Leadership Awards

Georgia Chair of the State Board of Education
Wanda Barrs:  Governor Perdue appointed Wanda Barrs as the Chair of the State Board of Education. She received her masters degree from GCSU. Wanda was formerly the chair of the Bleckley County Board of Education. Ms. Barrs works closely with Project Learning Tree and many of our students have visited her family tree farm in Cochran to receive their training in that project. Ms. Barrs noted in a phone conversation with Dean Fields that the teachers employed in Bleckley County who graduated from GCSU have proven themselves to be exemplary educators. She wants to talk with us more about our program so that she can share the good things we are doing in educator preparation. Her term expired in 2006.

GACE Advisory Council and PCS Content Reviewer

Eleanor Sikes

Eleanor K. Sikes received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and her Education Specialist form the University of Georgia. She earned a Master's in English Education from Georgia College and a Bachelor's in English Education form Mercer University. Dr. Sikes retired from public education with over 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, a building level and central office administrator, and an Instructional Support Specialist. Her areas of interest and expertise are in Language Arts instruction for pre-service and in-service educators and in instruction in English composition and literature. Dr. Sikes currently serves on the English Advisory Council for the GACE exams and as a Content Reviewer for English Education programs for the Professional Standards Commission.  She is also a faculty member at Fort Valley State University.

Oconee Exceptional Children's Professional Excellence Award

In 2007-2008 The John H. Lounsbury alumni represented 7 out of 8 (88%) of the Oconee Area award winners and 1 award winner in the Heart of Georgia Area.
Amanda Tarply Yarbrough, Laurens County  Arlin Brown, Baldwin County
Dawn Brake, Hancock County Sallie Peters, Jasper County
Sue Webb, Johnson County Cass Beall, Putnam County
Sharee McDonald, Washington County Jennifer Davidson Brooks, Wilkinson County

In 2006-07 The John H. Lounsbury School of Education alumni represented 7 out of 8 (88%) of these award winners.
Teresa Moye, Johnson County Vicky Black, Putnam County
Otto Arlin Brown, Baldwin County Glenda Williams, Hancock County
Jennifer Currie, Jasper County Cheryl Davis, The Learning Center
Debra Happoldt, Wilkinson County  

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification

Donna I. Strickland, 1994 Early Childhood Education graduate in Dublin program.  She also earned her M.Ed. and Ed.S from GCSU is currently teaching in Savannah.  She earned her NBPTS accreditation in 2004.

Jo-ne Bourassa, alumna in natural science, earned her National Board Certification.  She currently teaches anatomy, physiology, and physics at West Laurens High School

 Jerry Bunch (Macon State ETTC Spotlight Coordinator), Stephen Johnson, & Anthony English (Principal at Crawford County Middle School)

Stephen Johnson's classroom was chosen by the Macon State Educational Technology Training Center to be the Spotlight Classroom for the month for April 2008. They liked his use of technology in the classroom. Stephen graduated in 2007 from the Middle Grades program. 
Link to Story
 
Cynthia Chambers, (Special Education Cohort, 2001) received the Peabody Professional Graduate Award, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, 2002