Opportunities
for "special attention" and "challenging education"
abound in Coweta and Fayette counties through both
the public schools and auxiliary services,
Special
Education
Both
school systems offer programs for children ages 3
to 21 with such disabilities as autism, emotional
and behavioral disorder, hearing impairment, intellectual
disability, orthopedic or other health impairment,
significant developmental delay, specific learning
disability, speech-language impairment, traumatic
brain injury and visual impairment.
Depending
on the need, students receive their academic training
in various ways. In some instances, special education
teachers consult with the students' regular classroom
teachers.
In
other instances, students attend a special education
resource room a few hours a day for individualized
instruction in their specific deficit area. In a modified
self-contained situation, students spend more than
half the day in the special education setting and
some portion of the day in regular education, usually
in nonacademic classes.
Some
students receive their entire academic instruction
in a separate classroom or even facility such as the
Burwell Psychoeducational Center in Newnan. For students
medically unable to attend school, a special education
teacher provides instruction at the hospital or home.
Students
with vocational rather than academic abilities are
serviced through vocational classes or a vocational
site in the community, such as the Central Education
Center in Coweta County. English Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) programs help students whose native
language is not English.
Coweta
Special Schools and Services
One
of the newest auxiliary programs in Coweta is the
Performance Learning Center (PLC) geared toward students
not succeeding in the traditional school setting.
Such students are typically low academic achievers,
chronically late or absent from school and at high
risk of dropping out.
Though
housed at the Winston Dowell Academy (alternative
school), learning takes place online allowing students
to be self-paced. PLC's business-like environment,
internships and service learning projects prepare
students to succeed in college and the workplace.
Outside
the school setting, the Coweta Organization of Riding,
Rehabilitation and Learning (CORRAL) provides free
therapeutic horseback riding facilities and instruction
for the mentally and physically handicapped. Participants
enjoy feelings of freedom and independence as well
as improvement in posture, balance, coordination,
joint mobility and muscle strength as they learn to
guide the horse around the track.
The
Newnan-Coweta Association for Retarded Citizens (NCARC/
Rutledge) provides services to develop self-sufficiency
for developmentally delayed adults. The program helps
clients with mild to severe disabilities learn such
life skills as cooking, shopping, paying bills and
dining out. The organization works with local businesses
to employ clients several hours a week.
Fayette
Special Schools and Services
Children
at Risk in Education, or CARE, is an assistance program
incorporated in Fayette County Schools for students
having difficulties with relationships, stress, grades,
substance abuse and finances. Each school in the county
has a team of concerned administrators, teachers and
counselors. In addition to receiving special training,
the members commit their time, energy and experience
to students by offering appropriate in-school or out-of-school
services.
The
Bedford School
The
Bedford School offers a unique private school setting
for children in grades 1-9 with specific learning
disabilities.
"Our
students usually have average to above average intellectual
abilities," states Bedford founder and director Betsy
Box. However, because of such deficits as auditory
processing problems, reading disabilities or short
attention spans, they do not fit into the regular
classroom learning style. The school of about 120
provides academic remediation and help with physical
skills, peer interaction and self-esteem.
Associated
with the Bedford School, Squirrel Hollow Camp offers
a residential program for five weeks each summer.
The camp works with learning disabled students aged
7-16. Tutoring is offered in Language Arts, Math,
Auditory Discrimination/ Grammar, Social Values, Work
Processing and Physical Education.
The
Joseph Sams School
For
children ages 2 to 15 with mild to severe intellectual,
physical and/or developmental disabilities, the non-profit
Joseph Sams School offers private, specialized education.
The Fayetteville school provides intense educational
training as well as speech and language therapy for
its students. The school staff works closely with
private therapists and physicians to provide comprehensive
programs for students.
Gifted
Education
According
to state guidelines, a gifted student is one who "demonstrates
a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability(ies),
exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation
and/or excels in specific academic field(s) and needs
special instruction and/or ancillary services to achieve
at levels commensurate with his or her abilities."
Teachers,
parents or guardians, counselors or students may refer
someone for the gifted program. Students with test
scores at or above the state's eligibility criteria
are noted for possible consideration. Eligible students
must maintain at least an overall C average each semester
to continue to receive services.
Gifted
Education programs are available to qualifying students
in grades K-12. In elementary schools, students are
scheduled into gifted resource classes for the equivalent
of one full day per week.
In
middle and high school, services are delivered in
advanced content classes in each academic area. The
goal is to ensure that classes for gifted learners
require rigorous academic participation, move at a
fast pace and provide complexity of challenge that
gifted learners require. In some cases, qualified
high school students are allowed to attend public
colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools
while enrolled in high school.
Coweta's
gifted program is known as REACH, Relishing Education
and Conquering Heights. The program serves about 1400
students (8.1% of the student population) K-12th grade.
Approximately
3500 students (17%) in grades K-12 are enrolled in
Fayette's gifted program.
Since
students have different needs, schools systems must
provide additional support for some students, states
Coweta School Superintendent Peggy Connell.
"Of
course, we believe that we can continuously improve
and are constantly looking at data to find methods
to improve all programs," she continues. "We have
a new initiative to help teachers learn new strategies
on meeting the needs of the special education student
and the gifted student in the regular classroom."
Whatever
the needs, educators in Fayette and Coweta counties
are ready to rise to meet the challenge.
Private
Schools
There
is a wide variety of high-caliber private schools
throughout Coweta and Fayette counties.
Counterpane
Montessori
There
are many Montessori educational environments thriving
in Fayette County. Among these environments is Counterpane
School, one of the few Montessori schools in the US
to extend communities of learning from pre-school
through high school.
Celebrating
its 30th year, Counterpane is experiential by design
- with projects, art, music and French present throughout
each level. To date, 100% of Counterpane's graduates
have attended four-year colleges. As director Brenda
Erickson says, "Reaching every child's gift is our
driving force."
The
Heritage School
Another
alternative for students is an independent school.
The Heritage School in Newnan is an independent college
preparatory school that serves a student population
ranging from three-year-old pre-kindergarten through
high school. The mission of The Heritage School -
mens, corpus, spiritus, sodalitas - is to develop
a
student's mind in preparation for
college and later life, to develop the body through
competition and teamwork, to develop the spirit through
self-awareness and growth, and to develop camaraderie
through shared experience. Currently, the schoolwide
focus is developing strong study and organizational
skills, as well as providing writing instruction at
all levels.
The Early Learning Center recognizes the need for
young children to have an opportunity for exploration
both through academics and through play at developmentally
appropriate levels. The Lower School offers an integrated,
theme-based curriculum with a variety of hands-on
experiences to promote learning. Middle School seeks
to address the social and emotional needs of adolescents
through character development forums and speakers,
as well as focusing on helping students develop organizational
skills and good study skills.
The Heritage School teaches a college preparatory
curriculum with the possibility of thirteen Advanced
Placement courses in the Upper School, which are taught
on an as-needed basis. Heritage offers small classes
and creative scheduling using the A/B block scheduling
model in grades 7 - 12, in order to provide enhanced
learning opportunities for all students. A college
counselor and an extensive college counseling
program are offered to Heritage students and their
parents.
Other private schools and academies in the area include
Arlington Christian School, Carolyn Barron Montessori,
Coweta Christian School, Crossroads Christian, Fayette
Christian, Fayette Montessori, Grace Christian, Heritage
Christian, Landmark Christian School, Newnan Christian,
Newnan Classical, Our Lady of Mercy High School, Our
Lady of Victory Elementary, PACE Christian, Peachtree
Baptist Academy, Peachtree City Seventh Day Adventist,
Pentecostal Church of God Christian, Proverbs Christian
Academy, St. Paul Lutheran School, Trinity Christian
and Woodward Academy. 
Teaching
Students, Not Subjects
By
Michelle Jarrell
"Some
people teach a subject. I want to teach students,"
explains Walt Ellison, cooperative special education
teacher at Starrs Mill High School. After 9 years
in the regular classroom, Ellison currently teaches
three cooperative classes (one math and two world
history) as well as two resource study skills classes.
"I
really believe people are called to do different things.
My talents and gifts are in this area. This is the
only thing I could do and be happy doing it" he states.
Ellison
recently received a grant to implement PANTHERS are
Successful!, a program he designed for his study skills
classes.
"The
ultimate goal is for students to get to the point
that they don't need me," he believes. He wants students
to realize when they don't understand something and
learn how to seek out the answers.
Ellison
holds an Associates degree from Young Harris College,
a B.S. in Education with Secondary Math emphasis from
UGA and is finishing a Masters degree in Special Education
Interrelated which will qualify him to teach a wide
variety of special education students.
PANTHERS
ARE
SUCCESSFUL!
P
- Prepare a proper place to study.
A
- Agenda! Write all assignments in
your agenda.
N -
Number your priorities (1=most important; 2=next;
3=least).
T -
Talk to your teacher if you do not understand
an assignment.
H -
Have you got all the materials necessary to
complete the assignment?
E -
Execute the plan.
R -
Review. Did you finish all parts of the assignment?
S - Set
a goal and reward yourself when you attain your goal.
Start
with "S" to set a goal. Go to "P" and work down the
acronym, ending at "S" for the reward.
Day in the life of a Gifted
Student
Courtney Parker of Northgate
High School as told to Michelle Jarrell Jarrell
5:30am
- Get up, get ready, and start my day.
7:35am
- Arrive at North-gate High School and make my way
to either a club meeting or the cafeteria where students
wait before school.
8:30am
- Gifted Literature. I've been in gifted classes with
the same people since sixth grade.
10:15am
- Euclidean Geometry. I enjoy math and the
challenges that come with this class.
11:50am
- Gifted World History. I appreciate the history of
any culture and learning about their mistakes and
advances. Only through the past can we learn how to
be in the future.
2:00pm
- Spanish II. This class adds a little interest to
my day.
After
school - I ride the bus home, rest, start my homework,
eat dinner with my family, do my chores and finish
my homework at nine or ten o'clock. I read before
going to sleep and start the cycle the next morning.
In addition to serving as Secretary of the Sophomore
Class Student Government Association, I am active
in Prayer Warriors, Jars of Clay Bible study and worship,
church activities and my parents' screen printing
business.
RIDING
for SUCCESS
By
Michelle Jarrell
"Horses
bring out a different side of special children," states
Janet Cortner, an instructor with the Coweta Organization
for Riding Rehabilitation And Learning (CORRAL).
"I've
seen children who were acting up calm down when they
are with the horses. Children who are reclusive or
non-verbal open up, start talking and even sing while
they are on a horse."
Cortner
always loved horses and knew she wanted a career working
with them. She's also always had a heart for the "underdog."
"Special
people are incredibly appreciative of what they have
in life," she continues. "I'm just so happy I can
give them something good in their day."
CORRAL
riders build valuable relationships with the horses.
Cortner feels these relationships and the opportunity
to direct the horses gives the special riders a unique
feeling of accomplishment.
"There
is so little in their lives they can control," she
states. Horseback riding is one area in which they
can take charge.
Originally
from New York, Cortner moved to Georgia 12 years ago.
She began as a CORRAL volunteer and became an instructor
in 2000,
certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA). She has two dogs, two horses,
two cats, a husband and a step-daughter.
Kathy
Cox: A Crusader...
Working
to improve education in Georgia
Georgia
State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox knows that
the way to bring up the quality of life in the US
is to start with improving the education of our children.
"Since
Thomas Jefferson founded the nation's first public
university, our excellence has always been connected
to the success of our educational system," she says.
"I firmly believe that public education is the cornerstone
of American society."
Kathy,
a resident of Fayette County, became State School
Superintendent in 2002 as the next step in her continued
service to Georgia's children. For the past 15 years,
she had worked with the Fayette County Board of Education
as a Social Studies teacher, most recently at Mclntosh
High School, a 2001 Georgia School of Excellence.
As
State School Superintendent, Kathy serves as the Executive
Director for the Georgia Department of Education.
In that capacity, she is the state's top elected
official over Georgia's K-12 public schools and the
Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Education.
"As
Superintendent of Schools, I work with the Department
of Education, the Board of Education, the Governor,
the Legislature, and Georgia's teachers, administrators,
parents and students to significantly improve our
state's educational system," Kathy says.
The
Department of Education's vision is to lead the nation
in improving student achievement. Kathy is leading
the way with her mission of restructuring the Department
into a service-oriented and policy-driven agency.
"We're
here to meets the needs of local school systems as
they prepare students for college or a career in a
safe and drug-free environment where no child is left
behind," she says.
Kathy
Cox visited the Peachtree City Rotary Club last November
to outline her new objectives for improving the State
of Georgia Educational System
CEC's
concept Catches on
By
Russ Moore
For
the last three years, Central Educatioal Center has
been the anchor for Coweta County's continuing education
efforts.
A
charter school, and the first school in Georgia to
offer students the chance to earn simultaneous credits
in high school and technical college, CEC is now the
national model for workforce development.
CEC
has entertained visitors from every state in the continental
US and 13 foreign countries. It is being
promoted by President Bush's Department of Education
as an example of what communities can and should do
for themselves, providing lifelong learning to county
residents.
In
addition to the dual enrollment offered between all
the
county's high schools and West Central Technical College,
citizens also benefit from CEC's night high school,
GED courses and custom training for local businesses.
In
a new wrinkle, CEC is working on an even more innovative
partnership, looking to extend its campus to River
Wood Studios, a working movie studio on 120 acres
near Senoia.
As
River Wood's President Scott Tigchelaar says, "CEC
at River Wood is the perfect model for expanding a
school without building new buildings. Bring the school
to the factory. In our case, 80% or more of the work
of making movies involves the same basic trades taught
at CEC: construction, welding, design, cosmetology
and others."
CEC's
Board Chairman Mark Whitlock adds, "This industry
is perhaps the best real-world example of two very
important lessons we teach our students - problem
solving and team work."
The
CEC model of breaking down traditional walls and combining
government turfs has caught on. Several other counties
in Georgia and nearby states are developing similar
charter schools.
"We
are flattered by the attention," says Whitlock. "You
know, we started out trying to educate our county,
and we may just help educate our country!"
