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  • Southeast Whitfield High School STAR student Carson Aft hugs teacher Leigh Ann Noll as he accepts his nomination at the STAR student luncheon on Monday. Aft was chosen as the STAR student for his school and for the Whitfield County school system. (Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen)

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  • Dalton High School student Jin Park listens as teacher Randal Davidson talks about her achievements. (Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen)

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February 7, 2012

Students, teachers get STAR treatment

Rachel Brown rachelbrown@daltoncitizen.com

Jin Park of Dalton High School is more than just “gifted,” said Randal Davidson, who teaches history and is Park’s STAR teacher.

“When I think about Jin, I’ve got to come up with something a little bit more than ‘gifted,’” he said. “Jin’s a gift that makes me think that after we’re gone, maybe things will keep going on, that maybe there’s a better world out there.”

Park was named the STAR student for Dalton Public Schools, which includes Christian Heritage School, as the Kiwanis Club of Dalton honored local students on Monday. The PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program honors the student from each school with the highest score on a single test date on the three-part SAT college aptitude exam and is in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.

Students who are nominated then select a “STAR teacher” who has made a difference in their lives. Students who win at the district level compete regionally and then at the state level for a scholarship.

Park said she chose Davidson because of his candid descriptions of history that kept her attention even in a first period class.

Southeast Whitfield High School nominee Carson Aft will represent Whitfield County Schools at the regional competition March 13 against other STAR students. Aft said he was awkward, shy and had a bad haircut his freshman year, but during his second semester he met teacher Leigh Ann Noll, who didn’t mind his inquisitive nature.

“As a teacher, one of the things you love is to have a kindred spirit, even though Carson and I are on opposite ends of the political spectrum ... I love to see kids challenge themselves, and Carson has done that,” Noll said.

Kiwanis members also recognized students from Christian Heritage School, the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy (formerly the Whitfield Career Academy) and Northwest Whitfield High School.

Sage Duddleston of Christian Heritage attained several academic awards, said chemistry teacher Jo-Ann Irwin, participated in school plays and musicals, played soccer and has done ministry work overseas.

“Sage Duddleston has the excellence habit,” she said. “He’s been given many gifts by God.”

Duddleston said Irwin challenges her students and wows her classes with her extensive knowledge of science.

Jacob Michael Jones of the Career Academy said STAR teacher Elizabeth Scroggs helped instill in him a love of learning through the hands-on projects she assigned her students.

“School used to just be a chore for me,” Jones said. “I’d only do the bare minimum, but Mrs. Scroggs (helped) me beyond that.”

Scroggs praised Jones for being “intelligent,” “creative” and “respectful.”

Holly Kinsey of Northwest Whitfield has many music accolades, including being named to the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. Star teacher George Barnett, who teaches music, said Kinsey is among only a handful of students he’s known in 28 years of teaching with such a strong drive.

“She enjoys learning,” he said. “Learning is fun for her.”

Kinsey said Barnett took her seriously from day one. Others, she said, often laugh at her when she tells them she wants to make a career out of her music.

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