Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 10A
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - Sunday, May 31,1998
BENSON from 1A
I
Bom in Statham, Barrow County, Benson
married George T. Benson, a Forsyth County
native. She had already been teaching in Hall
County for a few years before acquiring a posi
tion at Cumming Elementary School, then
hobsed in the current school board office. She
taught math and history at the elementary
school until 1960, when she transferred to
Forsyth County High School, where she
became the social studies department head.
Then in 1966, Benson took a job as the cur
riculum director, where she remained until
1981, when her title changed to assistant super
intendent.
“She’s just been an incredible contributor in
the school system,” said Rhenida Rennie, direc
___ tor of high schools and
.s''" Benson's former
/ student.
/ \ " 111 ■
/ \ assistant
/ Kt \ supcrinten-
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/ jfl II Gault and
■ I director of
’ fratroL ’ ' ':W I elementary
JF- ’i schools
/ Linda Lang
\ ■i’*’'*J / wcre a ||
\ jM / mernher so|
F / the Future
V' / Teachers of
\ America al
Iggjr FCHS, an organi
zation Benson start-
Photo/submitted
Top left, Benson in 1961, then a history and math teacher at Cumming Elementary School. Above, Benson was the
founder and sponsor of the Future Teachers of America at Forsyth County High School in 1964, which at the time included
Paula Heard Gault, assistant superintendent; Linda Hood Lang, director of elementary schools; and Rhenida Bennett
Rennie, director of high schools. Rennie is shown top row, third from far right. Lang is on the far left of the second row.
And Gault is the seventh student from the left in the third row. Above right, Benson with three of her four children at St.
simon’s Island. From left, Steve, current principal at Coal Mountain Elementary School; Ben, current school board chair
man and former physics teacher at Forsyth Central High
School; and Gail, also a teacher. Benson sometimes too
her family with her to out-of-town school board conferences,
i
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Rennie said Benson had great influence on
many of her students.
“She was really an inspiring person,” said
Rennie. “She’s been a teacher, supervisor, men
tor and friend to many of us.”
During her career, Benson belonged to
countless civic organizations and earned several
college degrees, including a master’s in educa
tion and a six-year education specialist degree
from the University of Georgia.
66
She's never been
afraid to stick her
neck out to get
things done.
99
“My favorite part of my career was teaching
the children and watching them grow,” said
Benson. However, she said, she felt she could
do more for school children from the Central
Office, so she was willing to sacrifice the joy of
teaching if she could help implement programs
like kindergarten, special education and an
alternate school, all things that were nonexistent
when she first took office in the administration.
At that time, in fact, eighth graders tested three
years behind average students for that age
group, said Benson. Now, she points out, our
students are a few grades ahead of average.
“We were lucky, because the parents and
Board of Education were very supportive of
our school system,” Benson said. “They
allowed us the freedom to decide what needed
to be done.” Benson said one thing she is most
proud of is her work toward getting counselors
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EDUCATION
for the elementary schools.
“If you get help for the younger children,”
she said, “the support helps them have a better
elementary school experience.”
“I have worked for many years in this
school system with her,” said Ann Sefzik, prin
cipal at Chestatee Elementary. “I credit her as
being very instrumental in getting Forsyth
County Schools where they are today. She
worked very hard in getting our school system
accredited, she applied for many grants and she
made herself familiar with the state
Department of Education. Almost anyone in
the state department would recognize her
name. She’s never been afraid to stick her neck
out to get things done for our schools.”
The compliments are very similar from one
friend and associate to the next. Clarence
Lamb, former principal at FCHS and a superin
tendent of Forsyth County Schools for several
years, said: “Betty has been one of the most
faithful people to work with in the schools.
You can go anywhere in the state education
system and people will say they know her.”
Lambert left the county many years ago to
work for the state system.
“She’s probably the best friend anyone in
the school system could have,” said Peggy
Walker, principal at Mashburn Elementary.
“She’s always been a great source of informa
tion and advice. When I was first a principal, I
could always go to her if there was something I
wasn’t sure about. We’re going to truly miss
her.”
The reception will be held May 31 from 2 -
4 p.m. at Forsyth Central High School. A pro
gram featuring a slide show and the memories
of friends, former students and colleagues will
be held at 3 p.m. For more information, call the
Central Office at (770) 887-2461.
CHARTER from 1A
school board before the state will
renew the charter.
At the May 21 meeting of the
school board, Whittle was ques
tioned as to the validity of a char
ter school in the present Forsyth
County school system where, said
board members Eddie Taylor and
Sherry Sagemiller, a flexible
superintendent and board are
happy to approve experimental
educational programs for the bene
fit of school children.
Although he changed his
request from a five-year renewal
under the new charter law to a
one-year extension of his current
standing, Whittle’s argument at
both the May 21 and May 29
meetings remained the same. He
explained the importance of the
parent involvement which has
developed since the school earned
its charter title, and stated the need
for the school to remain an innova
tive example to the rest of the
school system. Midway was the
first school in the county to adopt
a CORE Knowledge curriculum
and has also implemented a multi
age program.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve
done,” said Whittle. “The charter
system has allowed us to think
outside of the box and do good
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things for these kids.” Whittle
added that nearly 12 percent of the
student body attends Midway out
of district. “We must be doing
something right if that many par
ents want their children at
Midway.”
However, other schools in the
county are also using CORE
Knowledge and the multi-age
method of learning in reading and
math, precisely the kinds of exper
imental programs board members
say they are willing to permit,
deeming charter status unneces
sary.
“I think our system is so differ*
ent now than it was four years',
ago,” said Sagemiller. “I think our
system now encourages tha h
schools try new things.
Taylor was willing to approve'
the one-year extension because he
“wanted to see what would happen ■
once the new charter is applied.” '
Board member Don .*
was also in approval of a one-year/
extension with the stipulation that
the “governing body follow tt|c ,
new law with regard to parental,
control.” Sagemiller and chairman
Ben Benson were not willing tq :
approve the extension.
was out of town when the meeting,
was called. ’*