such as Waffle House.
Dr. Wiggins was transferred from Sego Middle School, where he served as principal for six years, to Josey, which has been on the No Child Left Behind "needs improvement" list longer than any other Richmond County high school.
"I think it is a challenge as a leader, but more importantly, the people in this community deserve a quality education," Dr. Wiggins said.
"I need to be a drum major for my students' success," he said.
Adding to the challenge, Josey serves as a "hub" for nearly 180 Richmond County special education students. Graduation rates determine whether a high school makes adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind. Special education diplomas, however, count against a school's graduation rate. The state's graduation formula counts only general education diplomas.
The atmosphere at the school is like night and day compared with last year, Superintendent Dana Bedden has said on more than one occasion.
Assistant Principal Barbara DeGatis agrees.
"It is 100 percent better than last year," she said.
The school's administration is much more visible, Ms. DeGatis said. Administrators step into the hallways and work alongside teachers during each class change to deter disruptions.
Any issues that arise are handled promptly, she said.
The principal's conference room, where athletics gear was being stored to prevent theft, is now used for administrative meetings. Posters with handwritten academic data and instructional strategies now line its walls.
Josey is also implementing America's Choice, a nationally recognized reform model, in its ninth grade. The program includes professional development and "double doses" of classes such as math and language arts for students in need.
"We're using this to hopefully springboard our ninth-graders to increase our graduation rate," Dr. Wiggins said. "That's the year they decide if they're going to drop out or not."
Josey is also squeezing in 20 more minutes of instruction each day by reducing the number of lunch periods from three to two.
"We're stressing to all of our classes, nine through 12, that Josey is here to get you a diploma and move you into a relevant postsecondary option," Dr. Wiggins said.
When Omega Psi Phi members from Augusta State University began tutoring at Josey, the first question the high school students asked was how they could join the fraternity, he said.
The answer starts with going to college.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Wishing Josey the student body, their new principal and administrators much success. I hate to say it but after Mr. Barnes left, Josey has never been the same, he didn't play. Lord knows we need a new principal at Laney.
People associated with Josey HIGH get a clue. Entitlement programs WELFARE and SECTION 8 which breeds SINGLE WELFARE MOTHERS who churn out babies is at the root of our ills. ...Go after the cause...Give them back their dignity. VOTE McCain..Palin
When McCain gets in office put half of them in prison and the other half can work as domestics...END WELFARE
I am overjoyed to here good news from Josey. Dr. Wiggins I hear you are missed at Sego.
Dr. Wiggins is a great principal and will do a good job. sargentmidtown words don't even describe you. Obama 08...........
Sargent, get a clue and give some credit to Dr. Wiggins. He is a great guy and cares about the students, which may or may not be the case at home. Wiggins is part of the solution. Your high horse is not. McCain certainly isn't the answer, as all Republicans care about are the filthy rich. And by the way you talk, you aren't one of them.
SargentMidTown, everyone student that attends Josey does not come from Welfare, Section 8 or is bread by single welfare mothers. You need to check you demographic and see where some of the students attending Josey live. You really need to get a life! You have a right to your opinion, but you need to do your home work.
noway the envy and jealousy is all but oozing from every part of your being....Wow...What we are not working fast enough and hard enough in order to pay more to the government to support more welfare for life recipients? I will try and pass the word along to strive harder in order to alleviate some of your wants...
Try and put that envy to use...Turn it around and take care of your own and help out the neighbors...We all are not the same and never will but we have to learn to be content in all circumstances...
Sarge.... did they put you out of the military because you are two "sweet". SHUT the F up before I send one of the gangs from the school after your fruity a#$.
I have a question, and believe it or not I'm actually being objective here: if it's true that all the Republicans care about is taking care of the filthy rich, then why do Democrats who are running for office solicit and accept donations from the filthy rich? Just a question.
I would just like to say good luck to all the students at TW Josey High School. Let's not forget that these students are partly great due to the fine leadership of Mr. Quentin Motley. Last year the students at TW Josey increased their high school graduation test scores in 3 out of the 5 areas. The only 2 areas that did not have an increase were the same two areas that almost all schools went down in across the state of Georgia. The Math, Science, and Social Studies scores increased with Science scores increasing from 50 to 72%. Check the stats... Congratulations to Mr. Motley and the hardworking students and staff of TW Josey. Please do not belittle the students at this school. They can compete academically with students from other schools across the state. TW Josey HS was only a very small token away from making AYP so give credit where credit is due. GO EAGLES!
Here here ewingke press on Eagles... press On....
There will always be Jerks that cannot stand to see positive posts about certain schools. They love to rain on other people parade, because their own life is so pathetic.
I applaud these efforts and am happy to see something positive related to the Richmond County Educational system.
However, as a taxpayer (and we pay a lot of it in this county) I am extremely unhappy that the principal, some of his personal associates and some of the teachers have to cut grass at a Richmond County Board of Education facility!
What is this board of education doing with our tax money?
The same people post the same junk on here day after day. How much more un-Christian can you be christian134? You must have missed it when this story said that the principal, staff, and volunteers worked over the summer to clean up the school. You must have missed some of the positive things that Dr. Wiggins said about being a drum major for students' success. The things that he is doing at Josey should be applauded, but you can't do that can you? You would rather focus your attention on being negative. Dr. Wiggins is doing something to help the community, but all you and Sarge ever seem to want to do is belittle someone else's efforts. I don't agree with the entitlement mentality either, but not everyone has it. You all categorize and stereotype so much that you can't even say that Dr. Wiggins is doing a good job. You can't say that you hope to see good things come from Josey's students. YOU ARE WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA!!!!
Please don't forget to give credit where credit is due. The students, staff, and faculty as well as Mr. Motley have done great things to bring the academic and discipline record to new heights at TW Josey. If not for all the hard work that Josey family members have done in the past five years they wouldn't be at such a high level to start with. I applaud the efforts of Dr. Wiggins but the students at TW Josey HS have accomplished so much already including honors in academics and sports. Congratulations Josey...keep up the good work! Thank you Mr. Motley for making the difference and I hope that Dr. Wiggins can continue the change that you began.
Wow I really had no idea how powerful you really think I am kingjames...But alas I am me....As for as my opinion goes I stand by it and if you have a problem then in all Christian goodness I say read something else...I was speaking to noway to begin with so believe me when I say tell it to someone who is listening to you because it is not I...
Congrates Dr. Wiggins, and keep up the GREAT WORK. Because I really miss you and the faculty/staff members that left Sego. The new principal and new falculty/ staff DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION SKILLS!! Thank you for the few great faculty/ staff members you left behind (for one your Omega Psi Phi fraternity brother) because with out them the parents like myself that are very involved in our childrens education would not get any help. Oh yeah you should have taken Ms. Rattlef with you because she was always lacking communication skill. Now every body in the front office that help parents when they come in are very rude!!!! Maybe Superintendent Dana Bedden should check out Sego, and make some more changes in that office. Because if it was not for the two principals, faculty/staff members that stayed at Sego it would really be terrible. I thank God for them!!!
Dr. Wiggins was my 8th grade Lang. Arts teacher. He's come a long way. Josey will be changed for the better.
yes josey has made gains, but they are now "STATE DIRECTED" i guess that doesn't mean much, because they have a successful football team, its about time the people wake up and realize that as bleack people we are in a crisis situation, where over 50% of all black high school students do not graduate, and over half of those who do are basically functional illiterates. but here in richmond county football is king and nothing else matters, so when all else fails the answer is throw more money at the problem, whereas in a crisis situation all schools should be environments conducive to learning be removing all trouble makers, disruptors or any students who don't want to learn in order to provide a quality education which will go a long way in reversing the current trends and the need to look for society to bail us out. not to sound cynical i know this will not happen, because we have been brainwashed to believe that without sports/music we are unable to do anything else. hence why the first things thses schools do is have an athelete or muscian speak at a school giving our childrent that everyone can be a star, when it is harder to become a sports star than a neurosurgeon.
wow jismjr...you had better watch yourself! You are speaking thruths and the ones your talking to do not want to hear you in fact they will call you names and accuse you of acting "white" but please keep it up maybe somewhere out there, there are more like you who care about what is important and the further decline of your race.
Christian134, I do think you're powerful. I think you possess a power that can't be taken away from you. You possess a power that can't be changed. You possess a power that causes others to read your posts in awe. You are absolutely, unequivocally, unashamedly, undeniably, unavoidably, unmistakeably, irrevocably, inconceivably, unapologetically, powerfully IGNORANT. Yes, the only power you truly have is the power of ignorance over yourself. Someone once said, "Stupid is forever...Ignorance can be fixed." Seek help!
Haters killedJesus and put him at the right hand of the Father who is now in Heaven interceding for ALL of us. I have always learned to let my haters re my MOTIVATORS. We are what we think and speak. It is better to appear ignorant than to open your mouth and remove ALL doubt. Think or speak evil of no man. We who are in Christ must continue to let our LIGHT SHINE so that the children of darkness (I can tell there are plenty by the reading of these comments) CAN SEE OUR LIGHT. Excellent job of teamwork and Congratulations Dr. Wiggins and the Josey High School faculty and staff. God has sent signs and wonders before you and even HANNA as I speak and you still are complaining, backbiting, and tearing your brother and sister down? The FIRST commandment is LOVE and if you don't exemplify that fruit of the spirit, then you have automatically missed God. We should NEVER use the Lord's name in VAIN. Read Deuteronomy 32:39. God is in charge of everything, even the devil. We can read some of these postings and see which ones have yeilded themselves to evil works. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the ends thereof are the ways of death and destruction. Read Romans 10:9,10 NOW!
Wow! Being an educator, I am always excited to hear of positive things happening within school systems. Hats off to Dr. Wiggins and the faculty/staff and students at JHS. Sargent, since you are so concerned about welfare and Section 8--I would love to hear your thoughts on Palin's 17 year-old daughter who is about to become a SINGLE MOTHER---I hope she never needs welfare. And I have one more question for you---which trailer park do you live in?? :-)
Obama/Biden '08
To "NON christian 134"--you are repulsive!! You're the typical racist. You make comments to upset people, and when they react--you twist it to somehow try and make it their fault. You must live next door to Sargent.
I would like to say, I am a staff member of T.W. Josey HS..And I would like to let you know that Dr. Wiggins has made a HUGE CHANGE at T.W. Josey HS, and it is for the best. And for blessedlikedat...You are right about the new principal at Sego Middle needs some help in the communication department. And I do Thank Dr. Wiggins for leaving Two Great Assistant Principals, without them I believe that Sego would go back down the dumps...The New Principal needs to get involved with the school, her staff, parents and most of all THE STUDENTS (the ones that mean the most to us..
Good for Josey. I hope the school can become an example of great achievements for all Richmond County schools to attain. Be positive and pay no attention to the nay-sayers. Keep up the good work and don't quit!
Congratulation Dr. Wggins for your vision for Josey High.
Keep up the good work to comtinue to motivate the parents, student and staff that Josey can be number 1 in academics and athletics.
Congrats on attacking the trouble at Josey! Nevermind the naysayers here, they've nothing better to do than sit in judgement of all they survey outside their trailer park. Good luck to all involved, and bravo on bringing in the Omegas as well.
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