Carroll County Teacher of the Year, Ginny Edwards, awarded the Gale Samuel’s Award
(Carrollton, Ga. – August 27, 2014) Mount Zion Elementary teacher, Ginny Edwards, has been awarded the Gale Samuels Award for her project entitled Eagle Youth Leadership Academy. This award is granted annually through the Georgia Teachers of the Year Association in memory of Gale Samuels, who coordinated the Georgia Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year program for 10 years before her death from Leukemia in 1998. Ms. Samuels was instrumental in promoting excellence in teaching. The funds for the Gale Samuels award are provided from individual and corporate donors through the Georgia Teacher of the Year Association, a 501-c-3 organization, as one of their projects. The group is composed of former Georgia Teachers of the Year and finalists who are passionate about students and teachers.
(Mount Zion Elementary) Eagle Youth Leadership Academy will take place during the 2014-2015 school year. Twenty qualifying fifth graders will receive an opportunity to participate in a yearlong academy and training session to prepare and build leadership potential, gain knowledge about the community, develop relationships, and acquire skills to become more involved and active in their future roles as productive community members and leaders. These participants will receive an intense view of civic and governmental leadership through direct contact with a wide spectrum of institutions that keep Carroll County, Georgia moving forward. The project will begin with orientation in early September. Thereafter, the academy will meet for either half-day sessions or day-long sessions each month through April. Sessions will explore topics such as History, Education, Law Enforcement, Local Government, Health Care, Social Services, Media, Communications, Community Service, State Government, Economic Development, Tourism, and Recreation of Carroll County. In the spring of 2015, Mrs. Edwards will present an overview of the project to the cohort teachers at the GTOY Association conference. Julie Lanier, Treasurer of the Georgia Teacher of the Year Association commented, “The Gale Samuels Awards are given to a select group of outstanding, district Teachers of the Year, such as Mrs. Edwards, so they might implement a “dream” project with their students. We are extremely pleased to be able to assist with the Eagle Youth Leadership Academy. It promises to be an exciting opportunity for students at Mount Zion Elementary.”
Press Release : Contact: Tracy Harris, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent
