Single Statewide Accountability Award Winners
Five Schools Congratulated on High Achievement

State Superintendent Kathy Cox and the Governor's Office of Student Achievement Executive Director, Dr. Martha Reichrath visited five award winning schools on October 25 to congratulate teachers and administrators on academic success and students for their academic achievement. The award winning schools include Bleckley County Elementary in East Cochran, Evansdale Elementary School in Doraville, Richard Hull Middle School in Duluth, Simpson Middle School in Marietta and North Hall High School in Gainesville.

Georgia Winners for the 2006 Milken Family Foundation
National Educator of the Year Award Chosen

Two teachers from Georgia have been chosen as the 2006 recipients of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator of the Year Award. Kristen L. Drake, a third-grade teacher from Vanderlyn Elementary in Dunwoody and Kristie C. Smart, a second-grade teacher at Gainesville's Centennial Arts Academy. Both teachers will attend a national conference for winners and receive a check for $25,000. The Educator of the Year Award was created by the Milken Foundation to recognize and give gratitude to outstanding teachers. Two educators from each state are chosen each year. More information on the National Educator of the Year Award and the Milken Foundation.

See Achieving Excellence November 2005 – Tracking and Rewarding Excellence

Rockdale Teacher Named the Georgia Art Education Association's
2007 Elementary Art Educator of the Year

Former "Achieving Excellence" guest, Jeanette Anthos from J.H. Elementary in Rockdale County, has been awarded the 2007 Elementary Art Educator of the Year by the Georgia Art Education Association.

The state competition recognizes one person in each of the six divisions: elementary middle, secondary, higher education, museum and administration and will be awarded at the GAEA fall conference in November.

See Achieving Excellence March 2006 – Visual Arts

Blue Ribbon Schools Announced
Six Georgia schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

Alexander II Magnet School, Bibb County
Dawson County High School, Dawson County
Kedron Elementary School, Fayette County
Main Elementary School, Rome City
Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School, Dougherty County
Savannah Arts Academy, Savannah/Chatham County

The No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes those schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. More information on the Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Governor's Cup Honors Five Georgia High Schools
With Largest Gains in SAT Scores

Governor Sonny Perdue and Superintendent Kathy Cox announced the five Georgia high schools receiving Governors Cup trophies highlighting their marked improvement in SAT scores.

City of Social Circle High School, Walton County
Berrien High School, Berrien County
Druid Hills High School, DeKalb County
Ridgeland High School, Walker County
Peachtree Ridge High School, Gwinnett County

More information about the Governor's Cup and Georgia's challenge to raise SAT scores.