Sydney Pattison, a senior at Lake Oconee Academy, has been named the 2024 PAGE STAR Student for LOA. In her role as the STAR Student, Sydney has the privilege of selecting a teacher who significantly influenced her high school journey to be honored as her STAR Teacher. Mrs. Caroline St John, Sydney’s AP Seminar, and current AP Literature teacher is her chosen STAR Teacher.
The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is sponsored, administered, and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the PAGE Foundation. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored nearly 29,000 students and the teachers they have selected as the most influential in their academic achievement. High school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average to qualify for the STAR nomination.
Sydney has been a student at Lake Oconee Academy for thirteen years and has been highly involved in LOA's academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities. She is the Executive Director of LOA Miracle, a fundraising organization for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the LOA Student Body Vice President, and a member of the National Beta Club. Sydney is Co-Captain of the LOA Cheerleading Team and is a member of the LOA Varsity Golf Team. She also works as a hostess at the Creek Club Restaurant at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
Sydney said she chose Mrs. St John because of her relationship with her students, which she said goes far beyond the classroom. “I have had the pleasure of having Mrs. St John as my AP Seminar and current AP Literature teacher and she does a phenomenal job teaching the AP course content; however, she also spends class time teaching us all the important knowledge that we need to know for high school.” Sydney further expressed that Mrs. St John taught her how to apply for college, reviewing her essays before submitting them. “If it weren’t for her SAT and ACT practice tips, I do not know if I would’ve achieved such a high score as I did to receive this recognition.”
“As a veteran teacher in the state of Georgia, I am aware of the magnitude of STAR Student and STAR Teacher. This means the world to me,” says Mrs. St John of being chosen as Sydney’s STAR Teacher. St John currently teaches AP English Literature, AP Seminar, and Creative Writing at LOA. She founded LOA’s student-led literacy magazine, The Archetype, and coordinates the Literacy Society, including LOA’s Poetry Slam. She also takes great joy in coaching students through the college essay-writing process. As a graduate of Asbury University with a degree in English Secondary Education, she also holds a master's degree in fine arts in Narrative Nonfiction writing from the Grady School at the University of Georgia.
Sydney plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to receive a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Modern Language. From there, she hopes to pursue a Law Degree for a future career in U.S. Foreign Policy. She aspires to study abroad throughout college and is excited to see what the future holds. “I am honored to be recognized as the PAGE Star Student for the LOA Class of 2024. It means a lot to me to be appreciated for my accomplishments, and I am pleased that I can use this platform to show my gratitude to all the LOA staff members and my family who helped me achieve my successes.”
As Sydney looks forward to the next phase of life, Mrs. St John no doubt believes the path before her is bright: "Sydney is a powerhouse of a student. When she gets a goal, she is an unstoppable force. I am eager to see where the future takes her.”
The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) is the state’s largest and fastest-growing educator association. Deeply committed to excellence in public education, PAGE provides unparalleled legal coverage, legislative advocacy, and professional learning opportunities to more than 95,000 teachers, administrators, and school personnel. PAGE protects, supports, and empowers members throughout all stages and facets of their career. For more information, visit their website at www.pageinc.org.