Best in Class for July 18

Two teachers with Fulton County Schools have been named STAR Discovery Educators by Discovery Education. Joanne Martin, a teacher at Elkins Pointe Middle School and Michele Terrell, a teacher at Sandtown Middle School, were recognized for their dedication to teaching with digital media.

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Teresa Conner-Kerr was selected as the University of North Georgia's new dean for the College of Health Sciences and Professions. Conner-Kerr, who most recently was a professor at Winston-Salem State University, begins her new role Aug. 1.

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Eighth-grader Avery Merritt, of Lawrenceville, tied for ninth place at the 2014 national You Be The Chemist Challenge June 23 in Philadelphia. Merritt was one of almost 25,000 who participated in the quiz-bowl style competition focusing on chemistry concepts, theories and safety awareness.

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Wells Jones recently returned from a semester-long wilderness expedition in the Rocky Mountains. Jones, 19, of Atlanta, spent his semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School away from modern conveniences while learning about the challenges of leadership through the challenging outdoor landscape.

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Renfroe Middle School earth science teacher Kevin McMahon left July 5 for a 14-day survey of reef fish populations off the Atlantic coast as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Teacher at Sea program. He assisted scientists with their study of snapper and grouper populations. NOAA's program allows teachers to learn side-by-side with scientists and researchers and bring real-world experience to the classroom.

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Seventy-eight Georgia high school students participated in the eighth annual Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience, which teaches rising juniors and seniors about leadership, journalism and the media. The program, which took place June 22-27 on Georgia Institute of Technology’s campus, gave students the opportunity to learn about storytelling on multiple platforms and meet executives, reporters and anchors in the business.

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Five high school students completed Columbus State's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Honors Camp where they learned more about STEM fields and skills. Elton Lossner, a rising senior at North Gwinnett High School; Charisma Osuagwu, a rising sentior at Elite Scholars Academy in Morrow; Samuel Pettit, a rising junior at Lithia Springs High School; James Hayden Smith, a rising senior at Rockmart High School; and Hui Zheng, a rising senior at Henry County High School, stayed at Columbus State University's campus June 1-13.