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PAGE 4A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. MARCH 9. 2023
Bragg/ Lajewski
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believed she couldn't do math.
She was very shy, quiet, well-
disciplined, and preferred to sit
at the back of the classroom with
hopes that she wouldn't get
called on to answer questions.
What Amber did not know was
that I aways made it a point to
call on students who sit towards
the back.
After a few weeks it was ob
vious that she was a hard
worker always completing her
assignments, staying focused
during instructional time, attend
ing weekly help sessions, but
most importantly she was moti
vated to be the best student pos
sible. Math may not have come
easy to Amber, however with her
polite attitude, well-disciplined
and problem-solving abilities she
outperformed many students in
my class.
Amber was very mature in
her ability to surround herself
around classmates that had the
same work ethic and drive to be
the best student possible. She
has become a very successful
student in high school and will
have a very successful future
because of all her amazing qual
ities.
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
Being a teacher can be a
very challenging job. Teachers
aspire to provide students with
every teachable moments
everyday even if they’re not ac
ademic. With the different range
of students from quiet to talka
tive, hard working and not moti
vated, leaders and followers,
problem solvers and those who
need to be lead to the answer
and those who are trustworthy,
seizing the opportunities that
await them vs those who don't
yet appreciate the opportunity
they are being given, it is impor
tant that as educators, we rec
ognize the array of difference
within our classrooms.
Establishing expectations,
demanding conscientious work
and letting students know that
you are there for each of them
are always the first step to a suc
cessful teaching program.
It is important that as a
teacher, you know your stu
dents. Understanding their
strengths and weaknesses is the
first step in building lasting rela
tionships. Providing positive
feedback and encouraging them
to improve lets the student know
that you are not only there for
Sophia is the daughter of Car
olyn and George Cabe, and
she has 5 siblings, Ruth, Paul,
Reid, George, and Calyn.
Questions to Sophia Cabe
1) Briefly describe your
plans after high school grad
uation.
I plan to attend Georgia Tech
and get an environmental engi
neering degree.
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
I typically thrive in a more
stem-focused environment so it
might not make sense at first
that the STAR teacher I chose
was my AP English literature
teacher; however, I think the fact
that Mrs. Powell has had such a
large impact despite teaching
the subject that I am worst at
speaks volumes. Her class was
one of the most fun class peri
ods I have had in high school;
not only does her engaging
teaching style make learning not
feel like monotonous work, but
her thoughtful and attentive na
ture inspired me to do my best.
She is also just extremely fun to
be around, and I feel lucky to
have her as my STAR teacher.
Final rating- “A pleasure to have
been in her class.”
3) What advice would you
give to a rising freshman at
PHS?
them but that you recognize their
efforts. Students need to know
that you are on their side.
Well planned learning objec
tives help students understand
what skills they will be working
towards so that they can over
see their own learning with sup
port of their parents/guardians.
Good work ethic is developed
through well planned expecta
tions so that students have a
better understanding and will be
ready to put their best foot for
ward. Diligent and efficient work
is an important step toward stu
dent success. Communicating
classroom expectations will bet
ter facilitate student learning and
helps create a positive learning
environment for all students.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
Soon you will be making your
way through the halls of your
high school, on your way to the
big stage with all your family and
friends watching and listening as
your name is called to receive
your earned reward for all your
hard work and dedication. You
will be an official high school
graduate, holding a diploma,
proof that you did it and that you
have it in you to continue to
strive for everything you work to
ward.
As you start the next chapter
of your life, bringing an end to
this one, you will have to make
some tough choices that will im
pact your future. Consider col
lege as a dress rehearsal of
what works and what doesn't.
Please know that you will never
be alone. Whether in a dorm
room getting advice from your
new friends, sitting in a class
room listening to your professors
or even picking up the phone
asking your closest family and
friends who know you best what
you should do.
You have already accom
plished so much in such a small
amount of time and with even
more time ahead of you there
are many successes that await.
Don't be afraid to try something
new. You may come across
something you enjoy. Overcome
your fears with the knowledge
that mistakes are an important
part of personal growth.
“Twenty years from now you
will be more disappointed by the
things you didn't do than the
ones you did do.” - Mark Twain
Mrs. Lajewski currently
teaches math at Hopewell
Middle School. She has
taught for 17 years. She is
married to Stephen Lajewski.
Do more things that scare
you and take yourself/ your life
less seriously.
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
My most memorable educa
tional experience in school was
technically not in school, but it
was during a field trip so I'm
counting it anyway. The middle
school I went to was about half
an hour away from one of Geor
gia Power’s nuclear power
plants, so in seventh grade, a
group of honors science stu
dents was taken on a tour of the
plant. I talked to one of the engi
neers who was guiding us
through the plant for most of the
tour about if any environmental
impact had been observed there
since the plant was built or if
they were taking samples from
the river, they were using to cool
the plant to make sure there
were not any drastic changes.
The conversations I had with this
engineer were probably the least
interesting part of the tour, how
ever, they might have been the
most impactful and definitely the
parts I remember the best. This
was the first time that I had con
sidered becoming an environ
mental engineer.
Questions to Mrs. Jacqueline
Powell
1) Briefly describe your STAR
Student.
Sophia is an exceptional stu
dent who has a broad world
view. Her broad worldview
allows for success in academics
since Sophia is able to view
problems through multiple per
spectives. Not only does she
excel in the academic world, but
she is also an artist making
soaps, candles, and sweaters.
She is responsible, compassion
ate, and creative.
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
One way to ensure success
in the classroom is to get to
know the students within the
class. Having a welcoming and
William is the son of Bill and
Stephanie Hall, and he has
three siblings, Sydney, Zadie,
and Ray.
Questions to William Hall
1) Briefly describe your plans
after high school graduation.
I plan to attend either UGA,
Ga Tech, or KSU to attain a
bachelor's degree in Electrical
Engineering. After this I plan to
get a job using said degree while
further pursuing a masters in the
field.
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
The words that I or anyone
use to describe Dr. Hobgood will
always have a positive connota
tion. She is one of the most re
spectable, kind, and caring
person I have met. She has
been a greatly influential figure
in my high school career and
Her character greatly mirrors the
person I want to become. So, I
knew she was the person I
wanted to represent me as
my STAR Teacher.
3) What advice would you
give to a rising freshman at
PHS?
Everyone has a purpose in
this world. High School is the
time to figure out who you are
and what that purpose is. Re
member to try new things, par
ticipate in clubs, play sports,
maintain your grades, make new
friends, and take electives. Take
opportunities to find what you
love. Then, most importantly,
tenaciously pursue your hopes
and dreams.
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
An experience I will always
carry with me is arriving at PHS
on my first day. I could only be
ignorant entering a foreign
world. I could not have even
imagined the opportunities and
experiences I would soon have.
It amazes me how far I have
come, and I am thankful for the
people that have helped me get
here today. Who I am today en
tirely juxtaposes the stary eyed
freshman I used to be.
I have become ever more
knowledgeable, and this change
has ignited a fervor for learning
that I will forever take with me.
In my pursuit of wonder, I can
only grow, and thanks be to
God.
Questions to Dr. Christi Hob-
good
1) Briefly describe your STAR
Student.
On any given afternoon at
Roper Park, a young man with
incredibly large, curly hair, and
bare feet could be seen effort
lessly gliding by as he added
mile after mile to his daily run. I
knew him by sight, but I did not
know him by name, and he al
ways stood out to me because
of his uniqueness.
Later, I had the opportunity to
formally meet him when he was
a student in my Honors Ameri
can Lit class. He may no longer
sport his trademark bushy hair
or go shoeless, but his unique
ness holds. As an educator, I ap-
positive culture and climate in
the classroom allows for stu
dents to feel seen and secure
which in turn can lead to suc
cess within the class.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
1. It is okay to make mis
takes- you are human.
2. Don't lose your sense of
humor.
3. Not all paths are straight
and some of the best views are
seen from the most difficult jour
neys.
Mrs. Powell has taught for
15 years and currently is an
English teacher at PHS. She
is married to Christopher
Powell.
preciate Will's curiosity and de
sire to understand how things
work. As a parent, I love Will's
kindness towards my own chil
dren. As a person, I respect
Will's compassion for humanity.
Will Hall brings out the opti
mistic spirit in people, and to
quote Cormac McCarthy's The
Road, "You have to carry the
fire.... It's inside you. It was al
ways there. I can see it.”
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
The synergistic relationship
of parents, students, teachers,
and administrators.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
Read banned books so that
you can figure out for yourself
what they are trying to prevent
you from knowing.
Grant is the son of Clint and
Julie Hooker. He has 5 sib
lings, Molly, Amelia, Sara,
Ben, and Caleb.
Questions to Grant Hooker
1) Briefly describe your
plans after high school grad
uation.
After high school, I plan to at
tend UGA to earn my bachelor's
of science and then attend med
ical school. Eventually, I would
like to enter the healthcare field
as a Pediatric Cardiothoracic
Surgeon. I would also like to
continue performing and teach
ing aerial silks as I continue my
education.
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
Mrs. Payne is the most com
passionate and inspiring teacher
I have had. In her AP Statistics
class, Mrs. Payne ensured we
learned the material in an en
gaging and enjoyable manner.
Her humor and active teaching
style not only made the class ex
citing, but allowed me to learn in
a way that I hadn't previously.
On top of her effective meth
ods, Mrs. Payne is caring, un
derstanding, and extremely
patient. These traits, as well as
active teaching, are essential in
the classroom and are my rea
sons for choosing Mrs. Payne as
my STAR Teacher.
Dr. Hobgood has been
teaching for 14 years and cur
rently teaches Honors Ameri
can Literature and
Composition at PHS. She is
married to Stuart Hobgood.
3) What one piece of advice
would you give to a rising
freshman at PHS?
If I could give advice to any
rising freshman I would tell them
to remain motivated in reaching
their goals. I would also remind
them that grades do not define
who they are, and that taking
care of their mental health is just
as important as taking care of
their physical health. I would en
courage any freshman to partic
ipate in extracurricular clubs,
organizations, and sports as
these activities are essential to
a complete high school experi
ence; which can be found in the
balance of enjoyment and hard
work.
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
As part of the final class in
the CTAE healthcare pathway, I
had the opportunity to dissect a
deer's heart. In preparation, we
watched recordings of heart sur
geries and learned about the
anatomy and physiology of one
of our bodies most vital organs.
During this experience, my aspi
rations for the future were solid
ified. Watching surgeries helped
me determine which part of the
medical field I wanted to pursue.
In this way, this educational ex
perience is the most memorable
for me.
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Sophia Cabe - STAR Student Finalist
Jacqueline Powell - STAR Teacher Finalist
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William J. Hall - STAR Student Finalist
Dr. Christi Hobgood - STAR Teacher Finalist
Grant Hooker- STAR Student Finalist
Lisa Payne - STAR Teacher Finalist