Markeeta Clayton Named Principal of Northside High School 

The Houston County Board of Education named Markeeta Clayton the principal of Northside High School during the Board meeting held yesterday, Apr. 13, 2021. Clayton currently serves at Baldwin High as an assistant principal.

Clayton said, “It is an honor to be chosen as the principal of Northside High School, an educational institution with long-lasting traditions.”

Clayton has earned a Bachelor of Science and Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from Georgia College and State University and a Master of Public Health from Mercer University School of Medicine. In addition, she has two specialist degrees in Middle Grades Education and Educational Leadership, both from Georgia College and State University.

Northside High is located at 926 Green Street in Warner Robins. For more information, please contact Clayton at Markeeta.Clayton@Baldwin.k12.ga.us.

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Page Elected to Ga. Science Teachers Association Board of Directors

Dr. Nicole Page, Houston County School District Instructional Coach for Science, grades 6-12, was elected to serve on the Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA) Board of Directors as president-elect. Dr. Page will assume her duties on April 24, 2021.

Dr. Page commented, “I am excited about the opportunity to work with other science education teachers, leaders, and advocates from across the state. It will be an honor to support science teaching and learning while serving on the GSTA Board as president-elect.”

Dr. Page has been with the Houston County School District for 24 years. For more information, please contact her at Nicole.Page@hcbe.net. To learn more about GSTA, please visit georgiascienceteacher.org/.

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Kindergarten Registration Begins May 3

The Houston County School District will register children for kindergarten beginning May 3, 2021, for the 2021-2022 school year. Registration takes place at the Central Registration Office, located at 410 Bear Country Blvd. in Warner Robins.

Parents are encouraged to follow three steps to register their child:

1. Schedule an appointment online;
2. Pre-register online;
3. Bring the proper documents to the appointment at Central Registration.

Central Registration is open during the week from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., except for Wednesday. Wednesday hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Online appointments may be scheduled at www.hcbe.net. Click on the Parents tab and then Central Registration. Online registration should be completed using a computer prior to the appointment at Central Registration.

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Computer Programming Offered in Partnership with RAFB & MGSU; Open House April 8

The Houston County School District, Robins Air Force Base, and Middle Georgia State University have partnered to offer high school students computer programming dual-enrollment courses.  Beginning this fall, classes will be held at the new R. Wayne Lowe Synergy Innovation Center in Warner Robins.

Interested students and parents are invited to an information session and tour on April 8, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 100 Park Place Drive in Warner Robins.  Attendees are asked to please observe safety protocols by following the three Ws:  wear a face covering; wait at least 6 feet apart; and wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.  For more information, contact Sabrina Phelps, Houston County Career Academy Principal, at Sabrina.Phelps@hcbe.net.

To see the flyer, please click here.

Perry High Teacher Named Southeastern Region Art Director

Perry High School Visual Arts Instructor, Cathy Heller, has been named the National Art Education Association (NAEA) Southeastern Region Secondary Director. The region covers 10 states plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. She will assume her role as Secondary Director on April 1, 2021.

Heller began Perry High’s art program in 2005. She is a long-time active supporter of arts education in Georgia’s schools, including serving as the Georgia Art Education Association (GAEA) president. In 2020, she was named the Georgia Secondary Art Educator of the Year.

Perry High School is located at 1307 North Avenue in Perry. Principal Wesley “Del” Martin may be reached at 478-988-6298 or Wesley.Martin@hcbe.net. Heller may be contacted at Catherine.Heller@hcbe.net. For more information about NAEA, visit www.arteducators.org.

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Perry High Teacher Wins Regional Playwriting Instruction Award

Perry High School Theatre Teacher and Performing Arts Director, Joe Sendek, received the 2020 Innovative Playwriting Instruction Award from the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), which covers 10 states. Sendek was honored during the annual SETC Convention virtual awards ceremony on Mar. 6, 2021. He received convention registration, one-year SETC membership, and a $250 cash award.

“Receiving this award is a humbling experience to be sure,” commented Sendek. “I always enjoy hearing what my students create. When they take a part of history - especially local history - and develop a monologue or scene, it makes me incredibly proud. Being selected by the Southeastern Theatre Conference for this award is an amazing achievement!"

Susie Prueter, SETC Executive Director, commented that Sendek created, "wonderful, inspiring work in the classroom and beyond!"

To read the complete news release, please click here.

HCCA Culinary Arts Students Win First at State Awards

Houston County Career Academy participated in the 2020-2021 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Virtual Leadership Conference. Students won three first-place STAR awards. Congratulations to the following students (pictured from left):

• Olivia Kinser ~ Veterans High, 1st place, Baking and Pastry;
• Shayla Pope ~ Northside High, 1st place, Repurpose and Redesign; and
• JayVian Stone ~ Warner Robins High, 1st place, Culinary Arts.

Chef Suni Wilson and FCCLA advisor said, “These students are truly the face of the future. They competed in activities that highlighted not only their knowledge but also their leadership skills. I am so proud of these students for their hard work and preparation!”

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Young Georgia Authors Advance to Region Competition

The Houston County School District is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition. The Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Council of Teachers of English sponsor this annual contest for students in grades K-12. District winners now advance to the Middle Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) competition in hopes of advancing to the state competition.  Find the full list of district winners here.

This contest encourages students to develop writing that represents their best efforts. Participants submitted an original essay, story, or poem on any subject matter. The district winners are listed by grade, along with the title of their essay or story and their school.

Congratulations to all the students who were chosen as grade-level winners, as well as to their teachers who nurture their students’ craft of writing.

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Veterans High Student Wins National T-shirt Design Contest

A Veterans High School student won a national t-shirt design contest. Skyla Applegate, a sophomore, is pictured with her winning “Reach and Teach” t-shirt design.

As the 2021 winner, Applegate will receive the first official Reach and Teach t-shirt and a prize package. She will also be highlighted in the company newsletter distributed in April 2021, recognized on the company’s social media accounts and receive a letter of recommendation from the Creative Officer. Reach and Teach will have the rights to use her design to raise funds during 2021.

Veterans High School is located at 340 Piney Grove Road in Kathleen. Dr. Amy Barbour serves as principal and Dr. Sherry Johnson serves as the CTAE Supervisor. Dr. Barbour may be reached at 478-218-7537 or Amy.Barbour@hcbe.net. For more information, click here to read more about the contest.

To read the complete news release, please click here.

Seniors Win Fine Art Society Scholarships

Two Houston County School District seniors won art scholarships from the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia. Kailee Wang, Houston County High, won first place and a $1,000 scholarship. Emma Hughes, Veterans High, won second place and a $500 scholarship.

The annual student art show was held at the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia in Warner Robins, Mar. 12-19, 2021. Typically, the Fine Art Society hosts a show open to all Houston County students. Due to COVID-related precautions, the 2021 contest was only open to seniors who plan to attend college next fall as an art major. The society received entries from six talented artists.

Olethia Thomas, the district’s Fine Arts Coordinator, commented, “We have very talented students in our Fine Arts Program and it’s heartwarming to see them recognized for their hard work and creativity. Their potential is limitless. Many thanks to the Fine Art Society members for their continued support of our high school seniors. Their generosity truly makes a difference."

To read the complete news release, please click here.