— Three Gwinnett educators have won 2015 Atlanta Families' Awards for Excellence in Education. Jennifer Dunn, an assistant principal at Partee Elementary School, Cindy Apley-Rose, an eighth-grade math teacher at Couch Middle School, and Kara Cowdrick, a fifth-grade teacher at Chesney Elementary School are among 10 Atlanta educators honored for improving student achievement and self-esteem and collaborating with community stakeholders. All three received $7,500 that includes funds for innovative classroom projects ($3,500), professional development ($1,500) and a personal stipend ($2,500).
— Half of Fayette County's school nurses attended the 2015 Georgia Association of School Nurses statewide conference to gain a better understanding of how to plan and prepare for emergency situations, from natural disasters to the spread of infectious diseases. They were among more than 650 school nurses throughout the state who attended. Fayette's nurses there were Kelli Kalen, Starr's Mill High; Michele Crutchfield, Peachtree City Elementary; Kelly Dolak, Kedron Elementary; Michele Petty, Bennett's Mill Middle; Kelli Mullis, Inman Elementary; Denise Wade, Inman Elementary; Nancy Zaj, McIntosh High; Cindy Hill, Fayette County High; Connie Knowles, Braelinn Elementary; Lisa Powers, Peeples Elementary; Jody Dettmering, Whitewater Middle; Barbara Stephens, Huddleston Elementary, Kimberly Smith, Robert J. Burch Elementary; Traci Ennis, Whitewater High; and Laura Paulsel, J.C. Booth Middle.
— Sumana Moudgal of Wheeler High School in Marietta has been recognized by the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a recipient of the 2015 Yale Educator Award. The Yale Educator Recognition Program recognizes educators from around the world who support and inspire their students to perform at high levels. Of this year's 276 nominees, from 40 states and 15 countries, 51 teachers and 28 counselors received the award. Matriculating students are invited to nominate high school educators, and a committee of Yale admissions officers reviews each nomination individually and selects the recipients. In August, the winners were sent engraved desk sets and congratulatory letters, and administrators of the high schools were notified.
— The Roswell High School Chamber Orchestra will perform Dec. 16-19 at the prestigious Midwest Clinic, the world's largest instrumental music conference. Created to raise the standards of music education, the conference is attended by over 17,000 music professionals each year. The invitation to perform is extended to only a select group of 40 bands and orchestras. The RHS Orchestra has previously performed at the 2014 London Festival of Music, the Georgia Statewide Honors Orchestra, Spivey Hall Chamber Music Workshop, Festival Disney at Walt Disney World, the NAfME All National Honors Ensemble and the 2015 Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Orchestra director Sara Payne's honors include the 2014 Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award.
— A Chattahoochee Elementary School student has won thousands of dollars to go toward his college education. Joshua Cornett, a seven-year-old student at the Duluth school, was awarded $5,529 by Georgia's Path2College 529 Plan. Cornett is one of five statewide winners of the Path2College 529 Plan's Every Hero Has a Story Sweepstake. The Duluth Library, where Cornett often reads, was awarded $1,529. This is the sixth year the Path2College 529 Plan and the Georgia Public Library Service have partnered on the statewide initiative designed to encourage kids to read throughout the summer and remind their parents and grandparents about the importance of saving for college. "Winning was a totally unexpected blessing for our family," said Bryan Cornett, Joshua's father. "With two children just beginning their school years, this will help us tremendously in reaching our goal to be able to pay for their college without the need of a student loan."
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