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The ADVANCE, May 17, 2023/Page 3A
Tucker Dixon Welcomed as New Wheeler BOE Member
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KaleilarAshleyjBadie
Great Niece of
Martha G Phil Harris
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Congratula
tions Miss
K, We are
so proud of
you! Love you
babygirl!
who said she would like to
see enrollment doubled in
Alamo, asked the Board to
consider allocating space at
the old elementary school
in Alamo. The school
building was vacated when
the elementary classes
were merged into the new
Wheeler County School.
Fryer told the Board
that the Camp is held week
days from 8 a.m. until 5
p.m. for children aged 5 to
13. The Camp has five full
time staffers.
Superintendent Su
zanne Couey noted that
the old elementary school
gym, which has not only
an abundance of space, but
adjoining classrooms and
restroom facilities, might
be an ideal location for the
Camp. The Board approved
the request.
New Math Curriculum
Ericka Clark, Assistant
Superintendent and Direc
tor of Curriculum, Tech
nology, and Federal Pro
grams, advised the Board
of new, state-mandated
math standards that will de
but in 2024, and which will
require a change from the
system’s current READY
and I-READY curriculum.
Clark said the system has
no choice but to upgrade
because of state require
ments, but the requirement
will afford new opportu
nities. She said a program
of instruction called
“Into Math” that is “100%
aligned with the Georgia
standards,” will replace the
current curriculum that
has been in use for several
years.
Clark said the new
math curriculum encour
ages multiple methods for
problem solving and pro
vides a straight path from
kindergarten to 12th grade
for math instruction. The
program includes a text
book for high school stu
dents, which the previous
curriculum did not, as well
as an online component.
Clark said the new curricu
lum offers an easier transi
tion for teachers and noted
that she has received en
thusiastic comments from
teachers who previewed
the new program.
The Board was not
obligated to approve the
new curriculum since the
information was provid
ed as an advisement, but
unanimously endorsed the
change.
Teacher Pay Raises
Superintendent Couey
advised the Board that
action was needed in re
sponse to recent legislation
that provides pay raises for
local teachers for the 2024
school term. The $2,000
salary increases are part
of the $32.4 billion FY 24
state budget that allocates
pay raises for educators, law
enforcement, university
system employees, and oth
er state workers. The Board
approved an increase of
$2,000 for all certified staff
and a 5.1% increase for all
other employees.
Personnel Matters
Following an executive
session, the Board unani
mously voted to renew the
contract of Superintendent
Couey, citing her exem
plary performance. She has
served as Superintendent
since 2017.
Also, the Board voted
to hire the following new
personnel:
William Blake Jones as
high school history teacher;
Samantha Stanley-Bateson
as middle school English/
language arts teacher; Sha
ron Hamilton, Hunter
Home, Jazmine Peeples,
Kimberley Pope, and Juan
ita Williams as substitute
food service and custodial
staff. The Board also ac
cepted the resignation of
Chris Carr, head baseball
coach and high school
math teacher. Coach Den
nis Logue will assume the
position of head baseball
coach.
By Deborah Clark
Regional Editor
dclarkadvance@gmail. com
In its regular monthly
meeting on May 8, the
Wheeler County Board of
Education welcomed a new
board member, received a
request for space to accom
modate a summer program
for children, heard a plan
for a new math curriculum,
and approved the teach
er pay scale for the 2024
school year.
Wheeler County na
tive Tucker Dixon attended
his first meeting as a new
Board member on May 8.
He was appointed by the
Board to fill the post of the
late Wayne Bridges, whose
term expires on December
31,2024.
Dixon, who has three
children enrolled in the
Wheeler County School
system, was selected by the
Board from several local
residents who applied for
the position. “It’s all about
the kids. I thought it was
the right thing to do,” Dix
on said of his desire to serve
on the Board. A 1996 grad
uate of Wheeler County
High School, Dixon is em
ployed by Beasley Timber
Company. He is the son of
Gene and Martha Dixon of
Glenwood. Dixon’s father
also works in the timber in
dustry and his mother is a
retired teacher.
Dixon and his wife,
Meredith, have three chil
dren: Carter, who attends
Pre-kindergarten classes;
Ava Kate, a 7th grader; and
Drew, an 11th grade stu
dent.
Camp Grow Request
Santina Fryer, co
founder and executive di
rector of Gents and Glam
Community, Family, and
Youth Services, Inc., told
Board members about her
program which focuses on
youth in rural areas with a
purpose of providing op
Photo by Deborah Clark
REQUEST FOR SPACE — Board of Education members LW. Kent, left, and Catherine Wil
son listen as Santina Fryer, co-founder and executive director of the Gents and Glam
Community, Family, and Youth Services, Inc., requested that the Board consider pro
viding space for Camp Grow, a summer program for children aged 5 to 13.
Aunt Marti G
Uncle Phil
portunities for success.
Fryer, a resident of Baxley,
said the grant-funded pro
gram, which was started in
2013, offers youth training
in life skills, mentoring,
career exploration, postsec
ondary opportunities for
success, educational travel
experiences and college
tours. Among programs
sponsored by the endeavor
are: “Take Flight” (pilot
instruction and certifica
tion); “Deep Dive” (scuba
training and certification);
and educational travel to
sites including Paris, Lon
don, and New York City.
This year, a trip to Costa
Rica is planned.
Camp Grow, an out
growth of the program, is
conducted in Appling, Ba
con and Jeff Davis counties,
as well as in the towns of
Alamo and Lumber City.
The summer program,
which is funded by a Build
ing Out of School Time
Grant from the Georgia
Photo by Deborah Clark
WELCOME — Wheeler County Board of Education Chair
Michael Morrison welcomes new Board member Tuck
er Dixon, who assumed the unexpired term of the late
Wayne Bridges. Dixon attended his first meeting as a
Board member at the May
After School Network and
the Georgia Board of Edu
cation, served 120 children
in South Georgia last year.
The camp’s purpose is pro
viding an environment
conducive to learning and
support, and field trips have
regular Board session,
taken program participants
to places like the Okefeno-
kee Swamp Park and the
Georgia Sea Turtle Center
on Jekyll Island, Fryer said.
Last summer the Camp
served about 30 children
per day in Alamo. Fryer,
We’re proud of you, graduates.
Congratulations and best wishes!
AUTO CARE
AND DETAILING
(912) 537-1739
804 W 1 ST ST
VI DALI A, GEORGIA 30474
Photo by Alysa Marsicano
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - Citizens from Toombs County and surrounding areas gathered at the Toombs County
Courthouse early Thursday morning, May 4, to honor the National Day of Prayer, Several local leaders led worship
and prayer, and participants joined together in the reading and teaching of Biblical scripture.
Through it all,
you pushed
yourself
to achieve
greatness,
and you did!
Know that I
will always be
proud of you!
Psalm 9:1-2
Love you!
Mom