Schools Excel Throughout 2025
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Local school systems continued to excel throughout 2025, as several of the school systems celebrated accomplishments, awards, and growth.
Lyons Primary School and Lyons Upper Elementary School kicked off the year with excitement on January 3, as the staff celebrated Lyons Primary School’s recognition as a 2023-2024 Title I Distinguished School by the Georgia Department of Education — meaning that the school is one of the topperforming Title I schools in the state.
This designation is based on the school’s English Language Arts and Math scores on the Georgia Milestones Assessments, which are taken by the students each year, beginning in 3rd grade.
Because Lyons Primary School only serves students in grades Pre-K through 2nd grade, Lyons Primary School Principal Tracy Mulkey explained that the celebration would be honoring the Lyons Upper Elementary School 3rd Grade teachers as well, because these teachers also helped contribute to the award.
“That recognition is a joint effort between us and the 3rd grade teachers at Lyons Upper Elementary School, so we want to thank and congratulate them,” Mulkey remarked. “It is a true honor [to receive this award] because we believe that we are going to build a foundation for learning. We spend every day in Pre-K through 2nd grade working on building all of those foundation skills, and then, we send our babies to the upper elementary school and that is where it takes the dedication, commitment, collaborative culture, and true belief that all students can perform at the highest level.”
She emphasized, “That is a tremendous accomplishment – to take students in 3rd grade and be able to move them where they need to be to be recognized by the state.”
Preparing For Employment In March, Vidalia City Schools announced their partnership with the Hyundai Motor Group Group to help students with resumes and job interviews, and eventually, employment.
“All year long, one of the focuses for our high school has been the ‘3 E Framework’ – when our students graduate, they should either be employed, enlisted in the military, or enrolled and ready to go off to college,” former Vidalia High School Interim Principal Steve Freenor explained. “Traditionally, schools have done a really good job at getting people ready for the enrolled part, done an okay job with the enlisted part, and then, as the economy has changed, I think schools in general have struggled with getting [students] into the employment part.” After attending a job fair in Bryan County, Freenor remained in contact with several industry leaders until finally, a partnership was made between Hyundai Motor Group and Vidalia High School. “They are going to work with us to make sure that our kids have soft skills that they need. They will go through resumes with them and do some mock interviews, and that will culminate in an event that we will have here at the high school where they will come here and interview our kids, and be looking for our students to hire,” he elaborated. “That will be a high school student that makes $40,000 a year after graduation right out of the gate.”
Hyundai representatives worked with students to improve their resumes, and students have practiced their interview skills in mock interviews.
In addition to Hyundai, the school has also connected with local industries Trane and Dot Foods, a battery corporation in Metter, and two Hyundai MOBIS Groups, Power Train and Cockpit, to help students have more employment opportunities. School administrators spoke with representatives from each of these companies to learn what they are needing from potential employees to help prepare students to enter these positions.
Literary Team
The Vidalia High School Literary Team clinched their 12th consecutive Region Championship and was named the 2025 State Runners-Up in March.
Kingston Ryals distinguished himself by securing 1st place in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, earning his title as a back-to-back State Champion. He also joined forces with Dylan Conway to achieve State Runner-up in Duo Interpretation.
Conway had a standout day, contributing to the Boys Quartet alongside Gregory Huston, Cole Dean, and Kingston Wadley, who finished as State Runner-up, while he also earned third place in Humorous Interpretation. Additionally, Huston excelled in the Boys Solo category, capturing fourth place.
New Leadership
Vidalia High School Principal Ellis Strobridge was selected to lead the school in April, but months later announced his retirement at the end of the current school year. Strobridge explained that he feels called by God to focus his efforts elsewhere, but will continue to support the school.
Honoring a Former Teacher The Montgomery County Board of Education named the Board of Education’s auditorium after a longtime teacher in April, as they honored the legacy that Patricia Dobbins left for the district.
Dobbins previously dedicated 46 years of her life to teaching students within Montgomery County Schools, and has never waivered as a faithful supporter of the school system. Several months ago, the Board voted to dedicate the auditorium located within the Montgomery County Board of Education to Dobbins. Following the vote, Assistant Superintendent Scott Barrow worked with the Dobbins family to decide what wording should be on the plaque displayed in front of the auditorium and to plan the dedication ceremony.
STEM Program
In April, Toombs County High School received the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) Program Excellence Award, which recognized the school as one of the top programs in the nation for innovation, teaching practices, and leadership in technology and engineering education.
The school was one of twenty schools across the nation to be recognized, and one of two schools in Georgia to receive the award. This honor was announced at the ITEEA’s 87th Annual Conference, which was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 2-5.
Sponsored by ITEEA and Paxton/Patterson, the Program Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to technology, engineering, and STEM education programs, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the profession and students. These awardwinning programs serve as a standard for comparison and models for the development of other programs, with each program selected and recognized reflecting contemporary technology and engineering education teaching practices and innovation. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in their state and beyond as proponents of advancing technological and engineering literacy for all.
Honor Band
In May, over 250 students filled Vidalia High School with music, as the 5th annual Sweet Onion Area Honor Band held its largest event yet.
“The honor band came about around 5 years ago, when [Vidalia High School Assistant Band Director] Mr. [Steven] Arnold and I realized that there was not an honor band for our area. We had the idea to bring together musicians from all of the counties that grow Vidalia Onions,” former Vidalia High School Band Director Elizabeth Taylor explained. “It’s grown more and more each year since it began. We have almost 300 students here that represent 32 schools within a 20-county area.”
Fifteen middle schools and seventeen high schools traveled to Vidalia to participate in the event. Musicians from the schools were divided into three age brackets – 7th-8th Grades, 9th-10th Grades, and 11th-12th Grades – where they worked for two days to each learn six arrangements to perform at the Sweet Onion Honor Band Showcase, which was held in the Vidalia High School Parson-Reid Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon, May 3. Governor’s Leadership Academy Wheeler County Schools was named a Governor’s School Leadership Academy by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement in May.
The Academy is offered to K-12 public school districts in Georgia, and admission to the GSLA is guided by a rigorous selection process that seeks dedicated district teams eager to enhance their leadership skills and drive impactful changes within their learning community.
“We are embarking on a new approach to deepen our impact and drive sustained success,” said Laine K. Reichert, Director of Educator Leadership and Research for the Academy. “This new state-funded multiyear opportunity, beginning in July 2025, offers a collaborative framework designed to support district teams in developing and refining leadership programs aligned with their unique needs and goals,” she added, The Academy envisions a statewide network rooted in research-based practices serving as a state and national model, informing education policy and strengthening Georgia’s educator workforce.
The Academy offers a comprehensive support system designed to enhance the competencies of leadership development, fostering growth and achievement for the entire school district. Through targeted professional development, team coaching, and strategic support, the Academy equips leaders at varying levels with the tools to navigate complex challenges, foster innovation, and cultivate a culture of excellence. The goal is to create a lasting impact of sustainable and transferable independence where empowered leadership teams inspire their educators and most importantly improve student outcomes.
One of the benefits of the Academy is strengthening the workforce by developing a robust internal pipeline of educators, progressing from teacher induction to district-level leadership. This effort focuses on enhancing collective effectiveness, addressing systemic growth opportunities, and prioritizing strategic recruitment, retention, and professional development.
Superintendent of Wheeler Schools, Dr. C. Alex Alvarez, said the Academy will be launched in a July 22 meeting at the Heart of Georgia RESA in Dublin where Wheeler County will join other school districts selected for the program. He said the local initiative will involve 18 members of the Wheeler School staff, who come from a broad cross-section of personnel. Members of the school’s Instructional Design Team, assistant coaches and coaches, teacher leaders from each grade level, and central office personnel are among those who will participate in the Academy.
Phone Ban
In June, the Montgomery County Board of Education officially passed the district’s new phone ban, which prohibits any students from using phones or personal ipads in the classroom.
Students in all grades – kindergarten through 12th – are no longer be allowed to use their phones and personal iPads within the classroom, as the Board unanimously passed the
Sage Powell. Back Row, L to R: Katie Gonzales, Chorus Teacher Kellie Rowell, Zamaria Reed, Kingston Wadley, Dylan Conway, Cole Dean, Extemporaneous Speaking Coach Jillian Davis, Kingston Ryals, Literary Team Coach Margaret Pournelle.
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE The Lyons Primary School faculty and staff celebrated the school being named a Title I Distinguished School with a small ceremony in the campus media room on January 3.
Photo by Makaylee Randolph continued from page
new policy. This policy comes as a result of the state’s adoption of House Bill 340, which outlaws personal electronic devices in schools for students in elementary and middle school.
“We have discussed it, and I have met with numerous groups – staff, students, parents – and we have landed on a K-12 policy,” Superintendent Ronda Hightower emphasized. She shared that at a recent conference for school superintendents, the Education Committee Chairs for the State House of Representatives and Senate had shared that they hope to expand the legislation through to high school.
“We will be ahead of the game with that. Even with the absence, if that does not happen, we need our kids focused on school when they come to school. This decision really becomes clear when you look at what is best for kids,” she emphasized.
All-Service School
Montgomery County High School was named a National Beta Club All-Star Service School in June in recognition of the chapter’s outstanding community service.
Being named an All-Star Service School is an honor that does not come to many schools, as around 130 schools nationwide are selected for the honor each year. Anderson said that the Class of 2025 was a driving force in earning the award during the 20242025 school year, as these recent graduates alone did over 5,000 community service hours. “I’m very proud of them,” Superintendent Ronda Hightower remarked.
In addition to this, Hightower recognized Anderson, Montgomery County Middle School Beta Club Sponsor Payton Spell, and Montgomery County Middle/High School Principal Tracy Mc-Neal for helping the school system to earn the National Beta Club District of Distinction award, which is given to districts who have an active Beta Club at all levels and schools – elementary, middle, and high. This year, the honor was only given to 78 districts nationwide.
The group received plaques to display in their respective school lobbies commemorating the award.
Second in Area Land Judging Treutlen County Schools Future Farmers of America (FFA) found success at the Area 4 FFA Land Judging Career Development Event in September, as both the Treutlen Middle School and Treutlen High School Land Judging Teams placed second in the competition.
The Land Judging Career Development Event provides students the opportunity to determine land classification, use and treatment practices for selected sites. During the event, the students must consider topsoil texture and thickness, effective depth, permeability of subsoil, slope, erosion, drainage, and land capability.
The Treutlen FFA Land Judgement Team includes the Senior team – Drew Thornton, Ashley Lumpkin, Trystan Mc-Guinn, Aliyah Morris, and the Junior Team – Lindsey Forehand, Gabby Spivey, Middle School Team – Ian Dickens, Anderson Horne, Caleb Ring, Oliver Daughtry.
Both teams placed 2nd in the competition and Senior Team Member Drew Thornton was the highest scoring individual in the Area 4 competition. Highest Grad Rate in School History Vidalia High School set a new standard of excellence for their school, as the new graduation rate, which was announced in September, is the highest in the school’s history.
On Tuesday, September 30, Vidalia City Schools announced that this year’s graduation rate had reached an unprecedented level, as the rate was reported to be 96.8% for the 2024-2025 academic year. This new graduation rate not only demonstrates the dedication of students and staff, but also soars above the state average graduation rate of 87.2%.
The school’s performance also ranks it among the top schools in the state, as the district placed 26th out of the total 193 school districts in Georgia – 134 of which had graduation rates at or above 90%. Only 60 districts, including Vidalia, had a rate of over 95%.
Land Judging State Champions In October, Wheeler County Future Farmers of America (FFA) found success at the annual State Career Development Event (CDE) Competitions, as both the Junior and Senior Land Judging teams took home the title of state champions.
The Land Judging Career Development Event provides students the opportunity to determine land classification, use and treatment practices for selected sites. During the event, the students must consider topsoil texture and thickness, effective depth, permeability of subsoil, slope, erosion, drainage, and land capability.
To qualify for the state competition, the Wheeler FFA Junior and Senior Land Judging Teams first competed at the Area 4 Land Judging CDE, which was held at Riverbend Wildlife Management Area in Rockledge on September 16. In the area competition, the Wheeler FFA Junior Land Judging Team placed first in the region, as Kaden Knight had the top individual score in the competition, while Savannah Purvis finished in second place, Chassity Knight finished in fourth place, and Noah Page finished in fifth place. Meanwhile, the Wheeler FFA Senior Land Judging Team also took home top honors in the region, as Trent Butler had the second highest individual score, Carson Ford finished in fourth place, Ginnie Connell took fifth place, and Lane Connell was awarded eighth place.
At the State Competition, the Wheeler FFA Junior and Senior Land Judging Teams continued to show their excellence in the competition, as the teams swept first place. In the Junior Division, Chassity Knight was the highest placing individual in the competition, while Savannah Purvis took third place, and Kaden Knight placed fourth. In addition to these individual placers, the team also included Noah Page.
In the Senior Division, Trent Butler was one of four students to tie for first place with a perfect score, while Ginnie Connell placed third, Lane Connell finished in seventh place, and Carson Ford took tenth place. Wheeler County FFA Adviser Hannah Henry Snively emphasized that this state championship was extra special for Lane Connell, Ford, and Butler, as the trio won the Junior Land Judging State Championship three years ago, alongside their former teammate Brody Adams.
Exemplary Board
In November, the Montgomery County Board of Education (MCBOE) was recognized for its effectiveness and excellence in governing the school system through the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) 2025 Exemplary Board Recognition.
This recognition is the highest level of achievement in the GSBA’s recognition program, and acknowledges the Board’s steadfast commitment to effective governance, continuous improvement, transparency, and collaboration, all of which contribute to fostering strong schools and maximizing opportunities for every student in the district.
To earn this distinction, the Board had to meet 9 rigorous criteria that tested the Board’s strategic planning, vision, selfassessment, superintendent, board training, board norms and protocols, accreditation, board members’ ethics, and fiscal responsibility. The standards for Exemplary Boards are designed to ensure that local school boards provide outstanding leadership and accountability in service to their communities.
Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Ronda Hightower commented on the achievement. “Receiving this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our governance team,” she remarked. “We are committed to making decisions that reflect what is best for students first and foremost.” This board has demonstrated time and time again their belief that “The right decision becomes clear when the focus is on students.” Farm to School Award
Treutlen County Schools was awarded the Georgia Farm to School Award in November.
The award recognizes school districts that do an outstanding job educating students about agriculture, and that incorporate agriculture into their school nutrition. The award – which is given out annually by Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Division, in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the University of Georgia Extension Program, and the Georgia Department of Public Health – is presented to schools with locally grown items in school meals, farm to school promotions and marketing done throughout the school environment, schools who have edible gardens, and schools that have farm to school language adopted into policy or procedure.
The Treutlen County School System not only utilizes fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, but also teaches the students about these goods and where they come from. The district thrives on connecting students with the agriculture industry, and teaching them about healthy options that they can find in the surrounding areas.
Conclusion
Overall, 2025 was a year of growth, change, and achievement for the area schools, who continue to work hard and showcase excellence inside and outside the classroom.
tendent Alex Alvarez, Wheeler County High School Principal William Bell, Trent Butler, Ginnie Connell, Wheeler County FFA Adviser Hannah Henry Snively.
STATE RUNNER-UP – The Vidalia Literary Team was named the State Runner-Up at the recent State Literary Competition. Front Row, L to R: Erica Harvey, Savannah Edwards,
A SPECIAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP – Wheeler County FFA’s Senior Land Judging Team State Championship is a little extra special this year, as three of the team’s members won the Junior Land Judging Team State Championship three years ago. Front Row, L to R: Wheeler County FFA Adviser Les Bateson, Lane Connell, Carson Ford, Wheeler County FFA Adviser Bryant Oliver. Back Row, L to R: Wheeler County Schools Superin-
