A select group of students from Richmond County schools participated in a signing day on May 3.
These students differ from athletes, more commonly associated with a signing day event. This group of students committed to become teachers.
“Athletes get all the glory of outside of that, you know, they sign and you see everything on TV and all of that,” said Nanette Barnes, director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education, adding, “But what about education, because you know, everything starts with the education. So, you always want to be there for the future of Georgia.”
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Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw said teachers possess important characteristics and abilities. They are great at communication and collaborating. He said teachers show empathy, love and kindness to their students.
“Our profession really needs young students to gravitate to the world of professional education,” said Bradshaw. “We really need them. They’ve been great students, and I believe they can be excellent educators.”
Kristy Brown, assistant dean of the College of Education at Augusta University said she believed being an educator was the best profession in the world because of the lasting impact and influence teachers have on an individual.
“Many people, I’m going to tell you this right now are going to tell you not to be a teacher. They’re going to tell you that it’s too hard,” she said. “They’re going to tell you negative stories about what they faced and how hard it is. Yes, it is hard, but anything worthwhile is hard.”
Among those signing was Caitlyn Guilfoyle, a senior at Cross Creek High School, who want to teach social studies and science.
“Because I feel like it’s just so meaningful to give back to my community and just see that light bulb go off when you teach a child,” she said.
In addition to the nine students who participated in the event, another 15 have also signed letters of intent to enter the teaching profession.
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The full list of students participating and the college they will attend:
Janiyah Adams, Butler High School (South Carolina State University); Samyra Brown, Cross Creek High School (Dalton State College); Jane Carr, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (Georgia College); Jenna Carroll, Cross Creek High School (Georgia Southern University); Clayton Coggins, Westside High School (Attending college after the Marines); Taylor Council, Butler High School (South Carolina State University); Hayley Flanigan, Westside High School (Augusta Technical College first then transferring to four-year school); Benjamin Gariepy, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (Kennesaw State University).
Also Niaja Garrett, Lucy Craft Laney High School (Albany State University; Shautee Griffin, Westside High School (College Unknown); Caitlyn Guilfoyle, Cross Creek High School (Toccoa Falls College); Erica Gunthel, Cross Creek High School (Augusta University), Brandon McCandless, Westside High School (College unknown); Sha’ron Murray, Josey High School (Jackson State University); Alyssa Parker, Westside High School (Georgia Military College then Augusta University); Madison Pickett, John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (Charleston Southern University),
Also Jamie Rouse, Lucy Craft Laney High School (Albany State University); Milagro Santana, Cross Creek High School (Augusta Technical College); Elizabeth Sapp, John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (Augusta University); Cardell Sheppard, Butler High School (South Carolina State University); Gabrielle Telfair, Westside High School (Georgia Southern University); Armony Thurmond, Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School (Georgia State University); Olivia Waddell, John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School (Augusta University); and Ashanti Williams, A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School (Albany State University).
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
