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THURSDAY. MARCH 9. 2023 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A
Ava Rumsey - STAR Student Finalist
Keith Petty- STAR Teacher Finalist
Hooker/ Payne
Continued
Questions to Mrs. Lisa Payne
1) Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
Grant is the kind of student
who isn't satisfied with knowing
how. He wants to know why and
why not. He has excellent ana
lytical skills, and with his quiet
self-confidence, he can show
case his leadership qualities by
example. He is selfless, intelli
gent, kind, and tactful. In short,
he is the kind of student that
makes me glad that I became a
teacher.
2) What do you consider the
most important element of a
successful teaching pro
gram?
In my thirty years of experi
ence, I have tried to implement
all the textbook elements for a
Holton is the son of Julie
and Ryan Kaul, and he has
one sister, Leah Kahl.
Questions to Holton Kaul
1) Briefly describe your
plans after high school grad
uation.
I will be attending the Univer
sity of Tennessee Knoxville in
the fall and pursuing a career in
information science with a spe
cialization in data integration,
modeling, and analytics.
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
Dr. Daymude has been a
fantastic teacher and role model
this semester. She has helped
me strive for new heights in high
school and has forced me to
think will more depth and variety.
3) What advice would you
give to a rising freshman at
PHS?
I would tell them to get in
volved and work hard. High
school can bring out the best in
people and help connect you
with your peers as well as your
community.
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
My 8th grade field trip was a
trip around Savannah, GA that
brought us to many historical lo
cations but also gave us fun and
memorable experiences by al
lowing us to enjoy the area with
a lot of freedom. It was an ab
solute blast, and I learned a lot
about the surrounding area.
Questions to Dr. Kathy Day
mude
1) Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
When Holton Kaul walks into
Isabel is the daughter of
Tara and Shane Lipscomb.
Questions to Isabel Lipscomb
1) Briefly describe your
plans after high school grad
uation.
After high school, I plan to at
tend a college in Georgia.
Though I am unsure exactly
what degree I plan to pursue, I
would love to study forensic sci
ence and archaeology/historical
preservation
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
successful teaching program.
Classroom management, con
tent knowledge, teaching cli
mate, quality of instruction, and
teacher beliefs are all very im
portant, but the most important
element is simply showing up.
Teachers must show up pre
pared to teach and students
have to show up prepared to
learn. No program is successful
without this element.
4) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
HAVE FUN. Star students
tend to be overachievers and
self-motivated. Don't be so goal
oriented that you forget to stop
and smell the roses.
Mrs. Payne has taught for
30 years and currently
teaches AP Calculus and Al
gebra 1 at PHS. She is mar
ried to Chuck Payne.
my AP Calculus classroom, he
brings a smile to my face. I
know there is going to be some
interesting class discussion.
Holton is a multi-talented, well-
respected student athlete. He
has an unweighted 100
(weighted 110) average in our
class because he is perpetually
our curve buster.
Holton’s achievements go
beyond mathematics, with ex
emplary grades and service
contributions. He is our number
one varsity singles tennis player
and is a member of Future Busi
ness Leaders of America.
Holton has highly developed
interpersonal and collaborative
skills. He is an avid student who
works well independently or with
others and makes learning look
easy. He is the go-to guy for
students who need extra help.
Classmates and faculty mem
bers adore him. He has much
to offer the world and I look for
ward to seeing his future accom
plishments.
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
I think passion is critical: pas
sion for our students, passion for
the subject, and a general pas
sion for lifelong learning.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
Learn as much as you can,
and have fun doing it. Keep that
up. Then come back and tell us
how you're doing. We'll miss
you!
Dr. Daymude has taught
for 28 years. She is married
to Tom Daymude.
Mrs. Zuidema is someone
who I greatly look up to. She al
ways looks on the bright side, no
matter what is going on in her
life. She strives to be as helpful
as possible to us students and
loves us unconditionally. She will
always go out of her way to
make sure all of her students
are doing okay and she gives
advice when needed and possi
ble. I have learned so much
from her by taking the health
care pathway and ending the
pathway with her Allied Health
and Medicine class. Mrs.
Zuidema is someone who I will
always remember as being one
of the best teachers I have ever
had.
3) What advice would you
give to a rising freshman at
PHS?
High School is as hard as
you make it. With dedication,
hard work, and tons of studying,
you will do just fine. Never hesi
tate to ask questions. It is very
likely that if you are confused,
others are as well. If you notice
something is wrong or you are in
need of help, inquire about it.
Though it is very easy to get
caught up in school work, I know
I do, always remember to also
have fun whenever you can. Call
a friend and get together with
them when you get a chance.
High school doesn't last forever.
Make the most of it!
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
My most memorable educa
tional experience in school was
the time I spent in my fourth
grade math and science
classes. My teacher at the time,
Mrs. Kinzer, was very helpful to
me. While in her science class,
I learned a lot about the planets
and the water cycle. We even
did a fun project where I made a
banjo out of household items I
had at my house. Most impor
tantly though, she took the time
to help me get a full grasp of the
math and science we were
learning, even though she did
not have to. I wouldn't know a lot
of the basic math and science
concepts I know now without
her.
Questions to Mrs. Leslie
Zuidema
1) Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
Isabel Lipscomb is a wonder
ful, well-rounded student who
puts forth her best effort daily.
Her education, classes and per
sonal goals are all important to
her. She values her peers and
works on her relationships with
them. Isabel is like the sunrise
Sierra is the daughter of
Tammy and Rodney Robert
son.
Questions to Sierra
Robertson
1) Briefly describe your
plans after high school gradu
ation.
I plan to attend Kennesaw
State University to peruse a de
gree in Early Childhood Educa
tion.
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
Being my kindergarten
teacher, Mrs. Davis is responsi
ble for the foundation of my ed
ucation. She taught me some of
life's most basic skills that may
seem miniscule, but ultimately
made me who I am today.
Whether it was teaching me how
to read, how to wait my turn
when speaking, or how to treat
someone with kindness, it all
meant the world to me.
3) What advice would you
give to a rising freshman at
PHS?
As everyone says, high
school truly is whatever you
make it to be. Try not to wish
time away, and enjoy high
school for what it is. Soak up all
the moments, good or bad, and
simply enjoy the journey.
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
My most memorable educa
tional experience was deciding
to challenge myself my sopho
more year by taking AP Biology
and actually enjoying the chal
lenge.
Questions to Mrs. Courtney
Davis
1) Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
Sierra Robertson is a rare
and precious commodity for any
educator. She is a dedicated and
self motivated learner. Although
it has been many years since
that comes over Pickens High
School in the morning; full of
promise and beauty, she is a
friend to the other students and
always has a kind word to say.
Her optimism is a light in this
world that we all need. I want Is
abel to remember that she can
do all things and doesn't need
other's approval. Isabel is the
most compassionate and hard
working high school student that
I have met. I am thankful for our
time together here at PHS. My
life is enriched daily as she
comes into my class and always
has a positive thought and kind
word to say. I pray that Isabel will
go into the world and do the
service that she has been cre
ated to do. I wish Isabel the best,
and hope that she will contact
me to share her successes in
life.
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
Communication is the ele
ment that comes to mind when
it comes to teaching. A good
communicator can encourage
two-way dialogue, build trust,
and engage students so that
they can reach their full poten
tial. Listening is a large part of
communication and I encourage
the students to reach out to me
if I can help them work through
or talk through goals. If I under
stand what their possible future
career goal is, I can help them
reach their educational goals
and guide them to the next step.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
Confucius summed up what
I say daily in my class: "Do what
you love and you will never work
a day in your life". I believe that
serving others is a gift, and we
are blessed with the ability to
choose serving others.
Mrs. Zuidema teaches
Healthcare Science at PHS
and she has taught for 13
years. She is married to Jim
Zuideman, Jr.
she sat in my classroom, I still
remember a young lady who
was not worried about what
other students were doing, but
instead looked at her own
achievement and always made
the choice to work hard. Sierra
will always be successful be
cause she is driven by her own
desire to meet challenges and
be successful. She is competi
tive but only with herself. Setting
personal goals and always work
ing hard to meet those goals for
her own sense of pride.
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
Successful teaching requires
a strong and positive relation
ship between students and
teachers. It is not enough to pro
vide quality instruction with en
gaging lessons. A teacher must
view students as real people
with lives that exist outside of the
classroom door. Students de
serve a teacher who is optimistic
about their potential and is em-
pathetic to the complicated situ
ations and relationships that
students have at home and in
the community.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
I have always used the
phrase, "Nothing succeeds like
persistence." as a personal
mantra. There will be many
closed doors and impediments
placed in your path, but do not
be deterred. Press on and
knock those doors and impedi
ments down with your will and
determination. There are no
short cuts, so march on and do
the work.
Mrs. Davis has been teach
ing for 21 years and she cur
rently teaches 1st and 2nd
Grade ELAat Hill City Elemen
tary School. She is married to
Robert Davis.
Ava is the daughter of
Kelly and Mike Rumsey. She
has two siblings, Emily and
Michael.
Questions to Ava Rumsey
1) Briefly describe your
plans after high school grad
uation.
I plan on dancing with a pro
fessional dance company while
also taking online college
courses to pursue a degree in
Political Science.
2) What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
At the start of my junior year,
I was accepted into a pre-profes
sional ballet company in Al
pharetta which meant my school
schedule changed due to the
hours I had to put in. I was lucky
to have Mr. Petty during this
transitional time and his encour
agement and kindness greatly
impacted me.
3) What advice would you
give to a rising freshman at
PHS?
Don't take everything too se
riously, have fun!
4) What is your most mem
orable educational experience
in school? (Kindergarten to
present)
Dancing with Officer Roach
every morning at drop-off.
Questions to Mr. Keith Petty
1) Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
An intelligent and academi
cally motivated young lady, Ava
Rumsey is also defined by her
energy, ambition, and passion.
An aspiring dance student, Ava
gives 100% to both her educa
tion and her commitment to be
coming a professional dancer,
nurturing her art and her dream
like a mother nurtures a child.
She meets every day with a pos
itive attitude, a vibrant smile, and
a spark of wonder in her eye.
She is inherently disciplined
in her pursuit of excellence, and
I am positive that she has the
complete ability to follow and
find her dream. I look forward to
seeing her performing on stage
in years to come.
2) What do you consider
the most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
Teachers must care about
their students and form positive
relationships with them. Teach
ers must recognize their stu
dents as individuals and not just
numbers on a roster. Teachers
must love their students and
give them a voice in the learning
process. Otherwise, all the cur
riculum, instruction, and assess
ment in the world becomes
absolutely worthless.
3) What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
Follow your passions, even if
you're doing something else in
the meantime to put a roof over
your head and food on the table.
Mr. Petty has taught for 28
years and currently teaches at
AP literature and composi
tion, Honors British literature,
and composition at PHS.
Continued on Following Page
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Holton Kaul - STAR Student Finalist
Dr. Kathy Daymude - STAR Teacher Finalist
Isabel Lipscomb - STAR Student Finalist
Leslie Zuidema - STAR Teacher Finalist
Sierra Robertson - STAR Student Finalist
Courtney Davis - STAR Teacher Finalist