Austell Primary School, under the direction of Ms. Mamie Pruitt, was awarded the 2009 The Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Inc. (GAHPERD) Award of Excellence in Physical Education. She was honored during the 2009 Convention Banquet in Atlanta on November 1.

Ms. Mamie Pruitt leads a great program that involves many facets of the school family. In her application she made the comment that the community is the right arm of the success of the program at Austell Primary. While this is true, no right arm knows what to do without a visionary brain. Ms. Pruitt does a wonderful job of keeping the parents involved in the program by providing information on expectations, programs that are being offered and how parents can get involved with the programs. Her communication does not end there. She also sends home fitness results at least twice a year and has had her school family complete a survey to assess the value of the program and has certified most of the staff members in CPR/First Aid.

“Coach” Pruitt also offers a fitness walking program, tumbling team, and a jump rope team all as extra curricular activities. The school participates in Jump Rope for Heart as well as provides an annual Family Fun and Fitness Night for the community. All of this is done at a primary school of Kindergarten and first grade with an enrollment of 320.

Entry submitted by Debbie Vassell-Mitchell.

Roswell Street Baptist Church was packed with cheering students, family members, school district representatives and community supporters.

The Cobb community united at Roswell Street Baptist Church Oct. 27 for the grand finale of the ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ month, the Teacher of the Year pep rally! The day began with a special breakfast for the teachers provided by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Soon after, Teachers of the Year from every school in Cobb marched into the church to the sounds of the McEachern High marching band, cheered on by hundreds of students, staff, and community supporters.

Each teacher was individually honored and awarded a special plaque by Superintendent Fred Sanderson. Partners in Education from the Chamber provided a variety of giveaways for the teachers and the Ed Voyles Automotive Group awarded a one-year lease on a new car to each of the District-level winners, Linda Bonstein, Kelly Bramblett and Dr. Michaele D’Aquanni-Swift!

Thanks to the community sponsors who help make ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ successful! All of these festivities were made possible by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, who continues to fervently support public education in Cobb County.

Tony Browning, Latin and French language teacher at North Cobb High School, was recently named one of two 2009 Volunteers of the Year by the Cherokee County YMCA.

“I get a satisfaction contributing to the community wellness mission,” Browning said. “Supporting the staff in meeting their goals and the YMCA mission is a challenge under today’s economic conditions. The YMCA is a part of my family, and everyone enjoys the physical aspect of it. My daughter is a swim instructor and lifeguard, and my wife works in the membership department. It is an important part of our social life.”

Mr. Browning will be honored at the Metro Atlanta YMCA annual volunteer recognition dinner Nov. 5 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Two Cobb physical education teachers have been honored by the Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (GAHPERD).

Pete Charrette, physical education teacher at Pickett’s Mill Elementary School, was named 2009-10 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year! In addition to teaching for more than two decades, Charrette plays a proactive role in the field of physical education and health throughout the state.

Pete has developed a unique, standards-based program, geared towards providing students with the optimal environment for movement and skill development in a fun and vibrant setting. He utilizes a spectrum of teaching styles and modifies his instruction to accommodate individual learners. Serving his school community has developed his leadership, and volunteering in his community has focused Pete’s attention on advocating for physical activity outside the school. He has coached countless youth soccer and lacrosse teams and served as a consultant for numerous recreational leagues, camps and churches around the Atlanta area.

Pete received his National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Physical Education in 2006 and he currently holds a Masters Degree from Georgia State University and a Specialist in Education degree from the State University of West Georgia.

Also honored by GAHPERD is Anna Roberts of Wheeler High School, who was named 2009-10 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Ms. Roberts has more than 25 years of physical education experience, including service as head gymnastics coach at the middle and high school level, and assistant gead coach at USMA at West Point; head swim coach for summer league, high school, and assistant coach for USS and Special Olympics Georgia.

Ms. Roberts is a national presenter in the area of Adapted Physical Education, promoting creative ways to teach gross motor and perceptual motor development. She holds a education specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University, masters in health studies from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in HPE from Auburn University.

Members of Cobb’s business and education communities came together Oct. 7 for the 21st annual ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ handprint ceremony celebrating Teachers of the Year for Cobb and Marietta. Backed by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ is a month-long celebration of educators that began in 1988. District Teachers of the Year have their handprints permanently displayed along the square sidewalk as a permanent tribute to their impact on students.

Cobb Teacher of the Year Kelly Bramblett and Marietta City Teacher of the Year Marie Sherbondy were the stars of the day, which kicked off at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre. The audience was entertained by the Marietta High School Show Choir, as well as singer/songwriter Alia Christian of Hillgrove High School. Superintendent Fred Sanderson introduced Mrs. Bramblett, who is a special education teacher at Allatoona High School in Acworth. She thanked her family, fellow teachers and students for the honor and emphasized the importance of serving students with special needs.

By the time the ceremony shifted outside to the Teacher Walk of Fame on Marietta Square, the sun broke through the morning clouds! Mrs. Bramblett and Ms. Sherbondy unveiled their handprints to the crowd and media in attendance.

The ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ celebration will continue throughout October, culminating in the Teacher of the Year Pep Rally Oct. 27 at Roswell Street Baptist Church . The pep rally will honor Teachers of the Year from every school in Cobb and Marietta.

Thanks to the community sponsors who help make ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ successful:

Kerry Lance, second grade teacher at Sope Creek Elementary, is the first place winner of the Birney Butler Outstanding Educator Award! Mrs. Lance was honored for her support of the Sope Creek PTA – below is an excerpt from her nomination:

Kerry Lance supports the PTA in a multitude of ways. She is one of the school’s pioneers in the implementation of our local school’s 2008 – 2009 theme “Go Green: We Are What We Grow.” Kerry works to grow stewards who will help take care of the earth. She has partnered with the PTA to further the second grade Georgia Performance Standards and performance based instruction by planting a variety of trees on campus.

One of Kerry’s great strengths is technology utilization. With each PTA Immersion Day, Kerry has included technology-based activities that compliment the themes. She shares the information with her second grade team, allowing students across the grade level to benefit from her teaching strategies. Being one of Lance’s Lizards is an experience that every child should have! Her classroom is a joyful place where students have fun while learning. Emotional safety is a priority for Kerry, and she helps students grow socially and interpersonally as well as academically. This year, she has had an extremely diverse group of learners, and she assures that all are challenged to perform at their personal best. The classroom environment and emotional tone that is set starting even before the first day of school allows for a true sense of inclusion of students who have learning, behavior, or emotional issues. Kerry is able to meet the needs of ALL of these learners, and to challenge all students.

Kerry helps students blossom and to gain self confidence; finding and building upon each student’s strengths in order to help them overcome their weaknesses. Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences are a part of her curriculum and are incorporated into each day. Students have opportunities to choose the way they respond based upon their learning style preferences.

She motivates students and allows them to feel the intrinsic value in doing their personal best. Learning is important and relevant for her second grade students, as they actively participate in performance based instruction and are afforded many opportunities to collaborate. Kerry’s second grade students are actively engaged in the highest levels of learning with a purpose. She is creating the “change that we wish to see in the world.”

The Cobb County School District is proud to announce the selection of Kelly Bramblett, special education teacher at Allatoona High School, as the 2009-2010 district Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Fred Sanderson and the Allatoona administrative team surprised Mrs. Bramblett with the honor during a special assembly Aug. 24, unfurling a banner before the entire student body. She now represents Cobb in the statewide program, which will announce a winner in May 2010. Mrs. Bramblett is also the high school level Teacher of the Year, which made her eligible for the district-wide merit.

Mrs. Bramblett was inspired to enter the education field by her own Cobb County teachers at Teasley Elementary, Griffin Middle and Campbell High. She felt the calling to become a special education teacher during her senior year and immediately focused her own studies on that goal. Ms. Bramblett has a passion for students with special needs, focusing on helping her pupils develop essential life skills. While teaching at Kennesaw Mountain, she and a colleague developed the ‘Serving Up Success’ program, which teaches transition, vocation and social skills to students with disabilities. The pair set up a coffee shop at the school, which students operate as part of their career preparation. Ms. Bramblett expanded the program to Allatoona in the school’s first year. Ms. Bramblett recently received the Tommy Nobis Center’s highest honor, the Governor’s Award, for her service to individuals with disabilities.

Kelly sponsors the Interact Club at Allatoona High, helping students serve their community through volunteer efforts and fundraisers for causes such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the American Sign Language Club. She is also active in her church’s service and missions efforts. “It is my desire to see students with disabilities become gainfully employed after high school and empower them to live an independent life,” said Ms. Bramblett. “If I have instilled responsibility and initiative in my students, despite their cognitive disabilities, then they will be successful, and so will I.”

Kelly Bramblett will have her Teacher of the Year handprint unveiled by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce during the annual ‘Give Our Schools a Hand’ ceremony Oct. 7 at Glover Park on Marietta Square.

Mrs. Bramblett was chosen from the three Teachers of the Year for each academic level, which also include Dr. Michaela D’Aquanni-Swift of Russell Elementary and Linda Bonstein of East Cobb Middle. Each of these talented educators is profiled on the District Web site.

Doug LaVigne, physics teacher at South Cobb High School, is spending part of his summer serving as a “Teacher At Sea” in the Bering Strait of Alaska! Mr. LaVigne was selected to be part of a research trip on the vessel the JOIDES Resolution, which stands for Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling. The team takes core samples and measurements from under the ocean floor, giving scientists a glimpse into Earth’s development and also a scientific means of measuring climate and environmental change throughout a significant part of our planet’s history.

Supporters and students can follow Mr. LaVigne’s activities as he blogs on the program Web site.

Jennifer Gates, third grade teacher at Powers Ferry Elementary, is among 200 teachers nationwide selected to attend the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. The summer academy will be held in Jersey City, NJ and includes teachers from all 50 states. The program allows teachers to expand their math and science skills during a week-long, all-expenses paid professional development program. Gates is a former national journalist and university instructor and is entering her third year at Powers Ferry Elementary, a Title 1 school in Marietta. “Hands-on instruction is the only way to effectively teach subjects like Math and Science; that’s one of the reasons I’m so excited to take part in the Academy. It will allow me to bring back new skills and even more strategies to engage my students.”

Gates is a graduate student at Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education. In 2005, PGA golfer Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy joined forces with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Math Solutions to create ways for teachers to engage young students in Math and Science. More information is available from ExxonMobil.

Several Cobb teachers took part in a unique professional development exercise June 15-18 as they participated in the District’s Model Teaching Week at Sope Creek Elementary. Essentially a ‘classroom in a classroom,’ Cobb teachers observed a team of expert teachers as they engaged a classroom of Cobb students. Participants alternated between observing in the classroom and attending sessions that expand their professional knowledge base, along with their capacity to provide performance-based learning opportunities. This training supports the district’s focus on differentiated standards based instruction, professional learning communities, and embedded formative assessment.

Three multi-age groups (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) focused on integrated thematic performance based activities, driven by the Georgia Performance Standards for Science. Specific content for the week emphasized using community locations as the starting point for creating curriculum that is naturally integrated. Skills that are often the target of standardized measures are taught in relation to the real-life location and topic under study.

The Model Teaching Week partnership began in 2007 between Clarkdale, Kennesaw Primary, and Varner elementary schools and has grown to include Sope Creek, Acworth Intermediate, Still, and Bryant elementary schools and East Cobb, Lindley, Cooper, and Floyd middle schools.