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BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
School
Jason Sexton, Carmyn Williams and Arely Ramirez review a video production.
BCHS offers new CTAE Pathway: Arts,
A/V Technology, and Communications
Banks County High
School launched a new
CTAE pathway this school
year under the direction
of Jason Sexton. The new
pathway, Arts, AW Tech
nology, and Communica
tions, includes audio-video
technology and film cours
es.
The new program already
has over 100 students en
rolled.
CTAE Teacher Jason
Sexton has set several goals
for the program.
“We want our students to
understand the importance
of learning how marketing
and video are essential tools
in business,” he said. “Our
goal for this class is to equip
students with the tools
needed to enter the busi
ness workforce in market
ing, A/V technology skills,
and communications. We
also have plans to launch a
podcast and produce some
quality broadcast videos.
We just produced our first
hype video for softball.”
High school students Are
ly Ramirez, Kane Smith and
Carmyn Williams find the
class interesting and some
thing they will take with
them when they leave high
school.
“It is a class where we
can be creative,” Williams
said. “We are learning how
to video and edit.”
Ramirez added, “I like
learning about the film in
dustry. We just completed
a video of a dialogue doc
umentary, which was inter
esting. We work together
on most things, making it
much more fun. You learn a
lot from each other. It was
a lot harder than I originally
thought it would be.”
Smith said, “It is a chal
lenging class, but when the
final product comes togeth
er, the challenge was worth
it.” Smith wants to work in
the film industry as a direc
tor.
The class is currently
working on projects such
as learning how to film in
a line, the angles of video
shooting, commercial pro
duction, documentaries,
and scenery creation. The
class has also been learning
how to use a drone.
“The students are finding
their niches; that makes this
pathway so unique,” Sexton
said. “It offers a variety of
learning for our students.
When they produce a solid
product like a marketing
video, those skills can be
carried with them through
out high school, and even
tually into the workforce.”
Sexton is also collabo
rating with Language Arts
classes this year in script
writing, and will incorpo
rate that with the next proj
ect in the course.
Students who are inter
ested in this CTAE pathway
can reach out to Counselors
James Dye or April Loggins
for more information.
A new pathways course at Banks County High School incorporates the use of a drone.
Superintendent
Advisory Council for
Banks schools created
Superintendent Dr. Ann Hopkins recently met with
teachers who will serve on the Superintendents Advisory
Council (SAC) for the 2023-2024 school year.
“The idea of a SAC is an initiative that brings educa
tors together in a forum where their voices can be heard,”
Hopkins said. “It provides a direct pipeline for our teachers
to offer suggestions and perspectives on educational issues
occurring in our schools.”
The council is comprised of teachers from various grade
levels, subjects, and teaching experience, such as special
education teachers, fine arts, and academic subjects.
“Their diverse backgrounds will bring many ideas and
perspectives to the meetings,” Hopkins added. “We will
utilize the council to enable better educational and admin
istrative decisions, ultimately leading to greater student
learning and success.”
Assistant Superintendent Joy Edwards also attended the
meeting.
Stacey Hobson, a Banks County Primary School teach
er for over 23 years and a council member, shared her
thoughts, saying, “It is empowering to know that our su
perintendent values our opinions and experiences. This is a
great opportunity to have a straight line of communication,
and very beneficial.”
The first meeting was held on September 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Topics discussed were school safety, construction/SPLOST
funds, Cognia accreditation, FTE, school calendars, new
reading resources and school climate.
LaRue Borders, also a veteran special education teacher
at Banks County Elementary School, expressed her enthu
siasm for the great start at her school this year.
“We have a lot of new faces around our campus, but it
has been an excellent start,” she said. “They are enthusias
tic and bring positive energy to our school.”
Banks County Primary School teachers Alisha Landers
and Shelly Ledford spoke about the new reading resources
available to teachers. The system has launched a rigorous
reading initiative.
“We have abundant resources this year and are excited
about them,” the teachers shared. “We are eager to imple
ment them.”
Banks County Middle School teachers Lisa Rylee and
first-year Band Director Marcus Shockley attended the
meeting representing Banks County Middle School.
Rylee, who has over 25 years of teaching, spoke about
the school climate at Banks County Middle School.
“The climate and culture at BCMS continues to im
prove,” Rylee said “The changes we experienced last year
and this year have been overwhelmingly positive. There is
more work to be done, but when you can come to work in
a happy environment, doing what needs to be done is much
easier.”
She added, “It is essential for teachers to feel like they
have a direct line to the superintendent and to voice con
cerns openly and honestly. Dr. Hopkins does a wonderful
job of making that possible.”
The high school representatives chosen were Wendy
Collins (In-Service Special Education Coordinator) and
veteran math teacher Andy Brown.
The council will meet periodically throughout the school
year, with the next meeting scheduled for December 5.
School system
governance meetings set
The Banks County School System will hold governance
meetings at each school on the following dates for the
2023-2024 school year at 6 p.m.
Banks County Primary School will hold meetings o
Oct. 17, Nov. 14, Jan. 9, February 13, March 12 and April
16. The meetings will be held in the Banks County Prima
ry School conference room..
Banks County Elementary School will hold meetings on
Oct. 17, Nov. 14. The meetings will be held at the Banks
County Elementary School conference roonm.
Banks County Middle School will hold meetings on
Oct., Nov. 28 , Jan. 16, February 20, March 19 and April
23. The meeting will be held at the Banks County Middle
School conference room.
Banks County High School will hold meetings on Oct.
17, Nov 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 12 and April
16. The meetings will be held at the Banks County High
School conference room.
The Banks County News
Homer, GA 30547
Founded 1968
The official legal organ of Banks County, Ga,
Mike Buffington Co-Publisher
Scott Buffington Co-Publisher
Angela Gary Editor
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(SCED 547160)
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Carmyn Williams is one of the students in a new pathways program at Banks County High School.