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2007 STAR student Jessica Watson picks mentor teacher for honor
They will be honored at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday, February 28, at 8 a.m. "Her classes were the best I ever had," the 17-year-old said, "because she always challenged us and made learning fun. Mrs. McLeod was one of the big reasons I want to teach." Jessica will attend the University of Georgia in the fall, majoring in education. "I want to teach high school English, and possibly college." Their student-teacher relationship goes back some five years, to the seventh grade and the basics of English. "She taught me everything I needed to know about English and grammar and reading - the key to everything I do now." The announcement was made Tuesday by Donna Hardy, Executive Director of the Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, which is the local sponsor of the program. Jessica managed not to tell anyone, not even her parents. "It was hard keeping the secret," she said. Kip Burke, Chamber president, said, "We are very proud both of gifted, hard-working students like Jessica Watson, and of extraordinary teachers such as Debbie McLeod, who year after year inspire our brightest kids to dream, to achieve, and to persevere." Jessica, daughter of Frank and Jackie Watson, was selected for the honor on the basis of her SAT scores, class standing, and scholastic averages. "She's the very top of her class," Principal Andrew Jackson said. "She's very well-rounded in so many activities and the band. She's been a very positive influence on other kids, a good role model." The Chamber will honor Watson and McLeod at the STAR Student and Teacher Recognition Ceremony and Quarterly Membership Meeting Wednesday, February 28, at the country club. Reservations should be made by e-mail at washchamb@washingtonwilkes.org (with STAR breakfast in the subject line.) Reservations may also be made by leaving a message at the Chamber, 706-678-2013. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program was created to focus public attention on Georgia's outstanding students and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. During the past 48 years, the STAR Program has honored more than 20,000 high school seniors who have in turn chosen their STAR teachers to share in this recognition. The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, Inc., was selected in 1994 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to coordinate the statewide STAR Program in association with the Chamber and the Georgia Department of Education.
Later, Watson and other system STAR students will go on to compete for region-wide honors in the STAR Regions. Region winners and their STAR teachers are invited to Atlanta to compete for the state STAR awards.
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