Decotis Honored at Reception

Deputy Superintendent Fred Oliver and Superintendent John DeCotis share a hug after Oliver presented him with a plaque in honor of his service to the school system.

It was an afternoon filled with joy, tears and wonderful memories as current and former employees gathered to celebrate the upcoming retirement of Superintendent John DeCotis.

Approximately 400 people attended the reception at the LaFayette Educational Center June 1 to honor DeCotis who has dedicated 31 years of his career as an educator to the Fayette County Public School System.

Deputy Superintendent Fred Oliver, who has been with DeCotis’ through his 11 years as superintendent, presented him with an appreciation plaque in recognition of his service and dedication to the school system. Additionally, DeCotis was presented with a poem written by a teacher at Kedron Elementary and a quilt featuring T-shirts from schools within the system that was handcrafted by another employee.

Kathy Smith and Julie Rojas, both who work in the superintendent’s office, arranged the celebration, made the desserts and put together a PowerPoint slide show featuring photos of DeCotis from his early years with the system to the present.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Breakfast Honors School Business Partners and Superintendent DeCotis

Nearly 200 business partners and school system administrators gathered for the 2010 Partners in Education (PIE) Recognition Breakfast held at New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus. The PIE program is a cooperative effort between the Fayette County Public School System and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

The purpose of the breakfast was to honor local businesses for their work with and support of Fayette County Public Schools. This year the breakfast had a secondary purpose, to honor retiring School Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis, not only for his support of the PIE program, but also for his leadership of the school system.

State School Superintendent Kathy Cox was the guest speaker. She recalled her early days of working with Dr. DeCotis when she was a teacher, first as a colleague and then after he became her boss. She said he has always been a humble person with integrity, love for the community, and a deep commitment to Fayette County Public Schools.

“It is hard to find a man like John DeCotis. He has won many awards and accolades but he never focuses on that. He is a servant leader. He is a real friend, someone who I know I can talk to and he will tell me the truth. I know our next superintendent will be different, but I hope the person is made from the same mold,” Cox said during her address.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce also recognized Dr. DeCotis for his work and support of the PIE program throughout the years. It was noted that he had never missed a recognition breakfast during his tenure as superintendent.

The highlight of the morning was the naming of the business partners of the year. Schools across Fayette submitted nominations for their partners to be considered for the award. Partners support their schools by giving monetary donations, sponsoring events, volunteering their skills and talents, and donating supplies for classroom or school-wide projects. This year’s winners were the Peachtree City Rotary Club and Fellowship of Love Church in Fayetteville.

For the first time this year, the tables were turned and the business partners were asked to nominate a partner school of the year. Schools honor their partners by keeping the community informed about donations they make and events they sponsor. Peeples Elementary was the recipient of the inaugural award.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Superintendent DeCotis Announces Retirement

Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis has announced his retirement from the school system effective July 1, 2010. His current contract will expire on June 30, 2010.
DeCotis has served the school system for 31 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and county-level administrator.

During his tenure, the Fayette County Public School System has won numerous student, staff and school awards. The school system has also been recognized at the state and national level for its academic achievements.

“I want to thank our current and previous school boards for their support, commitment and vision. I also want to thank our students, staff, parents and community members for their support and efforts over the years,” says DeCotis.

DeCotis has been recognized locally and nationally as an outstanding leader and positive role model for other educators and administrators. His most recent awards and honors include: winner of the 2009 Outstanding Educator Award from the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL); inclusion in the 2008-2009 Honors Edition of the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry; a finalist for the Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) 2009 Georgia School Superintendent of the Year award; recipient of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce 2008 Dreambuilder Award for community service; winner of the 2007 GSSA President’s Award for excellence in leadership, community involvement and professional accomplishment; and recipient of the NAACP Community Service Award.

In addition to serving the Fayette County Public School System, DeCotis has been actively involved in many community service activities. Over the years he has served as chairman of the YMCA Board of Directors; member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Advisory Board; member of the Fayette County Safe Kids Coalition; chairman of the YMCA Aquatics Facility Development Committee; youth leadership chairman of Toastmasters International; member of the Southern Federal Credit Union Board of Directors; member of the Fayette County Board of Health Board of Directors; member of the Fayette Youth Protection Home Board; and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage

DeCotis Named Outstanding Georgia Educator

Each year the membership of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) nominates fellow members for the association’s Outstanding Educator Award. One of the nominees and winner of the 2009 award is Fayette County School Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis.

“I’m honored that I was selected for this award. Our board members, staff, teachers and students have allowed me to serve them and I thank them,” says DeCotis.

To be eligible for nomination, a candidate most possess an exemplary record of service in educational leadership and exhibit leadership characteristics that are considered a positive role model for others. In choosing a winner, selection team members look for demonstration of effective leadership and management skills, how new ideas and projects have been implemented, contributions made to the educational leadership profession, profession growth activities, membership in professional organizations and community involvement.

The award was presented at the summer GAEL conference July 12-15.

-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Fayette School Counselors Association Names Counselors of the Year, Installs Officers

School Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis (center) along with this year’s counselor and advocate of the year winners: (L-R) Dionne Maddox, Linda G. Williams, Sonya Tucker and Diann Ferrante.

Fayette County's school counselors celebrated their craft and honored their colleagues during the ninth annual Fayette School Counselors Association (FSCA) Installation of Officers and Awards Ceremony.

Each year the association seeks nominations from members, teachers and administrators for those who are always going above and beyond the call of duty to help students excel at each academic level. One counselor of the year is selected from the elementary, middle and high school level. The 2009 counselors of the year are (elementary) Linda G. Williams, Brooks; (middle) Dionne Maddox, Flat Rock and (high) Sonya Tucker, McIntosh.

In addition to naming counselors of the year, the organization recognizes a non-counselor who has worked hard during the year to advance counseling programs and services at an individual school or system wide. This year’s advocate of the year award was presented to Diann Ferrante, secretary for CARE (Children at Risk in Education).

During the ceremony, the association also installed its 2009-2010 officers: Kaye Eubanks (Open Campus) president elect; Linda G. Williams (Brooks Elementary) president; Brenda Cannington (Bennett’s Mill Middle) past president; Kelly Hubbard (Robert J. Burch Elementary) secretary; Tama Matthews (Flat Rock Middle) treasurer; Stacey Patterson (Crabapple Lane Elementary) elementary school vice president; Dionne Maddox (Flat Rock Middle) middle school vice president and Hope Huey (McIntosh High) high school vice president.

Fayette has three counselors who have made the decision to retire this year. Each has dedicated at least 30 years of service to the field of education and has impacted countless students, parents and coworkers. The following retirees were honored by the association: Susanne Pinkley, Oak Grove Elementary; Fanita Duvall, Fayette County Alternative School; and Winkie Greenhaw, Sandy Creek High.

School counselors at all levels provide valuable services to students and their families as well as faculty and staff. On a daily basis they are involved in character education, violence prevention, career planning and much more.

Counselors are professional educators who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse population. They don’t work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve school success.

Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Follow on Twitter @GAFrontPage
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia

Dr. Carol Taylor of Rising Starr Middle School is Fayette County's Top Teacher for 2009

Dr. Carol Taylor (R) on stage with Mistress of Ceremonies Caroline Schmitt after being named the 2009 Fayette County Teacher of the year.

The long journey for the three finalists vying for Fayette County Teacher of the Year came to an end Thursday night at New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus, with the naming of the winner.

All eyes were fixed on Superintendent John DeCotis as he opened the sealed envelope and announced that Dr. Carol Taylor of Rising Starr Middle had been selected as the 2009 Fayette County Teacher of the Year.

The other two finalists were Pamela Kinzly of Whitewater High and Dr. Lisa Gonzalez of Robert J. Burch Elementary.

Taylor thanked a long list of teachers and administrators who she said helped pave the way for her success, including her high school English teacher.

“I have worked hard to model her level of exemplary teaching and learning to affect my students the way she affected my life. She instilled my own passion for learning and that passion is reflected in my teaching,” she says.

Taylor also thanked one of her undergraduate professors from Georgia State University, Dr. Karen Schultz, for influencing her career path in mathematics and made a loving tribute to her husband, children and in-laws for their support of her career.

“Thank you for always being there for me and understanding when I could not be with you because of my commitment to my career. I couldn’t have don this without you,” she told her family.

Besides teaching mathematics to her students, Taylor works hard to be a strong, positive role model, showing them that dreams can be achieved.

“I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, yet also a private pilot of a single engine aircraft, an advanced certified diver, windsurfer, marathon runner, student, Sunday school teacher, and piano and flute player. I approach my students with the attitude that if you can dream it, you can do it,” she said.

The finalists were selected from among 29 different teachers of the year at each school. An independent panel of judges, including last year’s TOTY, rated the application of each teacher to select the three finalists. The final judging stage consisted of a classroom observation followed by a one-on-one interview with the finalists. Judges individually rated each finalist. Their scores were combined to determine the winner.

As Fayette County's 2009 Teacher of the Year, Taylor will represent the county in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition next spring.

Fayette County's annual TOTY program honors the county’s 29 teachers of the year from each elementary, middle and high school. The program would not be possible without the generous contributions of local businesses and organizations.

TOTY winners from each school received plaques from the Coca Cola Company recognizing their achievement and a commemorative portrait courtesy of Life Touch Photography. Also, Dell Computer, Inc. donated computers to both the runners up and the TOTY. Additionally, the TOTY received a specifically designed ring from Balfour, a $1,000 check from Allan Vigil Ford of Fayetteville and roundtrip airfare for two from AirTran Airlines.

Other top sponsors included Chick-fil-A Dwarf House, Chick-fil-A Towne Center and Starr’s Mill, Coldwater Creek, Delta Community Credit Union, Fayette Animal Clinic, Southern Federal Credit Union, The Avenue Peachtree City, World Gym and numerous other local businesses and organizations.

The following school PTOs and PTSOs also supported this year’s event: Bennett’s Mill Middle, Braelinn Elementary, Robert J. Burch Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, Crabapple Lane Elementary, Fayette County High, Fayette Middle, Fayetteville Intermediate/Hood Avenue Primary, Flat Rock Middle, Huddleston Elementary, Inman Elementary, J.C. Booth Middle, Kedron Elementary, McIntosh High, Rising Starr Middle, Tyrone Elementary, Whitewater High and Whitewater Middle.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook