Issuu

July August 2013

Priceless

She has Class

Jemelleh Coes

GA’s Top Teacher

Sugar & Spice And Everything Nice For Azure B. Rountree

Watch & Listen

Tribeca Film’s AMERICA’s MUSIC Series

Special FeaTure FOCUS on Education

2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

FMB Vice President Trish Tootle is getting a close-up look at the progress of the “facelift” underway at the bank’s main branch. Keeping facilities up-to-date for our customers is important because at FMB…You Matter to Us!

201 North Main Street • Statesboro, Georgia 30458 www.fmbnk.com • 912-489-2600

NMLS#498426 LDP-2269-13

Cheryl E. Perkins, MD, FAAP

Austin Whitlock, III, MD, FAAP

Michelle Zeanah, MD, FAAP

• Prenatal Visits • Electronic Medical Records • Separate Sick & Well waiting rooms • Same day sick appointments

1497 Fair Road, Suite 200 • Statesboro, GA 30458 912•871•HUGS (4847) • www.bullochpediatrics.com * We are now in network with Humana *

FROM THE EDITOR Established March 1, 2000

Jenny Starling Foss Editor

Joe McGlamery Publisher

Melanie Schmermund Art Director

he dog days of summer are here. Days are getting shorter and before long the school bells will be ringing for Bulloch County teachers and students. This year brings excitement and honor for our county as one of our own, Jemelleh Coes, has been chosen the Georgia Teacher of the Year for 2014. Board of Education PR and Marketing Specialist Hayley Greene shares the story of Jemelleh’s rise to the state’s top teacher position inside. Hayley also shares the Bulloch County Board of Education’s annual report – FOCUS 2013-2014 – as a special section for our readers showcasing all the great news about student achievement and exciting plans for the future of education in our community. Another achiever is Azure Bailey Rountree who taught herself to cook while watching the Food Network on cable television. Her favorite chef is Paula Deen, the queen of Southern cuisine. Azure’s journey from kitchen novice to

Erica Sellers

professional praline producer is a fascinating look at one woman’s dream to make a difference, not only in her own life, but in the lives of others. Dr. Bede Mitchell, dean of the Zach S. Henderson Library at Georgia Southern, is bringing to Statesboro an outstanding opportunity for music enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Beginning on July 30 th the Tribeca Film Institute’s American Music film series premieres at the Averitt Arts Center’s Emma Kelly Theater. Averitt Center Director Tim Chapman has scheduled live concerts to augment the shows on succeeding First Fridays downtown. Make plans now to attend the films and the live concerts. You won’t want to miss a show; because we all know without music life would Bb. Enjoy!

July August 2013

Georgia’s Teacher of the Year 2014 Jemelleh Coes exudes confidence as she gets ready to fulfill her new role this fall. She’ll be Georgia’s traveling ambassador for education and she’ll also be representing Georgia’s 115,000 + educators as she travels the state and the nation. Jemelleh was captured on her way to the top by our own award winning photographer Frank Fortune. They both get an A+.

4 • Statesboro Magazine

Sharon Persinger Marketing & Sales Executive

Hayley Greene Contributing Writer

Frank Fortune Contributing Photographer Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: esellers@StatesboroMagazine.com or spersinger@StatesboroMagazine.com FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@StatesboroMagazine.com MAILING ADDRESS: PHYSICAL ADDRESS: P. O. Box 1084 6 N Walnut Street Statesboro, GA Statesboro, GA 30459 30458 912.489.2181 fax 912.489.2182

Priceless

About the Cover

Advertising & Marketing Director

She has Class

Jemelleh Coes

GA’s Top Teac her

Sugar & Spice

And Everything Nice

For Azure B. Rountree

Watch & Listen Tribeca Film’s AMERICA’s MUSIC Series

Special FeaTure

FOCUS on Education

2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4

Circulation Statesboro Magazine is published bi-monthly (six issues a year) at a $20.00 annual subscription rate by Morris Multimedia, P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA, 30459. Periodical postage paid at Statesboro, Georgia. Postmaster send address changes to Statesboro Magazine, P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA, 30459. The cover and contents are fully protected and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Statesboro Magazine. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials. They will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. Address letters and editorial contributions to Statesboro Magazine, P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA, 30459. Copyright © 2013 by Morris Multimedia. All rights reserved.

CONTRIBUTORS Statesboro

weddings by

Frank Fortune

Allison Judge Tra nsf orm ing

SE duBO diON siVE ENd sENiOr dEfEN

Healthcar

page 4

b lu E

Treasure

HunTer

Keith McInty re

Out $

Frank is the national award winning photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 14 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He recently retired from GSU after having been responsible for capturing the university’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of children, Jack and Cate.

Dr. Rose Ces

ar The Family Legacy

vs.

iAn STATE AppAlAch

sOuthErN 3, 2012 • PaulsON stadiuM GEOrGia .com NOVEMbEr GSEagles

Special inSid

Statesboro’se

An tiq ue Tra

Proud publishers of Statesboro

Hayley Greene

Magazine, Weddings by Statesboro

Hayley Greene is the public relations/marketing specialist for Bulloch County Schools (BCS). With more than 20 years in her field, her early career included serving as the president of two chambers of commerce and an economic development authority and being the communications manager for a major electric utility before coming to BCS four years ago. She has received national awards for her work and been a sought-after speaker for state and national associations in her field. Green received her bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Georgia Southern University in 1991. A Jenkins County native with deep Evans County roots, she made Bulloch County her home five years ago. She is a mother of three, a fourth-grade Sunday school teacher, and an active member of three music ministries.

Magazine, and GSU’s official football program – FLIGHT!

SUBSCRIBE Make sure you never miss a copy of Statesboro’s only full-color lifestyle magazine. Sign-up on-line at StatesboroMagazine.com.

FOLLOW US on Facebook. We want you to “like” us. Check-out our Facebook page and keep up with the exciting things happening in Statesboro. You’ll find us at Statesboro Magazine.

TWEET A little birdie told us you might want to send little tweets about each issue. Our tag is Statesboro Mag!

WRITE US Send us an email with your comments or suggestions to editor@statesboromagazine.com. You could see your letter in our next issue!

StatesboroMagazine.com

12 July/August 2013 • 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features 12

Jemelleh Coes – 2014 Teacher of the Year Educator Uses Achievements to Inspire Others

Wr i t t en b y H a y l e y Gre e n e Phot og r ap h y b y F ra n k F o rtu n e

38 Azure Bailey Rountree’s

Sweet Success

Wr i t t en b y J e n n y S ta rl i n g F o s s Phot og r a p hy b y F ra n k F o rtu n e

48 America’s Music

Six Weeks of Celebration!

C omp i l ed b y J e n n y S ta rl i n g F o ss Phot og r ap h y s u p p l i e d b y

photo by Frank Fortune

Tr i b ec a F i l m In s ti tu te

54 DAR Awards Area Students 2013 Wr i t t en b y L i b b a S m i th Phot og r a p hy b y J a n e Ya w n 6 • Statesboro Magazine

S pecial F eature

FOCUS 2013

FEATURED COLUMNISTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 Calendar of Events.............................................................. 8 The Spiritual Pathway News & Notes................................................................ 10 Written by Rev. Dr. H. William Perry............................................ 59 Look Around.................................................................... 62 The Write Place Written by Staff............................................................................ 61 Transitions........................................................................ 66 The Garden Gate

Written by Stephanie Tames.........................................................

The View from Here Written by Ric Mandes................................................................

From the Editor...................................................................

65 July/August 2013 â€˘ 7

Calendar

july Sunday

monday 1 Muppet Puppet Camp Averitt Arts Center 9 AM – 3 PM

Tuesday 2 Life as a Dinosaur GSU Museum 9 AM – 5 PM Through January 2014

Adventures in Art Camp Averitt Arts Center 9 AM – 3 PM

3 Children’s Story Time Statesboro Regional Library 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

African Children’s Choir New Covenant Church 10 AM – 11:30 AM

8 • Statesboro Magazine

Independence Day

Firecracker Fest Mill Creek Park 4 PM – 11 PM

30 American Music Film Series With Audience Discussion ROCK N ROLL Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM – 9 PM

Fun in the Sun 5 PM – 8 PM

Statesboro Youth Chorale Live Performance Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM – 8 PM

19 Words of the Wise - Owls GSU Wildlife Center 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Zach Henderson Library’s 4th Annual Farm to Table Supper Nessmith Lane Ballroom 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Friday

Broadway Revue at the Averitt Center (Ages 12+) 9 AM – 3 PM

Blood Drive Honey Bowen Building 11 AM – 4 PM

Thursday

Ballet Fundamentals Camp Averitt Arts Center 9 AM – 3 PM

Registration for Youth Fall Classes Averitt Center July 15 – 16

Wednesday

The King and I Emma Kelly Theater July 26 – 28 7 PM – 8 PM Sunday Matinee 2 PM

Main Street Farmers Market Every Saturday 9 AM-12:30 PM Sea Island Bank Parking Lot Downtown

Saturday 6 Main Street Downtown Farmers Market Sea Island Bank Parking Lot 9 AM – 12:30 PM

13 Main Street Downtown Farmers Market Sea Island Bank Parking Lot 9 AM – 12:30 PM

20 Carol Porter: Painted Poetry Averitt Arts Center Public Exhibition Opening

27 Main Street Downtown Farmers Market Sea Island Bank Parking Lot 9 AM – 12:30 PM

Calendar

august Sunday

monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Splash out Hunger

Thursday 1 First Day of School For Bulloch County

Canned good = 1 off Through August $

Friday 2

Pep Rally 5 PM – 8 PM Pladd Dot Rock Concert Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM

Saturday 3

ADA Event 2 PM – 6 PM

Are You Afraid of Wildlife? GSU Wildlife Center 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Sandhill Ecosystems GSU Wildlife Center 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

First Day of School Bulloch Academy

Meet the Eagles Paulson Stadium 10 AM – 12 PM

American Music Film Series Broadway & Tin Pan Alley The Roaring Twenties Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM

True Spirit Gospel Singers Emma Kelly Theater 5 PM – 7:30 PM

Brooklet Peanut Festival 10 AM – 10:30 PM

American Music Film Series Blues & Gospel Goin’ Home to Mississippi Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM

July/August 2013 • 9

NEWS & NOTES

Awarded Independent Publisher Award for Best Book Marketing

l l o c h

r i n e

l d s

e n

u s e

Owners Ricky & Beth Turner recently hosted a three-day Open House event at the remodeled family business at 13573 U.S. Highway 67 South. Started by Turner’s father in 1971, Bulloch Marine has been Statesboro’s hometown boat service center for 42 years. Turner and technician Ryan Dickey are certified to service Minn Kota, MotorGuide, and Mercury, plus most major engine brands. Jeanie Jewell is the dealership’s parts specialist. Prince Preston, Sales & Marketing said, “Lowe, Xtreme Boats, and Sundance boat lines are now available for sale at the dealership with all the latest amenities needed for a great recreational family time on the water.” www.bullochmarine.com

Owners (L-R) Corley, Ricky & Beth Turner

Jenny Lynn Anderson

Local author Jenny Lynn Anderson recently received a gold medal from the Independent Publisher Book, or “IPPY,” Awards, for her efforts in marketing her 2011 book, Room 939: 15 Minutes of Horror, 20 Years of Healing. Chosen from a total of 5,300 entries, the 382 medalists represent 44 states plus the District of Columbia, five Canadian provinces, and eight countries. Conducted each year to honor the best (L-R) Austin Wayne Mock, Prince Preston, Ryan Dickey, Ricky Turner, Corley Turner, Jeanie Jewell independently published books, the IPPY Awards recognize excellence in a broad range of subjects and reward authors and S t a t e s b o r o publishers who “take chances and break new ground.” Anderson’s award was in D e n t i s t N a m e d Savannah’s Best the Best Book Marketing category. Anderson, the owner of JLA Public Statesboro Dentist, Dr. Larry HubRelations, a Statesboro marketing and bard has been selected by his peers to PR firm, added that veteran marketer Ric Savannah Magazine’s Top Dentists list Mandes served as her editor and played a again this year. Dr. Hubbard has also consistently been named Statesboro’s key role in marketing the book. The IPPY Awards, launched in 1996, Best Dentist by readers of the Statesboro is the first unaffiliated awards program Herald in the annual Best of the ‘Boro open exclusively to independent, univer- competition. Dr. Hubbard attributes sity, and self-published titles. IPPY gold, this honor to the high level of satisfacsilver, and bronze medallions are awarded tion his patients express making him the in 77 national, 22 regional and 10 e-book most recommended dentist in the area. www.statesborodentist.com categories. www.jennylynnanderson.com 10 • Statesboro Magazine

a s w e l l

’s Re

p p e r

l ly

Chosen 2013 Specialty Food Association Awards Finalist

Braswell’s Select Red Pepper Jelly has been named a Finalist for Outstanding Classic in the 2013 sofi™ Awards from the Specialty Food Association. A sofi™ Award is the top honor in the $86 billion specialty food industry. “sofi” stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation. Braswell’s Red Pepper Jelly was selected by a national panel of specialty food professionals from 1,885 entries across 30 Awards categories from Outstanding Appetizer, Antipasto, Salsa and Dip to Outstanding Vinegar. Red Pepper Jelly was one of the first products developed by Mr. Braswell in the 1940s; a classic Southern recipe that is sweet, savory and just a little spicy. “Specialty food makers bring craft, care, and joy to the foods they create. To be honored with a sofi Award nomination means the product truly stands out above the rest,” said Specialty Food Association President Ann Daw. www.Braswells.com

t z i

R. Pr

o f f i t t

Chosen New Chair of Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) recently elected new officers and executive committee members to drive the organization’s legislative advocacy and community building activities. Mitzi R. Proffitt of Brooklet was elected chairman of the 26-member body. “It’s an honor to chair this organization which is at the forefront of social and policy change for people with disabilities in Georgia and beyond,” Proffitt, the new council chair, said. “Because at least 60% of our members either have a developmental disability or a family member does, this is a knowledgeable, caring and passionate group.” Proffitt is the South Georgia manager for Parent to Parent of Georgia. She previously served on the Family Support Board in West Virginia and chairs the Three Rivers Transition Council. She is a graduate of Partners in Policy Making and has assisted families of children with disabilities for more than ten years. Proffitt and her husband, Jack, have one son and reside in Brooklet. www.GCDD.org

University Honors Program Alumnus Charles Minshew (’11) Part of Pulitzer Prize-Winning Team

Georgia Southern University Honors Program alumnus Charles Minshew (‘11) can add a Pulitzer Prize to his list of accomplishments. Minshew is on the team of the Denver Post reporters recognized by the Pulitzer Prize jury for their coverage of the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shootings on July 20, 2012. Minshew’s work at the Denver Post was as a Dow Jones News Fund summer intern, a competitive opportunity for graduate students in journalism. His contribution to the award-winning coverage of the Aurora shootings included his work as web producer to update the story online, using social media and interactive tools and developing the online timeline that provided context and updates as the story unfolded. The whole package of work considered by the Pulitzer Prize jury can be found here: http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2013-Breaking-News-Reporting July/August 2013 • 11

12 • Statesboro Magazine ›› The Culture

2 G 014

Uses Achievement Educator s r i e p O s t n h I e o r t s

by Hayley Greene photos by Frank Fortune

angston Chapel Middle School Teacher Jemelleh Coes is adding three major life events to her timeline for the 2012- 2013 school year: Bulloch County Teacher of the Year, first-time Mom, and now Georgia Teacher of the Year. As the youngest member of the LCMS faculty and only a fifth-year teacher, her peers selected her as LCMS’s Teacher of the Year in May 2012. In October she was named Bulloch County Teacher of the Year, and in May 2013 she became Georgia’s top teacher. In November 2013, she will represent Georgia in the National Teacher of the Year competition process, the winner of which will be announced in February 2014. These opportunities are allowing Coes to inspire achievement in an expanded audience of teachers and students. The Culture ‹‹ July/August 2013 • 13

“I’m excited to meet teachers from different

places and share our best practices with one another.

Teachers are doing some great things.” – Jemelleh Coes

14 • Statesboro Magazine ›› The Culture

“Ms. Coes worked hard to become a teacher and make a difference in the life of a child. Now she will have the opportunity to share her story and passion with many others. She is going to be

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We’re open daily thru August 11, then Saturdays and Sundays only from August 17 – September 1. Be sure to join us Labor Day as we conclude our summer season.

Make a splash before the summer is over!

a wonderful

representative of the teaching profession in Georgia.” – John Barge, State School Superintendent For the coming school year, Statesboro will remain Coes’ home base as she embarks on the ultimate fieldtrip, a oneyear sabbatical from the classroom to serve as the state’s education ambassador beginning July 1, 2013. She’ll take care of scheduling her appearances, which are mostly comprised of day trips, and the requests are quickly filling her calendar. Trips to Gainesville, Atlanta, Baxley, Albany, Savannah, and Washington, D.C. are already on the schedule, as well as meetings of the four state boards on which she now serves by virtue of her selection as Georgia Teacher of the Year. One of these includes being an honorary member of the state board of education.

Scan with Smartphone to view website.

www.splashintheboro.com Statesboro, GA • 912.489.3000

New book by Bill Borchert, Emmy-nominated Screenwriter, Author of My Name is Bill W. & When Love is Not Enough

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my students.” – Jemelleh Coes

Don G. AAron, Jr., MD, Sports Medicine

“Ms. Coes worked hard to become a teacher and make a difference in the life of a child,” said State School Superintendent John Barge. “Now she will have the opportunity to share her story and passion with many others. She is going to be a wonderful representative of the teaching profession in Georgia.” Both Coes and her husband, Alvie, are proponents of making education a priority and achieving academically. The dynamic pair is setting the bar high for their young daughter, because the state’s top teacher for 2014 and the state’s top technical college student for 2011 now reside under one roof. Jemelleh and Alvie both hold multiple graduate degrees from Georgia Southern University. Jemelleh holds both master’s and specialist’s degrees. She is the daughter of first-generation immigrants from Guyana, who stressed the importance of education. Alvie holds two master’s degrees including a master’s of business administration (MBA). The son of a funeral home owner/director from Unadilla, he is currently in the 18-month internship phase of obtaining his associate’s degree in Funeral Service Education from Ogeechee Technical College. It was while he was completing the initial coursework for the degree that he was awarded the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). Given annually, it’s the highest award given to technical college students from across the system’s 26 institutions. Jemelleh being named Georgia Teacher of the Year is a new journey for the couple. Taking on such a tremendous responsibility while also learning to be a new Mom is daunting, but family is stepping in to help. “Alvie and my dad will be able to travel with me at times,” Coes said. “And I’m seriously considering finding an R.V. to take us all on the road,” she laughed.

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Her upcoming treks will lead her to small and large communities, the state capitol and our nation’s capitol for events at both the White House and the Admiral’s House, which is the Vice President’s residence. “I’m excited to meet teachers from different places and share our best practices with one another,” she said. “Teachers are doing some great things.” Coes has honed her platform which centers on implementation of the new Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, the importance of science, technology, engineering, and technology education (STEM), and building community partnerships. She’ll share her message with professional education groups and community organizations. She’ll speak about the importance of public education, and she’ll help motivate teachers and inspire students at schoolyear kick-offs, graduations, and even Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. “One of Jemelleh’s goals will be to promote and retain quality teachers and talk about a variety of topics to various education, business, and community groups,” said Keisha Ford Jenrette, program manager for the Georgia Department of Education’s Excellence Recognition Program. “The last several years have been really hard on educators,” added Jenrette. “Hopefully, Jemelleh will inspire teachers to stay the course and make them realize how important they are to students as well as to the community.” In her application for state teacher of the year, Coes remarked, “It is my hope that everything that I teach in the classroom will serve as a lesson throughout the lifetime of my students.” Her classroom this year will be spread across the state and nation. It will include not only students, but parents, educators, politicians, state and national leaders, community volunteers, and business leaders. At home in Bulloch County, her message to students has been, “You have a choice choose wisely.” Wise words coming from a young teacher whose outstanding achievements in education and resulting influence will be positively affecting Georgia students and many others in education for years to come. n

2013-2014

College Career

Ready

Annual Report

FOCUS

Ready to

lead

Bulloch County Board of Education District 1

District 2

Cheri Wagner

Mike Sparks

912.852.3495 (H) cwagner@bulloch.k12.ga.us Term: 1/1/13 – 12/31/16

912.842.2460 (H) msparks@bulloch.k12.ga.us Term: 1/1/11 – 12/31/14

District 3

District 4

Dr. LeVon Wilson

Steve Hein

912.489.6688 (H) lwilson@bulloch.k12.ga.us Term: 1/1/13 – 12/31/16

912.478.0831 (W) 912.764.4395 (H) shein@georgiasouthern.edu Term: 1/1/11 – 12/31/14

Pictured Standing (L-R): Mike Sparks, Dr. LeVon Wilson, Mike Herndon, Cheri Wagner Seated (L-R): Anshul Jain, Maurice Hill, Vernon Littles, Steve Hein.

District 5

District 6

District 7

District 8

Vernon Littles

Anshul Jain

912.478.5201 (W) 912.489.1188 (H) vlittles@georgiasouthern.edu Term: 5/13/10 – 12/31/14

912.536.7109 (C) jain4boe@aol.com Term: 1/1/11 – 12/31/14

Mike Herndon, Vice Chairman

Maurice Hill, Chairman

912.681.4619 (W) 912.839.3917 (H) statesboroagency@gmail.com Term: 9/14/06 – 12/31/16

912.764.7134 (W&H) hillmaurice@yahoo.com Term: 1/1/05 – 12/31/16

Superintendent of Schools Charles G. Wilson, Jr., CPA, MBA Superintendent of Schools

ON THE COVER Bulloch County Schools is proud to be

cwilson@bulloch.k12.ga.us Assistant: Mary Henley mhenley@bulloch.k12.ga.us 912.212.8505

the home of Jemelleh Coes, 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year. Coes is a teacher at Langston Chapel Middle School.

School System Brief

2012

2013

% Change

Student Enrollment Graduation Rate (Cohort) Per Pupil Expenditures

9,776 69% $7,417

9,891 73% $7,171

1.2% 5.8% -3.3%

Ready for the Community

We are creating a new educational culture for Bulloch County by channeling the collective efforts of the community, the Board of Education, employees, parents and students. Since January 2013, the Board of Education and the employees of Bulloch County Schools have committed themselves to the task of re-focusing and transforming the school system into a continuously improving model of excellence. From this point forward-everything we do, from our strategic initiatives to our daily actions-will work together to fulfill a new mission.

Ready for College & Career

We are working to create a culture that is willing to challenge the status quo and take responsible risks. This will allow us to forge a new future for our students, providing them with not only opportunities for a challenging world but the skills and preparation to help them succeed in it. The level of enthusiasm and professionalism of our employees reflects our desire and commitment to help all of our students succeed to the best of their potential.

Ready for Consistent Results

Whether you are a school administrator, teacher, support staff, parent, student, or community stakeholder, you are a part of the district’s initiative to provide stronger consistency across the system. We all must remember that we cannot neglect our responsibilities in preparing our children to be successful at each grade level. It is also important to us that children Superintendent Charles Wilson have the same educational experiences and opportunities, no matter which school they attend. We’ve made initial key steps in that direction: (1) We are READY for the journey, To more effectively launch implementation of the Maurice Hill, Board Chairman Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, we Charles Wilson, Superintendent provided professional development to all teachers in the foundational skills and classroom practices that we want each of them to know and deliver consistently in the classroom; (2) implemented the new Common Core Georgia Performance Standards; (3) the Board of Education held a retreat to establish a district mission and vision; (4) provided leadership training for all central office administrators and school principals through the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education’s Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement; (5) launched an extensive, three-month-long community engagement process to gather stakeholder input into the school district’s strategic initiatives; and (6) became a pilot district for the Georgia Department of Education’s new teacher and leader effectiveness evaluation system.

“Our mission is to prepare our students for college and career readiness.”

General Fund

2013 2014 Change (projected) (budgeted)

Total Revenue Total Expenditures Net Worth Property

$68,360,436 $67,686,467 $4,256,445

$68,160,678 $71,709,830 TBA

- 0.3% 5.9%

Learn more at www.bulloch.k12.ga.us 3

Ready for

Community Engagement

College Career

& 4

Ready

High school students can graduate in three years on an accelerated track or earn college credits through dual enrollment, advanced placement courses or technical college certificate programs offered through the high schools.

COMMUNITY Important Issues College and Career Readiness Highly Effective & Diverse Teaching Workforce

“It’s important for us to listen.

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Education

The only way we will become the school system this community deserves, is to identify the issues and openly discuss and address them.”

Academic Rigor Partnership & Community Engagement Funding Students Needs

Superintendent Charles Wilson

School Safety and Discipline Barriers to Graduation Too Much Testing

In February through April of 2013, Bulloch County Schools implemented a community engagement process facilitated by the Georgia Partnership for Identified Strengths Excellence in Education (GPEE). More than 700 people, from all areas of Highly Effective & Efficient Leaders the community, provided input into the school system’s strategic direction Expert, Dedicated Educators through their participation in school councils, a community engagement Highly Effective Postsecondary Institutions advisory committee, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, online and paper Cohesive & Supportive Board of Education surveys, and a community education summit. “People had to try really hard to School Facilities not have a part in this process,” Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson said Strong Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Authority after he described the multiple ways that were available for residents to voice Numerous Successful Small & Large ideas on local public education. Businesses and Industries “We are promoting open dialogue in this process,” Wilson said. We are embarking on a large change process, and it would be easy for decisions to be Geographic Positioning of Bulloch County made without the public’s input, but that is not the answer. We are going to School Safety engage the community because this will give us the best results.” The “results” will go toward establishing Bulloch County School’s stra- Identified Challenges tegic direction. Dr. Donna O’Neal of the GPEE compiled the public’s input Preparing students for postsecondary study & careers and submitted a report to the BOE in the summer of 2013 “Very few school Increasing Parental Support systems would do what Bulloch County Schools is doing,” O’Neal said of the and Involvement efforts to reach out and hear all stakeholders. Addressing Funding Issues “Our children’s future is crucial to our community, and resources are Creating a Culture of limited,” Wilson said. “From this process we want ideas and initiatives that Continuous Improvement move us forward, so that we can determine the best way to create a student- Eliminating Inequity of Opportunities centered, customer-focused organization that gives our students every opporfrom School to School tunity to succeed.” Creating New & Strengthening Current Partnerships

Stakeholder Input Opportunities

# Participated

Joint Annual Meeting with School Councils & BOE

101

Focus Groups (10)

227

Community Engagement Advisory Committee Meetings (3)

Community Engagement Summit

234

Online & Paper Surveys

310

BCS participated in Georgia STEM Day to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math. BCS is also part of a Real STEM partnership with Georgia Southern University. The project will develop hands-on learning modules related to environmental concerns of Georgia’s coastal plain.

Ensuring Discipline Fairness & Consistency Developing a Highly Effective & Diverse Workforce. Watch a video of our Community Education Summit at www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/Board

BCS is one of five school systems selected by the state to implement the REACH Georgia program. BCS was awarded eight $10,000 scholarships for 2013 and 2014 for seventh grade students who have made academics, behavior, and attendance a priority.

Ready for

Strategic Planning

“Building a sense of urgency is key to helping others support change.” Julie Blackmar, Nevils Elementary principal

“If we have a focus that we all agree on,

then it will positively affect my school.” Dr. Marty Waters, Statesboro High principal

College Career

& 6

Ready

Conor Baker (center) used dual enrollment with Ogeechee Technical College and Georgia Southern University, volunteer firefighter training with the Statesboro Fire Department, and his high school’s SkillsUSA chapter to bolster his career goal of becoming a firefighter. This is an example of how a community working together can help our children be college and career ready. In May 2013, Baker graduated from both Statesboro High and OTC. With an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate already in hand, he’ll further his studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he plans to major in fire safety engineering. Baker is also the Georgia Skills USA Firefighting champion.

Bulloch County Schools’ most recent strategic planning process began in January 2013 when the Bulloch County Board of Education met for its annual planning retreat. The eight elected leaders affirmed a new vision and mission for the school system: • Vision (What we want to be): By 2020, we will be a state leader in academic achievement, cost effectiveness, and competitive workforce development. We will accomplish this by enabling our employees and working with community stakeholders to create innovative and effective solutions for success. • Mission: The mission of Bulloch County Schools is to prepare our students for college and career readiness in an education model that is economically valuable to our community. It is this new vision and mission that is helping map a new strategy for the school system. We put a methodical planning process in place that included meeting with all our school councils, hosting a community engagement process, and providing initial leadership training for our administrators. Beginning in July 2013, we will start taking the prioritized items from the community engagement process and formulating them into strategic initiatives. In order to effectively take the community input

and formulate strategic and school improvement plans, our school principals, some Board members, and the central office executive team attended the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement. There they learned how to create a performance culture, build teams, analyze data, analyze causes, develop solutions, and measure and monitor results in order to support our vision of change and strive for continuous improvement. Through this planning process, we are establishing a customer perspective that stresses the urgency of college and career readiness for our children. We are also focusing on our resources, those the community invests in public education and those returned to the community through the economic impact of education. We are aligning our internal processes to our mission by developing career pathways and programs that prepare our students to meet the needs of society and provide them with meaningful and relevant career opportunities. We are aligning our operations to maximize student achievement and developing a continuous improvement culture that supports learning and innovation. For more information on Bulloch County Schools’ strategic planning process, visit our website. www.bulloch.k12.ga.us (Key Area: Board)

“We tend to get isolated within grade levels, but it’s important for us to understand vertical alignment”

Pam Goodman, Stilson Elementary principal An excerpt from the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education states, Each grade in a child’s school career, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, is an important building block contributing to the ultimate quality of the child’s total education. If the academic content of any of these grades is not mastered at the appropriate time, there is a negative effect on the remainder of the education process. In order to have a successful school career, students must be able to read and calculate on grade level each year.” We have begun to stress to our school leaders that in order to support our mission of college and career readiness, our instructional efforts must be both horizontally aligned from one grade to the next and vertically aligned from elementary to middle to high schools.

Shelby Rice and Kayleigh Dyches, students in Southeast Bulloch High’s Health Care Services Career Pathway, were top-three state finalists in the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed) and the Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDoE) 2012 Health Information Technology Student Innovation Award. The competition challenged Georgia chapters of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) to develop a mobile application (app) to aid in the education and training of patients newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This is yet another example of the relevancy and impact of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education in our students’ lives.

Ready for

Financial “It speaks well of our fiscal management of the district’s finances

to be recognized by such a prestigious, national entity as Standard & Poor’s.” BCS Chief Financial Officer Troy Brown

Did You Know: By managing its energy use, Bulloch County Schools has reduced its energy costs by more than $ 400,000.

Fiscal year

QBE Revenues

FY ‘08

FY ‘09

FY ‘10

FY ‘11

General Funds Highlights Property Tax Revenues

44.0

41.7

37.7

40.3

FY ‘12

39.3

FY ‘13 (projected)

39.4

FY ‘14 (budgeted)

38.2

Local Option Sales Tax Revenues

15.9

16.6

Total Revenues

10.7

10.4

9.8

9.9

10.4

10.5

10.6

16.5

17.6

17.3

17.4

17.3

Revenues Over/(Under) Expenditures

Total Expenditures

Cost Cuts

72.3

71.1

73.4

71.7

69.9

72.3

68.7

68.3

68.2

Furlough Days

Employee Positions Attrition

15.8

16.4

15.2

21.0

20.3

38.0

20.1

26.5

20.9

11.5

17.4

1.1

0.6

(1.2)

5.1

71.1

67.2

5.0

68.9

2.0

0.1

67.5

2.8

0.8

3.6

71.7

1.5

Ending Fund Balance

Note: The “Costs Cut” column reflects actual costs cut from departmental budgets and from positions eliminated.

College Career

& 8

Ready

The Southeast Bulloch High School Culinary Team competed in the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia’s 2013 Georgia ProStart Culinary Championships March 23, 2013, at Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta. They won the Best Planning and Fundamentals Award, one of only three of the event’s Best of Class Awards, a major feat considering it was their first major competition. Culinary Arts is one of the career pathways available to students through Bulloch County Schools’ Career Technical and Agricultural Education program.

Stewardship Bulloch County Schools’ fiscal year is July to June. Work on a preliminary budget begins in early February each year with final Board approval usually taking place in late June. BCS has been recognized nationally for the way that it strategically manages its finances. Standard & Poor’s, the nation’s second-leading bond rating firm, raised the school system’s bond rating to an “A+.” Many school districts around the nation are having their ratings downgraded due to massive budget cuts by their state governments and lack of financial stability within their communities due to the economic recession.

requests, as the system has reduced expenditures by more than $ 11 million since 2008. Instead, some costs once traditionally born by the state’s education budget are now being passed down to local boards of education. In particular, the QBE equalization formula funding loss and the DCH non-certified health insurance premium shift mentioned previously are additional local costs over which the Board has no control at this point. Boards of Education are now faced with making additional cuts or leveraging their local tax bases. Further reducing costs or raising taxes are the only ways to affect this fund.

What Major Issues Affect the FY ’14 Budget?

Will the Board of Education Raise the Millage Rate?

In its current form, the budget’s operational requests (nonsalary and benefits) are neutral; however, there is a $3.5 million shortfall due to the following: • Further reduction of the district’s Quality Basic Education Act (QBE) allotment from the State of Georgia ($1.1 million) due to adjustments within the QBE formulas. • The Georgia Department of Community Health’s (DCH) decision to shift non-certified employee health insurance premiums from the state’s budget to the budgets of local boards of education will increase BCS’s salary and benefits costs by $862,000 in FY ’13, $1.7 million in FY ’14, and $ 2.6 million in FY ’15. • Costs associated with implementing the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards. • Teacher Retirement ($400,000) state mandated employer’s share. • Hiring of new teachers based on student population increases (500,000).

As of yet, the Board has not discussed increasing the millage rate. In June 2010, the Board adopted a Fiscal Year 2011 Budget that required raising the maintenance and operations rollback millage rate of 9.45 mills to 9.95 mills, an increase of 5.29 percent. The increase went into effect in October 2010, and property owners saw an increase of $20 per $100,000 in property value. It had been seven years since the Board had sought an increase, and the student population had grown by nearly 15 percent in that time. Prior to the increase, in accordance with state law, the Board held three public hearings for input.

How Has Bulloch County Schools Reduced Expenditures?

BCS has used long-term cost-reduction strategies, a strong reserve fund balance, federal stimulus funds, and a staff attrition formula to reduce costs; however, these strategies are no longer enough to close the gap between revenues and expenses Why is There a Shortfall in over the next five years given the recent developments in state the Proposed FY’ 2014 Budget? funding loss, mandatory state program cost increases, state-toThe $3.5 million budget deficit that exists in BCS’s General local cost shifting, and continued local tax base value erosion, Fund is not a result of increases in departmental budget mentioned previously.

As a dual enrolled student at Statesboro High and Georgia Southern University, Sherwin Davoud was given the opportunity to author and present technical conference papers to industry professionals at the SAE International World Congress and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Internal Combustion Engine Fall Technical Conference.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) gave the State Champion Portal Middle High School FFA Meats Evaluation Team insight into the careers of its Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program graders by arranging an on-site grading exercise at FPL Foods in Augusta.

Superintendentâ€™s

ReportMay 2013

Enrollment

All Students

Special Ed Students

Attendance Percent

Bulloch Co Population

Percent of Population High School Diploma

72,881 (2011)

81.1%

Elem. Schools

5,237

643

95.85%

Middle Schools

2,135

283

95.09%

High Schools

2,519

320

93.87%

Total (2012-2013)

9,891

1,246

94.94%

Demographics

White %

Black %

Hispanic %

Asian %

Other %

Female

Male

Students

53.9%

36.4%

4.4%

1.7%

3.3%

48.4%

51.6%

Cert. Staff

87.77%

11.12%

0.7%

0.01%

0.4%

81.41%

18.59%

Class. Staff

54.90%

42.1%

79.54%

20.46%

Bulloch

67.2%

29.3%

3.7%

1.5%

1.9%

50.1%

49.9%

High School Data

AP Exams # students

AP Exams # tests taken

% Scoring 3 or higher

Graduation Rate

Drop Out Rate gr 9-12

Schools Meeting AYP

2010-2011

154

209

47.37%

75.4%

4.9%

80.00%

2011-2012

192

237

49.00%

73.30%

TBA

Now CCRPI

Average Home Value

Per Cap Income

Mdn. HH Income

135,500

% Single Parent HH w/ child<18

Avg HH Size

14.7%

2.57%

31,943

24,559 (2011)

Students

Special Education

LEP

Gifted

Migrant Education

% Receive College Prep Diploma

Percent

11.6%

3.24%

5.1%

0.46%

81.17%

2013 Graduates

Total Graduates

Total High School Completers

Number

445

473

Teacher Profile

White/Non White Ratio

Typical Certificate

Characteristics

76/13

T5 (N=329)

Average Salary 55,161

Staffing

Certificated

Advanced Degree Holders

Sub/Miscellaneous

Non-Certificated

Number

710

78.4%

697

661

Transportation

Buses

Students Transported Daily

Bus Stops/Day

Bus Routes/Day

Miles Transported Daily

Number

163

10,045

5,478

101

6,007

School Nutrition

Breakfasts Daily

Lunches Daily

Free Lunches

Reduced Lunches

System Avg. Participation

Num or Percent

3,017

7,034

63.0%

8.0%

77%(lunch) 33%(breakfast)

Facilities

Schools

Spec. Entities

Curr cost to Build New ES

Curr Cost to Build New MS

Curr Cost to Build New HS

Num or Value

Net Worth Facilities Num or Value Construction

236,608

New Sq Ft

Fiscal Year 2014

1,817,659

1,735,682

893

115

Capital Projects

135/sq ft

4,256,445

97,392,244

Total Square Footage

New Classrooms

Oper. & Instr. 71,474,848

125/sq ft

Total Acres

Avg. Cost/Sq Ft

Total Budget $

Net Worth Property $

114,400 Budget

125/sq ft

SPLOST Income

State Facilities Income

10,558,608

Captial Outlay 664,700

Oper. & Instr./Pupil 7,171

Debt Service (Bonds) $

Bond Pymts (P&I) 13,716,401

School Nutrition

10,801,829

5,297,705

Salary & Benefits (Oper. & Instr.) $

61,425,476

Student

Achievement CRCT % Meet or Exceed 2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

Gr. 3 Reading

Gr. 3 Math

Gr. 3 Science

Gr. 5 Reading

Gr. 5 Math

Gr. 5 Science

Gr. 8 Reading

Gr. 8 Math

Gr. 8 Science

ACT 2009-2010

SAT

2010-2011

2011-2012

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

# Students

214

472

497

# Students

271

261

253

Score

19.4

17.8

18.4

Critical Reading

472

468

472

State

20.7

20.6

20.7

Math

472

469

477

National

21.0

21.1

Writing

455

449

455

Total

1,399

1386

1404

State

1,453

1445

1452

National

1,509

1500

1498

For more information on Bulloch County Schoolsâ€™ End of Course & Advanced Placement test scores and accountability measures, visit our website. 11

Ready for

Common Core “I am excited about the consistency that this curriculum brings to the district. The rigor will better prepare our students for college and careers.” Dr. Fran Stephens, assistant superintendent of teaching & learning

College Career

& 12

Ready

Bulloch County Schools implemented the state’s new Common Core Georgia Performance Standards into its curriculum and instruction. These are the main changes to our classroom instruction:

Bulloch County Schools provides regular counseling, advisement and career awareness opportunities for sixth, seventh and eighth graders as required by the Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy (BRIDGE) Law. Eighth grade is a key focus year. In February, with input from an assigned advisor, school counselors and parents, Eighth graders develop a staterequired Individual Graduation Plan (IGP). They select their high school electives and a college or career path.

COMMON CORE MYTHS

Common Core in General

group, whole class discussion. Emphasize effective communication practices. Q: What is Common Core? • An emphasis on informational text: Inte- • Language: Highlight the importance of A: They are common cirriculum grated literature, informational text, reading, vocabulary through a mix of conversation, standards for kindergarten through twelfth direct instruction and reading. Require grades in the areas of English language writing, speaking, listening, spelling and vocabulary to be addressed in context of arts (ELA) and mathematics, and literacy grammar across all subjects. standards for science, history/social reading, writing, speaking and listening. • Standards are more rigorous and encourage studies and technical subjects for sixth a higher form of learning. through twelfth grades. • Parents may notice that students may score Q: Who created it? Mathematics A: The National Governors Association lower than normal on assignments at first as they adjust to new learning methods. • Make sense of problems and persevere in for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, with input and • Resources no longer mean just textbooks. solving them. feedback from teachers. Textbook publishers have not aligned their • Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Q: Did the federal government content to these new curriculum standards. • Construct viable arguments and critique require the standards? Textbooks may be what we’re accustomed the reasoning of others. A: No. Georgia and 46 other states and to but they may not be what is needed, • K-5: Develop a strong concrete-to-concep- territories joined together to help develop tual foundation in number and operations, them and adopted them voluntarily. The particularly in our digital environment. Georgia Department of Education (DOE) including fractions and decimals. • Formative assessments will consist of more adopted these new standards in July activities than drill and practice worksheets. • 6-8: Develop a robust understanding of 2011. algebra, geometry, probability and statistics. Q: Is Common Core an attempt • 9-12: Apply mathematics and mathemat- to nationalize education and English Language Arts ical ways of thinking in novel situations, as lessen local control? college students and employees are regularly A: No. Common Core is not a federal • Reading: A progressive development of mandate. The federal government’s Race called upon to do. reading comprehension to ensure students th • K-9 gain more from what they read. The grade math is not radically different to the Top school grants competition did give points for states/districts having from the performance standards, but math standards, any standards, not necessarily mechanics of reading and comprehension teachers did significantly change the way the Common Core, that showed that high continue to be a cornerstone of elementary they teach the curriculum. Elementary school graduates were college and career curriculum; however, an additional, more teachers saw the most change. Some stan- ready. rigorous component of analysis and logic dards are shifted to different grade levels Q: Does Common Core have a has been added. Books for these elementary units will not be on the students’ indepen- and students are no longer being taught to required reading list? No. The standards refer to types of dent reading level. Teachers will read selec- memorize steps to solve an equation, but A: literature (i.e. American literature). The rather they must understand the concept Georgia Department of Education’s tions aloud to teach analysis and how to think. itself, which allows them to solve the frameworks for implementing Common (i.e. The Wizard of Oz, is used in first grade.) problem even if they can’t remember the Core suggest titles, but the decisions for • Writing: A focus on composing different all curriculum and reading lists are made formula. types of writing – argumentative/opinion locally. th th pieces, informative, narrative texts and • Math for 9 -12 grade is shifting back to Q: Is the government collecting research projects. Include an appendix of discrete math from integrated. Ninth grade data about students? writing samples illustrating criteria required CCGPS math (coordinate algebra) was A: No. In an executive order issued May th th to meet the standards. Incorporate use of phased in this year. Students in 10 -12 grade 15, 2013, Governor Nathan Deal stated, technology in creation, refinement and will finish the math they began (Integrated “no personally identifiable data on students collaboration in writing. Math II, III, IV). Next year Analytic Geom- and/or their families’ religion, political party affiliation, biometric information, • Speaking & Listening: A focus on speaking etry will be introduced for tenth graders. psychometric data and/or voting history and listening in a range of settings, both For more information, visit shall be collected, tracked, housed, reported or shared with the federal formal and informal – academic, smallwww.georgiastandards.org government.”

Bulloch County Schools offers fine arts instruction, performance and competition opportunities. We realize the impact that fine arts has on the academic performance of our students. In the past four years, each of our STAR students has been accomplished musicians, and two are pursuing music as a career.

Bulloch County Schools provides career awareness activities beginning in the first grade to begin orienting students about Georgia’s 17 career clusters. Fifth graders complete a career portfolio which consists of a research paper and presentation, and sixth through eighth graders participate in career surveys, job shadowing and career day opportunities.

Ready for

Accountability College & Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI)

Bulloch County Schools’ (BCS) College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) results for 2012 are shown below. The new CCRPI accountability system replaces the former Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reporting tool used under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as “No Child Left Behind (NCLB).” “We are glad to have the CCRPI as our accountability measure because it is comprehensive and robust, as opposed to AYP that focused primarily on math and language arts,” said Bulloch County Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson. CCRPI results are measured and reported in an easier-tounderstand, 100-point scale, but the volume of data and calculations behind those results are quite complex. “While the initial CCRPI results may not be what we wanted to see in every area, we now have the information, which will ground us in our efforts going forward,” Wilson said. “Our next step will be to analyze the data at the school level to develop our school improvement plans for 20132014, in conjunction with our system level strategic plan. We will also be looking internally at best practices as well as higher performing schools outside our district, so that we can consider incorporating these strategies into Bulloch County Schools’ strategic plan.” ELEMENTARY

BES

JPB

LCES

MLES

MCES

NES

PES

SZES

SES

Achievement Points

61.5

54.9

51.8

53.5

55.4

58.5

59.9

53.5

57.8

Progress Points

8.7

10.7

9.2

8.6

8.9

8.7

8.8

9.9

7.8

Achievement Gap Points

13.5

7.5

12.8

13.5

12.8

Challenge Points (ED/EL/SWD Perf Points + Exceeding Bar Points)

5.3

0.5

1.2

0.0

5.3

4.2

6.4

1.9

3.8

Bulloch CCRPI Scores

73.6

71.2

69.6

78.6

84.2

88.6

74.3

82.2

State Elementary CCRPI Scores MIDDLE SCHOOLS

LCMS

PMS

SEBMS

WJMS

HIGH SCHOOLS

PHS

SEBHS

SHS

Achievement Points

58.2

57.7

60.7

59.8

Achievement Points

46.6

51.7

48.1

Progress Points

9.3

10.1

10.3

Progress Points

10.2

7.7

9.0

Achievement Gap Points

10.5

13.5

11.25

Achievement Gap Points

13.1

11.3

9.4

4.1

4.3

1.7

74.0

75.0

68.2

Challenge Points (ED/EL/SWD Perf Points + Exceeding Bar Points)

5.8

4.6

3.9

2.7

Challenge Points (ED/EL/SWD Perf Points + Exceeding Bar Points)

Bulloch CCRPI Scores

83.8

85.9

86.9

84.1

Bulloch CCRPI Scores

State Middle School CCRPI Scores 14

83.4

81.4

State High School CCRPI Scores

72.6

Ready for

Recognition

Jemelleh Coes – Georgia Teacher of the Year

Bulloch County Schools’ 2014 Teacher of the Year Jemelleh Coes was selected as Georgia’s Teacher of the Year on May 3, 2013, at the contest’s annual banquet in Atlanta. Coes is a special education English language arts and reading teacher from Langston Chapel Middle School. As Georgia Teacher of the Year, Coes will serve as an advocate for public education in Georgia, and represent the state in the 2014 National Teacher of the Year program. Coes was named Bulloch County’s Teacher of the Year in October 2012. She was one of 155 local district teachers of the year who applied for Georgia Teacher of the Year, and in March 2013 she was named as a top-10 state finalist. She is the youngest member of LCMS’s staff, where she has spent her entire career, and she is only a fifth-year teacher. Her expertise in co-teaching techniques, which have become a model at her local campus, led her peers to initially select her as Langston’s top teacher in Spring 2012. Coes holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Southern University. Bulloch County’s only other Georgia Teacher of the Year recipient was Julie Lanier in 1985. Previous Bulloch County top-10 state finalists in the last six years were Tiffany Todd of Southeast Bulloch High School and Ashlee Mitchell, who served at Stilson Elementary at the time of her honor.

Richard McCombs SECME National Teacher of the Year

SECME, Inc. (formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) selected Statesboro High School Science Teacher Richard McCombs as its 2013 SECME National Co-Teacher of the Year. McCombs is sharing the national title with Dawn DeWitt from Palm Springs Community Middle School in Palm Beach County, Florida. McCombs and DeWitt were recognized during the 37th Annual SECME Summer Institute, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, June 16-23. According to a statement released by SECME, the two outstanding educators were selected from a pool of nominees based on submission of extensive portfolios that were adjudicated by a panel of educator and community leaders. SECME also stated that the co-winners “demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in building and/or sustaining a successful

SECME school program through creative and enriching curricular/ extracurricular activities, thereby increasing the number of historically under-represented students who are interested in, and academically prepared for, studies in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).” McCombs’ success is an ability to help students apply science to reality. He was a finalist for SECME National Teacher of the Year in 2006, and he is a four-time school-level teacher of the year, receiving the coveted accolade at all three schools he’s served: Pahokee Middle Senior and Lake Worth High Schools in Florida and twice at SHS. Last year he was also selected as Bulloch County Schools’ 2013 District Teacher of the Year and as the school system’s and region’s STAR teacher. 15

Ready for

Giving Back Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education

Since its creation in 2006, the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education has Awarded 150 innovation grants totaling $112,000.

Academic Competitions

Student Achievement

Innovative School Initiatives

F O C U S 2013-14 FOCUS is proudly produced by

The Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education provides a way for individuals, businesses and industry, and civic organizations to invest in our communityâ€™s public education. You can join in the Campaign for Academic Excellence by making a tax-deductible contribution. To learn more about this opportunity or to make an investment, contact the Foundation at 912.212.8530.

Teacher Recognitions

Scholarships

Bulloch County Schools 150 Williams Road, Suite A Statesboro, GA 30458 912.212.8500 â€˘ 912.212.8529 fax www.bulloch.k12.ga.us boe@bulloch.k12.ga.us

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38 • Statesboro Magazine ›› From Here To There

weet uccess Azure Bailey Rountree’s

her e’s a sweet buttery arom a wafting through the air at the Rountree’s c. 1800s pine cabin nestled on the family farm in Hopeulikit; it’s a warm sugary smell reminiscent of holiday parties, church socials, and afternoon teas. In a tiny kitchen built onto the cabin, Azure Bailey Rountree is wrapped in an apron standing at the stove watching a big pot of melting sugar change from grainy white crystals to creamy caramel while she stirs and stirs and stirs with a long wooden spoon pausing only to check the clock. She has it down to a science now – her famous recipe for pecan pralines. Batch after batch has been made and spooned onto greased cookie sheets until at last Azure knows just the right amounts of sugar, butter, pecans, and love needed to make every piece a delectable taste of southern charm. “I just love Southern food,” Azure said. “It allows me to be creative. I love to have a cake plate full of treats in my kitchen. My kids look forward to that!” Azure hasn’t always been so handy with a spoon. She grew up in Vidalia, GA., the daughter of Vonnie and Tony Bailey, enjoying her mother’s good cooking, but not spending enough time in the kitchen to actually learn how to prepare those southern dishes mastered by all good cooks, like biscuits, pound cake, squash casserole, and banana pudding.

by Jenny Starling Foss photos by Frank Fortune

“I just love Southern food. It allows me to be creative. I love to have a cake plate full of treats in my kitchen. My

kids look forward to that!”

– Azure Bailey Rountree From Here To There ‹‹ July/August 2013 • 39

“All those nights working over the stove, testing and tasting…I asked God to allow me to succeed so that I could help as many people as possible. I think the day Paula Deen said my praline was the best she had ever tasted, was the day he answered my prayer.” – Azure Bailey Rountree

40 • Statesboro Magazine ›› From Here To There

After high school, Azure left home to attend Georgia Southern University. She was out with friends when she first met husband, Joel, whom she married in 2001. Joel and Azure both loved children and shared the desire for a large family. “I worked as a nanny for the Wolfe family. From the time I was a teenager, I loved to keep kids and to just be around them.” she said. “I always wanted a house full.” And a house full is what she now has. Azure and Joel are the proud parents of four little ones under the age of eight: Henry, eight; James, five; Anna, three and Sarah, one. With four little mouths to feed, and days spent in the kitchen surrounded by her brood, Azure started experimenting with recipes while watching cable TV cooking shows. When she first started her quest to become a good southern cook like her mother-in-law Katherine Rountree, Azure confessed, “I could not boil water to make rice!” Then she happened upon the doyenne of southern cooking, Savannah’s own celebrity chef Paula Deen. On Deen’s shows Paula’s Best Dishes and Paula’s Home Cooking, Azure found the recipes with traditional southern flavors that she and her family preferred. Recipes like Peanut Brownie Cupcakes and Pralines. From Deen’s wise counsel Azure learned to “take a good recipe and make it great.” Deen told viewers to “improvise and tweak it to perfection.” By changing a few ingredients, Deen suggested viewers could make recipes their very own. It helped to have good food critics on hand as well. Azure’s mother-in-law, mother, and grandmother provided suggestions, while Joel served as the chief taste-tester.

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From Here To There ‹‹ July/August 2013 • 41

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While learning to cook for her family and friends, Azure was also learning about a special condition she intuitively felt her second son James had when he was born. After already having one son, Azure began to notice differences in the developmental progress of James and Henry. As James got older there were other manifesting symptoms. She and Joel sought professional help for James and he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. With the help of Speech Therapist Leah Lanier, pediatrician Dr. Ruthie Crider, and others, Azure and Joel are able to manage James’ condition and provide him with a stimulating and healthy environment in which to thrive. Azure found a great encourager in, Dr. Ruthie Crider. It was Dr. Crider who suggested Azure sell some of her more successful treats at Statesboro’s Main Street Farmers Market. Azure felt the results of trying to sell her treats at the market would help determine her future as a cook. “I was so encouraged! I sold out every time!” she said. She followed up her stints at the farmers market with the small business of taking orders for her treats from friends. “I started small at first. I paced myself. With four kids, I would cook at night while they were asleep. I couldn’t do it during the daytime. But, sometimes, I would get up at 5:00 A.M. to make a batch,” she said.

S With each success, Azure began to build on her dream of turning proceeds from her cooking talents into funds to support Autism research, her ultimate dream being to create a cookbook to sell with proceeds going to benefit the Autism Research Foundation. On Facebook one day in early May, Azure saw that her culinary idol, Paula Deen, was having a book signing along with sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen, in Savannah. Author of fourteen cookbooks featuring Southern cuisine, Deen held the book signing at her restaurant, The Lady & Sons, in downtown Savannah. Azure immediately made plans to attend the event. With excited anticipation Azure looked forward to the opportunity to personally thank Deen for teaching her to cook. She prepared a fresh batch of her “farmers market sell-out” pralines as a gift of gratitude. Azure admits, “Standing in line I was very emotional. My hands were shaking. I kept thinking – I have a future because of her.” When it became Azure’s turn to come face to face with Deen, the tears began to flow as Azure expressed her gratitude for the hours of cooking lessons and advice, and related the story of her son and her dream of having a cookbook of her own. Deen received the gift of pralines and according to Azure, “stopped the book signing to open the bag and have a taste.” Azure continued, “She passed them out to her sons and her staff and asked them all to taste the pralines. Paula said it was the best praline she had ever tasted. I couldn’t believe it! I was like Willy Wonka winning the Golden Ticket!” Next Deen asked Azure for a wholesale price list. Azure was not familiar with requirements for the food trade and at first did not understand the request. Then Deen told Azure she wanted to sell her pralines in the Lady & Sons store within the restaurant and, “I want to give 75% of the proceeds to the Autism Research Foundation.“ Azure told Deen she would research how to proceed with packaging and providing the pralines for sale.

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7/30 Rock & Roll: Dylan Plugs In‐Emma Kelly Theater (EKT)

EVENINGS ESPECIALLY FOR TEENS

8/2 Concert—Pladd Dot School of Rock (EKT)

MAIN LIBRARY VETERANS ROOM, 7 PM FEB. 15 & MARCH 15: TEEN OPEN MIC NIGHT

filmmakers and Oak Park River Forest High School graduates now in New York City, will select the top three, to be revealed at this special screening.

8/22 Broadway & Tin Pan Alley: Roaring Twen�es (EKT)

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8/27 Blues & Gospel: Goin’ Home to Mississippi (1983) (EKT) CARLOS JACKSON

9/6 Concert—The Chris Mitchell Band‐”Nothin’ but the Blues” (EKT) WHAT’S SHOWING

MARCH 20: OPRF SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE

Hear some of Chicago’s best hip hop poetry – straight from Kevin Coval’s “Louder Than a Bomb” metro competition.

MAIN LIBRARY ART GALLERY

PHOTOGRAPHER NANCY ROSE ORTENBERG 9/24 Swing Jazz: Count Basie & The Sweethearts of Rhythm (EKT) PRESENTS “THE BLUES HIGHWAY: FROM

THURSDAY, MARCH 21: TEEN MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING

MISSISSIPPI TO CHICAGO”

Oak Park resident Nancy Rose Ortenberg will share photographs in the Main Library Art Gallery from her travels to Mississippi Delta where she started by photographing blues musicians and their environments in the 1980s. While working on a photography degree at

Columbia College Chicago, she met Blues poet Sterling Plump. She and Sterling collaborated, she shooting black and white Nikon shots while Plump wrote accompanying poetry. Together they mounted photography exhibits featuring local blues musicians and live poetry by Sterling. Join us for an artist reception on Sunday, Feb. 10, from 3-5 pm in the Main Library Art Gallery.

9/26 Country & Blue Grass: Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys (EKT)

Join us for an evening of music videos on the big screen. In conjunction with America’s Music, budding filmmakers at Oak Park River Forest High School have created 3- to 4-minute music videos for their favorite songs. A panel of

10/4 Concert—Songs of the Civil War—Carter Recital Hall GSU Campus

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44 • Statesboro Magazine ›› From Here To There

It took three weeks to get a business license and to work with the Department of Agriculture on obtaining a permit to manufacture and sell her pralines. The first order came on Monday, June 10th. Paula Deen wanted to start with 50 of the treats individually wrapped and ready for display. Azure got up early to make a fresh batch for her first delivery to the restaurant. On Tuesday the 11th, the restaurant called her and placed an order for 300. Azure has been working non-stop to meet the demand since then. Katherine and Joel help with the children while she has been working on becoming more efficient. “I am excited to be starting a business and to have Paula Deen as my first customer,” Azure said. She is also working on her first cookbook. Tentatively titled, 50 of my Favorite Recipes, a portion of all sales of the book will go toward helping children with special needs in Bulloch County. Most important to Azure is the opportunity to reach people, “the gift Paula Deen gave me allows me to help others.” Azure also

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has a recipe blog and a Facebook page where she shares recipes and cooking tips. “I feel like everything has come full circle,” Azure said. “All those nights working over the stove, testing and tasting…I asked God to allow me to succeed so that I could help as many people as possible. I think the day Paula Deen said my praline was the best she had ever tasted, was the day he answered my prayer.” n Editor’s note: Azure’s first cookbook will be available November 2013 at Colonial House of Flowers and other local retailers. Find her on Facebook at Azure Bailey Rountree or Azure’s Gourmet & Suites.

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Welcome to the Boro... W. Nicholas Toussaint, MD East Georgia Womenâ€™s Center is excited to welcome Dr. Nicholas Toussaint to our medical staff. As graduate of the College of Charleston & the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Toussaint recently completed his residency within the Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, NC. He and his wife, Statesboro native, Bess Benson Toussaint and their daughter Caroline, are looking forward to serving Statesboro, Bulloch County and our surrounding areas.

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46 â€˘ Statesboro Magazine

Dr. Nicholas Toussaint, Dr. George A. Palmer, Jessica Smith, FNP-C,

Congratulations to Statesboro Dentist Dr. Larry Hubbard for being selected again by his peers as one of Savannahâ€™s Top Dentists

D.J. KSlay Photo by Henry Chalfant

International Sweethearts of Rhythm Courtesy of Jezebel Productions

Benny goodman, ca. 1937. Courtesy of Frank Driggs Collection

Louis Armstrong, ca. 1930s. Courtesy of Frank Driggs Collection

jULY– OCTOBER 2013 Zach S. Henderson Library Georgia Southern University

48 • Statesboro Magazine ›› The Culture

Documentary Films and Discussions Six Musical Motion Picture Events! Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM Presenting six documentaries of uniquely American music: blues, gospel, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass, country, rock ‘n roll, mambo, and hip hop. Film discussions will be led by GSU Professor Emeritus of Music and Averitt Center 2009 Legend of the Arts, Dr. Michael Braz.

July 30

August 27

The History of

Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues, Episode I (1930s & 1940s); Say Amen Somebody (Pioneers of Gospel Music)

Rock ‘n Roll: Episode 6 (The Mid-1960s)

Rock and roll combines many different styles: the boogie-woogie rhythms of R&B, the hillbilly twang of country, the fervor of gospel, and the moans of the blues.

August 22 Broadway: The American Musical

Explore the birth of the blues and gospel music from African roots to eventual prominence in places like Memphis, Chicago, New York, and beyond.

September 24

(The Jazz Age)

In the 1920s Broadway reflected changing America. New music written by Gershwin, Berlin, Hammerstein and Porter with syncopated rhythms borrowed from the jazz craze and their lyrics helped create a vibrant, witty new American lingo.

Ken Burns’ Jazz, Episode 6 (The 1930s); International Sweethearts of Rhythm

At its height in the years before World War II, Swing Jazz was America’s most pervasive and popular musical genre. All-girl bands toured the country while men headed off to war.

Lindy Hoppers, ca. 1938. Courtesy of Cornell Capa

September 26 High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music

This film traces the emergence of bluegrass from Appalachian descendants of Scotch-Irish settlers into a popular subgenre of country music.

October 8 Latin Music, USA, Episode 1 From Mambo to Hip Hop A South Bronx Tale

Joe Rodríguez and Orlando Marín photo by Martha Cooper/City Lore

How Mambo—the Cuban hybrid of traditional dancing fused with syncopated Afro-Caribbean rhythms— migrated to New York City from Havana in the 1940s and broke social and musical rules.

Live Performances

The Chris Mitchell Band

Chris Mitchell Band members (L-R) Chris Mitchell, Ashlee Mitchell, Matt Fallin, Brian Hendrix

Three of the American Music documentary films are highlighted with live performances by area musicians. Rock ‘n Roll, The Blues, and Civil War era music will be showcased on nights following the respective films. Rock ‘n Roll and the Blues events will be at First Friday events in downtown Statesboro at the Emma Kelly Theater beginning at 7 PM. The final live concert of Civil War era music will take place at the Carter Recital Hall on the GSU campus at 7 PM. All concerts are family entertainment, free and open to the public.

August 2 – First Friday Downtown

Chris Mitchell, born in nearby Hagan, Georgia, is a talented Rock ‘n Roll Live Concert singer, guitarist, songwriter, and composer who owns Pladd Dot Pladd Dot School of Rock Music in Statesboro. Mitchell is also creator of a custom line of Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM guitars and sound equipment. He earned a B.M. in music from Live performance of popular rock ‘n roll songs from the Pladd Georgia Southern University and has recorded two albums with Dot School of Rock led by local musician and rock ‘n roll his former band, Wallace Green; Wonderllamasoup in 1996 and enthusiast Chris Mitchell. Concert free & open to the public. evandrool in 1999. In Wallace Green, Mitchell toured the southeast club circuit September 6 – First Friday Downtown for the past fourteen years and performed with an array of artists The Blues Live in Concert that included: The Marvelous Three, Drivn’ and Cryin’, Cravin’ The Chris Mitchell Band Melon, Jupiter Coyote, The Hazies, and Floyds Funk Revival. Emma Kelly Theater 7 PM Wallace Green was a regular at Savannah’s largest outdoor Enjoy blues standards performed live by venue, the Historic Roundhouse Complex. Statesboro’s house band: The Chris Mitchell Mitchell’s namesake, The Chris Mitchell Band, is his current Band. Concert free and open to the public. gig, with wife Ashlee, Matt Fallin, and Brian Hendrix, the tight quartet with a loyal fan base draws large crowds at area perfor- October 4 – Carter Recital Hall mances.. The band’s repertoire includes a varied number of Georgia Southern Campus selections from original compositions to arrangements of rock, Civil War Music Live in Concert blues, jazz, even TV theme songs. We Are Coming Father Abram The Chris Mitchell Band now performs regularly at the Carter Recital Hall 7 PM Emma Kelly Theater, at special events, and at local festivals. Songs of the Civil War era performed by musicians Michael Lasser, Cindy Miller, and Alan Jones.

The School of Rock Pladd Dot Music offers classes in guitar and a range of other instruments for students and the general public. Those students whose interests and talents lean toward the contemporary sounds of Rock ‘n Roll enjoy the opportunity to play in the Pladd Dot house band – School of Rock. Students are chosen for School of Rock based on ability and are given the opportunity to perform in public at community special events and at the Main Street Statesboro Farmers Market. 50 • Statesboro Magazine ›› The Culture

America’s Music brought to you by… The Zach S. Henderson Library at Georgia Southern University has been awarded a $1,500 grant to host a six-week program series featuring documentary film screenings and scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular music. Henderson Library will host the America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway series to enlighten audiences about uniquely American musical genres including blues and gospel, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and country, rock n’ roll, mambo, and hip hop. This musical journey through the landscape of American history is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. America’s Music has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. “We are very excited to be bringing the America’s Music series to the Emma Kelly Theater. This is a wonderful opportunity to help introduce different types of music, show how modern music has been influenced by older styles, and bridge gaps among generations,” said Dr. Bede Mitchell, Dean of Henderson Library. America’s Music, designed for a general audience, introduces genres of twentieth-century American popular music deeply connected to the history, culture, and geography of the United States. Older and younger Americans alike will have the chance to recognize how the cultural landscape taken for granted today has been influCopyright enced by the development of popular © 2012 George musical forms discussed in this series. Nierenberg

Audience Participation An award winning nationally and internationally known music educator, composer, and clinician for more than 40 years, Dr. Braz’s pianistic and teaching skills have made music accessible to a variety of children and adults on three continents. Braz received his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of Miami, later completing a Ph.D. as a university fellow at Discussions led by Dr. Michael Braz Florida State University. Professor Emeritus of Music He has collaborated Georgia Southern University with orchestras, music festivals, and ensembles ranging from chamber music to jazz and rock. A member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternities, he has received national recognition from both organizations. A 24-year faculty member and Professor Emeritus of Music at GSU, Braz taught coursework in music education, theory, composition/arranging, and orchestration, in addition to classes on Finale music software, recreational music, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle. A book and music reviewer for various journals and publishers, Dr. Braz is in demand as a collaborative pianist, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator.

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Zach S. Henderson Library Georgia Southern University

Averitt Center for the Arts Emma Kelly Theater 33 East Main Street Statesboro, GA 912.212.ARTS (2787)

Zach S. Henderson Library Georgia Southern University 1400 Southern Drive, Bldg. 208 Statesboro, GA 912.478.5645

Carol A. Carter Recital Hall Foy Fine Arts Building GSU 84 Georgia Avenue, Bldg. 205 Statesboro, GA 912.478.5396

Our events and classes are photographed and /or recorded for promotional purposes. Please let us know if you prefer not to be photographed or videotaped. Your name will never be used without your written consent. The Culture ‹‹ July/August 2013 • 51

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s d r a w A 3 1 0 2 s t n e d u t S a e r A

DAR

2013 DAR Good Citizethens senior

from Five 2013 DA R Good Citizens, one high schools, nty Cou loch Bul class of each of the five ual DA R Awards Tea were recognized recently at the ann apter NSDA R at the held by the Archibald Bulloch Ch Lockwood Boulevard. Honey Bowen Building on Ma x Courtney Oglesby, The 2013 DA R Good Citizens are of Mi ke and Cindy Por tal Middle Hig h, Daughter Bulloch Academy, son Oglesby; Loy Anthony Waters IV, grandson of Archibald of Anthony and Sally Waters and ah Voi selle, StatesBul loc h me mb er Ida Waters; Sar Courtney Farmers & Merchants Bank; Marianne Voiselle and Front Row (L-R) Trish Tootle, boro High, daughter of Vic and ner Ethan Win r-All Ove loch member Na ncy Oglesby, Portal Middle-High School; County Bulloch gra nd-daughter of Archibald Bul IV, ers Wat y hon Conservator y, daughter Perkins, Southeast Bulloch High School; Ant Farmers & rks, Rua e Alford; Chelsea LeVant, Charter Fay ool; High Sch l County Good Citizen Academy; Sarah Voiselle, Statesboro atory. serv Con rter Cha of Caroline Brewton; and over-al lsea LeVant, loch High School, Merchants Bank. Not pictured: Che Bul ast the Sou s, kin Per an Eth winner , including dependson of Emory and Kristie Perkins. their qua lities of good citizenship for s ber mem s clas ior sen and faculty lic or private The students are chosen by their class students in accredited pub ior sen all to n ope is m gra pro patriotism. The ability, service, leadership, and of education. d standing with their state boards reference materia ls and secondary schools who are in goo r limit and without assistance or hou two a hin wit ng sitti one in Each student completed an essay each Good non-DA R members. let recognition card. In addition, submitted it for judging by three wal and ate ific cert , pin ship izen R Good Cit l county winner (Et han Perkins) DA R Good Citizens receive a DA Merchants Bank wit h the over-al & s mer Far $ from ck che d ifie Citizen also receives a 50 cert the awards. receiving $100. nda Steadman, who is in charge of Bre is r apte Ch loch Bul ald hib the Arc The Good Citizens Chairman of

Three Generations of Good Citizen Award Winners tea och Chapter NSDAR Awards Attending the Archibald Bull : ners win ions of Bulloch County recently were three generat s Ida’ och Chapter member; (L-R) Ida Waters, Archibald Bull ’s son, ers; Ida’s grandson and Sally Wat ell daughter-in-law Sally Pow demy. Aca och 3 Good Citizen of Bull Loy Anthony Waters IV, the 201

54 • Statesboro Magazine ›› Historic District

d Winners ar w A y sa Es ry to is H a ic er m A R 2013 DA r of

apte Each year the Archibald Bulloch Ch Essay tory NSDA R sponsors an American His s is Thi eight. Contest in grades five through who particia national contest and students ance through pate have an opportunity to adv ion al leve ls dis tric t, state, reg ion, and nat are always of competition. The essay topics students to history related and encourage the do some to also do independent research and creative writing. rgotten Th e 2013 essa y topic was “Fo Am eric an ool fifth grade; gston Chapel Elementary Sch Pat rio ts Wh o Sup por ted the Front Row (L-R) Jesse Tu, Lan be to Bulloch Academy ved nd, pro s Cha Thi thew .” grade; Mat Struggle for Independence ra Deal, Bulloch Academy sixth Sier grade. Back Row ald Bulloch Trinity Christian School eighth a popular topic according to Archib seventh grade; Jacob Smith, erson. And Jan had ent e Reg g. “W Archibald Bulloch Americ an History Chair Pat Lon (L-R) Jay Cook of BB&T and schools and es and free men of color who fought 250 essays written representing 10 owed their husbands into battle, slav foll who es wiv d icte dep ys essa e 17 teachers,” she said. “Th es who sided with the patriots.” messengers, and whole Indian trib and s spie as ed mentary School; Sixth serv who n ldre chi bravely, r Jesse Tu, Langston Chapel Ele nne Wi de Gra h Fift are: s ner win ay Grade Winner The 2013 American History Ess w Chand, Bulloch Academy; Eighth tthe Ma r nne Wi de Gra h ent Sev Academy; Grade Winner Sierra Dea l, Bulloch . ool Sch ian the Archibald Bulloch DA R Jacob Smith, Trinity Christ nze America History Metal from bro a ate, tific Cer r nne Wi r apte Each Winner received a Ch $ by Jay Cook of BB&T. these students.” Chapter, and a gift of 50 presented port and guidance you have given sup ful der won e “th for s her teac ents and Chairman Long thanked the par

ds 2013 DAR ROTC Awar gni zed

e reco Th ree ROTC student cadets wer Chapter NSDA R, recently by the Archibald Bulloch a ROTC units. one from eac h of the three are n bars are given Distinctive medals and campaig uating JROTC annually by the DA R to two grad TC university hig h school sen iors and one SRO nding officers in senior, each chosen by their comma the high schools consultation with the principa ls of and the head of the university. an Rose Supan Those receiving awards were Jord er of Tracy Sudan from St. Stephen, Minn., daught TC; Archibald University; Emily rgia Southern University SRO (L-R) Jordan Rose Supan, Geo and a senior at Georgia Southern JROTC Hig senior, daughter Bulloch Regent Jan Anderson; Emily McNatt, Statesboro h School McNatt, Statesboro High School st thea Sou n, erso erson, Southeast with her Commanding Officer Lt. Brian Know; Erik B. And rd. of Suz anne McNatt; Erik B. And gaa Ode Jeff or Maj of Paul and Debra Bulloch High JROTC, with his Commanding Officer Bulloch High School senior, son Col. Gary Morer. Lt. cer Offi ding man Com Not pictured: GSU SROTC n. erso And has recognized ip, good character, Since February 1967, the NSDA R ding loya lty and patriotism, leadersh stan out ed trat ons dem e hav who s ent high school and college ROTC stud ir respective schools. y and scholastic achievement in the itar mil of rd $ reco from Citizens Bank. dependability and a h student also received a 50 check eac s, bar n paig cam and als med n by the loca l chapter. In addition to the DA R in charge of the ROTC Awards give is Ray rtha Ma an airm Ch e ens Archibald Bulloch National Def Historic District ‹‹ July/August 2013 • 55

Lord

Where the

is the pilot of our ministry Mission Statement:

We at First United Methodist Preschool and Child Care Ministry seek foremost to glorify the Lord and make Him known. We want each child who attends our program to know that God loves them. By nurturing children daily in this manner, we pray that we can teach them spiritual morals and values, and that these truths will allow them to develop strong characters in a happy and secure environment.

Now Offering Infant Care:

Available Full Day Only, 6 weeks to 12 months

We offer Part Day & Full Day Care For classes 12/24 months through 5 years of age Hours:

Preschool 9 AM - 12 NOON Early Bird 7:30AM - 9 AM Lunch Bunch 12 NOON - 6 PM

Summer Care Available: Monday-Friday 8 AM - 6 PM

Philosophy:

We seek to meet the needs of preschool children ages beginning at 6 weeks through 5 years of age, in the church and community, by offering a weekday program of early childhood education in a warm Christian environment. Our infant program is full day only. We offer all other age groups a full day and a part day program. Our program is centered around the needs of the children as each staff members strives to provide a warm, accepting atmosphere that will enable the children to grow mentally, socially, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Our curriculum is designed to prepare each child to enter kindergarten at a high level of competence, confidence, and stability.

First United Methodist Preschool & Childcare Ministry

Ann N. Haskins, Director of Preschool 912.764.1876 | 101 South Main Street | Statesboro, GA 30458 | www.statesborofirst.com

First United Methodist Preschool admits students on a first-come, first-served basis during enrollment. We admit students of any race, color, national, and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the preschool. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and/or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, or policies.

THE Garden Gate

Drifting Down the

Fall Line P

eople from the Coastal Plain speak of the Fall Line as if it’s more than a physiologic phenomenon created eons ago; it’s a cultural thing. It defines speech and idioms. Think of it as the difference between Macon and Savannah. Living below the Fall Line means you can wear white and flip flops all year. However, the subtleties of the distinction eluded me for years. At first I innocently thought it was simply a way of noting which part of Georgia experienced the seasonal change known as fall, which I had discovered early in my life here was absent from the Coastal Plain, at least the kind of fall I had known as a child. But there were hints that the Fall Line meant more. Like gnats. When we moved here a gnat adopted my 10-month old daughter and stayed with her that entire first summer, always hovering at the corner of her right eye no matter how many times I shooed it away. When I complained to a neighbor, she just smiled and said it was something we’d get used to, living, as we were, below the Fall Line. It was as if a wall or giant net stopped these vexing bugs from entering the upper part of the state just like the Berlin Wall kept communism and democracy separated. Unfortunately – I thought – I was an East Berliner.

Stephanie Tames is a writer and yoga instructor. Her publications include The Washington Post Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Nature Conservancy Magazine, Self, and Parenting. Her online publications include Salon. She has been a commentator for Georgia Public Broadcasting, and is a regular contributor to Statesboro Magazine.

Not only did I have gnats, I lacked the amenities of the other side I loved: deciduous trees and hills, gardening in real dirt instead of sand. The other side had rocks rather than funny shaped brown pebbles. And I could never figure out where the line was. It wasn’t marked like the Continental Divide. The Fall Line seemed fluid, and superfluous. Why did we have this thing anyway? Having not grown up in Georgia I missed those early school lessons giving me the important state facts where I would have undoubtedly learned that the Fall Line is the Mesozoic shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean that runs across Georgia northeastward from Columbus to Augusta. It separates Upper Coastal Plain sedimentary rocks to the south from Piedmont crystalline rocks to the north. It also marked the end – or beginning – of the state’s great water transportation system. The Fall Line was an early stop sign signaling how far goods could travel up river from the Atlantic Ocean or down river to ocean ports. Despite the gnats, living below the Fall Line grew on me. I love the murky rivers and dense vegetation, the marshes and wetlands. I love every kind of palm and often find myself squinting my eyes and pretending to see a dinosaur among the fronds. And then there’s the mighty live oak whose long, thick branches reach out, beckoning, like a mother’s comforting arms. There’s sitting on front porches visiting with neighbors, expertly shooing away gnats as we sip our super sweet tea. And the best part, something blooming in the garden year-round. I still love my forays to the other side where flat lands give way to mountains. But I also find myself happy in most of what nature shares with us. Still, the transition sometimes can be difficult. On a recent trip to the Appalachians I found myself sitting on a boulder near a river enjoying the crisp air and vowing never to deal with gnats and humidity again. On the drive home I was disconsolate, and in a funk closed my eyes and fell asleep. I awoke just as we crossed a small fork of the Ogeechee River, dark, thick with vegetation and rich in history. I wasn’t sad any longer. I was home. n July/August 2013 • 57

Kali Wasdin

My grandfather is my greatest inspiration. He was a craftsman by trade and someone I truly admired. He always told me an education is something no one can take away. Poppa lost his vision before being able to teach me the art of welding.

Welding Student

I chose Ogeechee Tech’s Welding & Joining Technology Program so that I could pass this craft down through the generations of my family. I think my Poppa would be proud. My name is Kali Wasdin and this is my story.

What’s yours?

To hear more about Kali and others visit: www.ogeecheetech.edu/story

Thank you placing an ad with Statesboro Magazine. Below is your proof. One Joseph E. Kennedy Blvd. | Statesboro, GA for | 912.681.5500 | 800.646.1316

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Equal Opportunity Institution | A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia

This is my story...

SPIRITUAL PATHWAYS

You may delay, but time will not. – Benjamin Franklin

Bill Perry grew up in Live Oak, Florida, a small town just south of Valdosta, GA. After graduating from Stetson University, he earned three degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2004, he retired as pastor of First Baptist Church of Statesboro after serving that congregation for 22 years. He and his wife, Margaret, registrar of Statesboro High School before her retirement in 2005, have two daughters, five grandsons, and one granddaughter. Bill has been very much involved in community life in Statesboro. He is an avid reader and has been a runner since 1973.

omewhere in one of my desk drawers I have a Round a limb that has fallen out of a tree and thinking, “I need to pick Tuit. It was given to me some years ago by a friend that up,” but neglecting to do so day after day. Other times the who kept hearing me make statements like, “I haven’t gotten consequences of not getting around to it are far more serious. For years I have told the story of Satan meeting with three around to it yet.” It was an excuse I used for not getting things done, for putting off tasks that should have been completed junior devils who are about to be assigned to earth. Satan asks long ago. So he gave me this Round Tuit. It’s about the size of a them what techniques they will use to lead people away from quarter, made of wood, and has the words Round Tuit painted seeking God. The first junior devil says, “When I get to earth in red. So I have no excuses for failing to get around to doing I will tell everyone there is no God.” Satan frowns and says, “That won’t work! Down deep inside most people know there’s a things I’d rather put off. Procrastination is a habit many of us carry. Just putting off God.” The second junior devil says to his master, “I’ll tell everydoing what needs to be done. Sometimes it is little things: seeing body there is no hell.” Again Satan frowns and says, “That won’t work either! Most people know there is some kind of punishment for sin.” Then Satan looked to the third junior devil who said, “When I get to earth I’ll tell everybody there is no hurry!” Satan clapped his hands, smiled wickedly, and replied, “That’s it! That technique will work! Go and get started!” And he did. And he’s still enticing us to delay any kind of spiritual pursuits. Have you fallen under his spell? Are you having trouble getting around to those things that really need to be done now? In my seven decades of living I’ve learned that opportunities are like fast horses. They pause for a moment at your side. You have to mount them quickly and be on your way, or fail to and forever hear the hoof beats in the distance. Mary II could have been one of the great Queens of England but her reign was shortened by smallpox. She and her husband, William, were designated joint rulers, king and queen, by parliament in 1689. They are the ones who endowed William and Mary College in Virginia when we were still a British colony. But back to my main point. When Queen Mary was dying of smallpox in 1695 her chaplain came to visit her and said, “I have come to tell you the way of salvation.” Queen Mary’s reply? “I have not left this matter to this hour!” In other words, she had a Round Tuit and got around to it long before the last minute. Have you? n July/August 2013 • 59

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL stay connec ted The University Store |

@GSUstore | 912.478.5181 | GSUSTORE.COM

THE WRITE PLACE

Kathy Bradley named Georgia Author of the Year Local author and Statesboro Magazine contributor Kathy A. Bradley received the Georgia Author of the Year Award on June 15th at the 49th Annual G e o r g i a Author of the Year Awards held at the Kennesaw Center of Kennesaw State University. Recognized in the essay category for her book, Breathing and Walking Around: Meditations on a Life, Bradley was among winners in 11 categories chosen from 117 nominees. In recognizing Bradley’s work, the judge remarked, “I selected Kathy A. Bradley’s Breathing and Walking Around: Meditations on a Life as the winner because of its sustained study of a life rooted in place, home, family and ultimately, world. Its structure of short, diary-like entries, recording the weeks, months and years of Bradley’s life stretches into a long meditation over recurring themes, like the return of the seasons, and over critical issues, like how to love and how to trust, what to remember and what to forget, and how to live a good rather than a great life. Bradley’s rhythmic prose has poetic qualities, especially in her use of metaphors, of nature, of her farm, family, and friends, of journeys and stay overs, of religion, law, love and mistakes. Bradley presents us with everyday experiences that we all have shared and extends these experiences, making the personal universal.” The Georgia Author of the Year Awards, administered by the Georgia Writers Association, date back to 1964 and are the oldest literary awards in the southeastern United States. The awards cover the traditional categories of poetry and fiction, along with biography, history, children’s book and creative non-fiction.

Maya Van Wagenen

Statesboro Write Place essay winner of 2012, 15-year-old Statesboro High School freshman Maya Van Wagenen had her memoir, Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, recently chosen to be published in 2014 by Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. According to her father, GSU history professor Michael Van Wagenen, “At the beginning of the year she secured representation from Daniel Lazar at Writers House for her first manuscript, Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. Two weeks ago she signed a two-book deal with Dutton Penguin Books. Lazar negotiated the two-book deal with publisher Julie Strauss-Gabel. The exciting news about Maya’s first book was picked up by national media USA Today, Huffington Post, and the New Yorker earlier this month. More detailed stories were carried in Publisher’s Weekly and Media Bistro. The Dutton press release stated, “When she was eleven, her family moved to Brownsville, Texas. The convergence of her awkward adolescence, culture shock, and the violent drug war in this colorful border town inspired Maya to begin a unique social experiment. She spent her eighth grade year following a 1950s self-help book, Betty Cornell’s Teen-age Popularity Guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell, to see the effect it would have on her social standing. The results were painful, funny and profound, and included a wonderful and unexpected surprise—befriending and meeting Betty herself. When not hunched over a desktop writing, Maya enjoys reading, British Television, and chocolate. She lives with her parents and two siblings in Statesboro. She is a sophomore in high school but still shares a room with her sixth grade brother. Remarkably they have not yet killed each other.” July/August 2013 • 61

LOOK AROUND

V i s i ts H u n t e r C a tt l e Summer 2013 62 â€˘ Statesboro Magazine

photos provided by Visit Statesboro

P B S G e o r g i a T r av e l e r

GSU Paulso Stadium Expansions

Groundbreaking Ceremony Wednesday, June 5, 2013

July/August 2013 â€˘ 63

East Georgia Regional is dedicated to providing quality healthcare. In 2012, we exceeded the national benchmark for treatment times for patients suffering heart attacks. We are the first hospital to provide Single-Site DaVinci Robotic Surgery in southeast Georgia and have also established ourselves as a center of excellence in Gastroenterological Care.

Please call 912.486.1000 for more information. • 1499 Fair Rd • Statesboro • www.eastgeorgiaregional.com This hospital is partially owned by physicians. 64 • Statesboro Magazine

THE VIEW FROM HERE

The Back Porch

Revisited !

questions which took Faye and Terry further back to days of youth. We were each a weaver, wefting a patch quilt of all our yesterdays as Faye would punctuate tales about daughters J.L. and Janna. Seems Janna, the elder, was the prank demon. “And the rest of us victims,” Faye stated. It was clearly understood by Mom and J.L., Janna still has tricks up the sleeves of her persona which she pulls on husband Stan, both in the attorney business in Savannah. An afternoon. Just the four of us. Actually looking at one another. Actually listening to one another in “the first person.” My readers know full well where I will take this! Yep! Back to the days of my Granny. And the colorful memories of Sunday afternoons on her back porch. There we would be dreaming, dressed in our going to church clothes. Sitting. Rocking to that easy cadence of Mrs. Boone our next door neighbor. Jennings Overstreet all of thirteen. I made him confess the only reason he showed up and acted interested was because he loved Granny’s iced tea. Never did admit to it. But I knew the truth! Back porches have gone with the wind of “who has time to relax and listen on a Sunday afternoon?” “Who has time to just sit?” “To enjoy illustrations of lovely activities of yesteryear?” I did that afternoon at Faye’s. As I drove back to my apartment and settled in, the elegant colloquy at Faye’s stayed with me. I continued to remember Granny and her love expressed to me for ten wonderful years, most especially when we would sit on her back porch and enjoy the chorus of crickets and the bass of frogs, out on the edge of Brunswick as moon beams took position from the day’s sun rays. Yes it brought to mind another piece of Camelot - Dock Junction, a village of medium size houses offering solitude and peace on back porches. n ©iStockphoto.com/magbug

t’s a Saturday afternoon. Around two. I’m reading James Patterson. Just finished the delicacy of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I’m sipping on a fountain coke. The phone sends forth a signal. It is writing cohort J. L. Anderson with whom I rode wing man for her outstanding and frank account of the sexual invasion she experienced in Room 939: 15 Minutes of Horror, 20 Years of Healing. If that title is new to you then my assumption is you have just been born or have lived in Iceland. For the work this lady did in writing the book was totally sterling and her genius for marketing Room 939 won national and international acclaim by the IPPY committee. She and husband Mark flew to New York City to attend the award’s gala. Jenny Lynn now has a beautiful gold medallion saluting her ingenuity. Much like winning an Oscar. On the third ring I answer. “Whacha doin’?” is J.L.’s prompt question. Lord, how many times has this wonderful person, with whom I have collaborated, phoned me with that interrogative? “Chillin’,” I offered. For throughout the eleven months of harsh and demanding writing, we had committed the project would be laid aside when it came to family caring - her’s for younger daughter Allison’s senior year at Bulloch Academy and elder daughter Morgan’s second year at UGA. Thus the weekends were our normal respite. “Come over. I’m at Mom’s (Faye Sanders Martin). Terry, my cousin, is visiting for a few days. You’ll remember him from last year, and he just asked about you!” And I did! And what a wonderful discourse! Faye’s sunroom is cordial to the beauty of an afternoon. And so was our chatting. Terry asked good questions. Faye remembered many of her young days. J.L. would poke in wanting more details. And I provided to this warm and wonderful caucus observations and

Ric Mandes, a popular essayist, retired after 27 years as Director of Public Relations and Development for Georgia Southern. His memories about growing up and living in South Georgia inspire his writings. He’s a published author and former newspaper columnist for the AJC.

July/August 2013 • 65

Mrs. Virginia Parker Abbott

04.04.13

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05.16.13

Ms. Elizabeth “Betty” Hutto Allen

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do, so throw off the

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bowlines, sail away

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TRANSITIONS

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did

from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover. — Mark Twain

66 • Statesboro Magazine

Opening Your Next Window of Opportunity.

Cassie Justen

With low interest rates continuing to entice customers to purchase, refinance and invest, the professional pair of Cassie Justen and Jonathan Young stand ready to open your next window of opportunity. Call them today!

Jonathan Young

Simple Banking, Your Way. 425 Commerce Dr., Statesboro (912) 871-2971 www. cbofbc.com

“

Sea Island Bank stepped up when we needed them most. Our relationship is as strong today as it was in the beginning.

“

We know we can always count on them.

Anthony Waters and Si Waters, owners, L.A. Waters Furniture

L.A. Waters Furniture, where flames forged a bond that still holds true today. You don’t run a successful retail business for 79 years without overcoming some obstacles along the way. For Statesboro’s L.A. Waters Furniture, the greatest challenge may have come years ago when their downtown location caught fire and burned to the ground. Although it seemed all was lost, longtime financial partner Sea Island Bank was there. They stepped up with the necessary financing to rebuild. Over the years, with Sea Island Bank’s continued help, the business has expanded to 14 locations. Today, L.A. Waters Furniture is thriving under the management of second and third generation family members Si Waters and Anthony Waters. And Sea Island Bank is still there, as they have been since the beginning. It’s a unique bond forged from the challenges of the past and a shared hope for the future. Contact Sea Island Bank at 912-489-8661 or visit us online at seaislandbank.com. Loan products subject to credit approval. Sea Island Bank is a division of Synovus Bank. Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under multiple trade names across the Southeast. Divisions of Synovus are not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to deposit customers is that of one insured bank.