September 8, 2016 – Anita White Carson Middle School eighth-grade student Paulina Macias and Stuart Baker, an eighth- grader at Lake Oconee Academy, have been selected by Superintendent Richard Woods to serve on his 2016-2017 Student Advisory Council.

The two students are among the 108 Georgia middle and high school students selected to serve on the council. Members were selected from a pool of more than
800 students who applied to participate. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, which focused on their ideas for public education and the ways their own educational experience could be improved.

In his essay, Stuart discussed the importance of communication between parents or guardians, students, and teachers so that every student educated by the public school system in Georgia could be educated successfully.

“In my essay I stated that teachers are extremely important to the system, therefore all teachers should undergo peer and student evaluations that can show whether they are truly caring and educating each child,” Stuart explained. “Lastly, I said that my education could be impacted if more emphasis was placed on important concepts rather than less significant facts.”

In addition to serving on the council, Stuart plays with the First Move Junior Golf group and is a member of the Junior Model United Nations. He also plays the piano and sings with the church choir.

Throughout the school year, the students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom. Members of the Student Advisory Council will also discuss other issues related to education, serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.

Paulina is looking forward to working with Superintendent Woods and discussing some of her ideas that could make a major difference in public education. In her essay, she stated that students should not go unpunished for their unacceptable actions for impacting the quality of her educational experience and the educational experience of other students. She also discussed that there should be a limit to the social trends used during the school day and that school lunches should be improved.

Paulina is an active member of her school community. She plays with the marching band and is a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Beta Club.

Both students believe that serving on the council will help develop their leadership and social skills as they serve as a voice for Greene County.

The first Student Advisory Council meeting will be held next week at the Georgia Department of Education office in Atlanta.

Media Contact:
Robyn Brunson, Communications Coordinator
Office: (706) 453-7688 ext. 2247
Cell phone: (706) 817-6014
Email: Robyn.Brunson@greene.k12.ga.us