Academic Rigor Initiatives


2010 Gifted Program Teacher of the Year
Neusa

Cathy Dial, SEARCH Program teacher at Mt. Vernon Elementary School, has been named the 2010 Gifted Program Teacher of the Year (TOTY) by the Georgia Association for Gifted Children (GAGC).  The Awards Committee of the state professional organization selected Mrs. Dial for her demonstrated commitment to teaching gifted students, service as an advocate for gifted education, service to GAGC and other relevant professional organizations, and evidence of leadership within the school and the district
 
Mrs. Dial demonstrates a commitment to teaching gifted students in a number of ways:  When she first earned her gifted endorsement in 1999, she used the strategies and methods learned during the endorsement process to serve gifted and other high-potential students within the regular classroom.  She continued to challenge gifted children in the regular classroom,  using the gifted inclusion model, until 2003 when she transferred to provide full-time gifted services to students at Rocky Mount Elementary School in Cobb County.  In 2006, Mrs. Dial joined the faculty at Mt. Vernon Elementary where she transitioned the daily gifted program to full-day gifted resource services. She currently co-teaches 104 gifted students at Mt. Vernon.
 
Mrs. Dial is a passionate advocate for gifted education. She communicates with the regular classroom teachers and parents of her students about the progress toward advanced learning goals.   She works with her teammates to provide recommendations for providing rigor for all students, and she generously mentors other SEARCH Program teachers.  Mrs. Dial works diligently to ensure that Mt. Vernon’s gifted students are receiving challenging work in both the gifted and regular classroom.
 
Mrs. Dial has served on the Mt. Vernon Leadership Team since 2008.  She currently serves on the Hall County Curriculum Writing Committee that is responsible for creating new materials/units for the gifted teachers in Hall County.   Mrs. Dial has been the Team Leader in K, 1st, and 3rd grades.   She has also been the sponsor for various clubs offered by Mt. Vernon.  Mrs. Dial was a Drama Club sponsor for the production of Annie, choreographed dance numbers for a drama production of The Jungle Book, and sponsored statewide winners for Social Science Fair 2007. She is currently the Art Club sponsor, WordMaster Challenge Coach, and Renzulli Learning site manager for Mt. Vernon.  
 
Mrs. Dial has been named two-time Teacher of the Year, once at Rocky Mount Elementary School (2001) and again at Mt. Vernon (2010).
 
GAGC will honor Mrs. Dial at an awards ceremony to be held in Atlanta on Friday, March 12, 2010.


International Baccalaureate Programme

Johnson High School, North Hall High School and West Hall High School are proud to be authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools. These schools offer the IB Diploma Programme (DP). IB schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, and international education that we believe is important for our students. While IB DP courses are designated for high-achieving students in the 11th and 12th grades, appropriate course selections in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grades are essential for students to be prepared for the rigor in IB courses.

Interested underclassmen are encouraged to apply to the IB DP. Please visit your designated school’s IB website to learn more about the program and to download an IB application. Please feel free to contact the IB coordinator with any questions you may have. Students who attend (or will attend) Chestatee High School, East Hall High School or Flowery Branch High School and would like to participate in the IB Diploma Programme, may apply to the program at Johnson High School, Hall County’s IB Diploma Programme school of choice. Please see pg. 49 of the Hall County IB Handbook (linked at left) and contact Dr. Sandra Edwards (sandra.edwards@hallco.org) and/or Ms. Amanda Griffin (amanda.griffin@hallco.org) for more information.

Download IB Handbook Here


Hall County IB Coordinator
Dr. Sally Krisel (sally.krisel@hallco.org)

Johnson HS IB Coordinator
Ms. Amanda Griffin (amanda.griffin@hallco.org)
JHS IB Website
JHS IB Newsletter Dec. 2009
JHS IB Newsletter Dec. 2008

North Hall HS IB Coordinator
Mrs. Anita Cox (anita.cox@hallco.org)
NHHS IB Website

West Hall HS IB Coordinator
Mrs. Laurie Ecke (laurie.ecke@hallco.org)
WHHS IB Website
WHHS IB Newsletter Jan. 2009
WHHS IB Newsletter March 2009

 

MISSION

“Character, Competency, Rigor . . . for All” – this is the mission of Hall County Schools. Indeed we believe that ALL students have a right to educational experiences that challenge their individual development whether it is currently below, at, or beyond the level of their age peers. In accordance with this philosophy, Hall County provides a variety of rigorous educational programs that recognize and make provisions for the special needs of gifted and talented learners. Further, we believe that exemplary gifted education programs are not only a means of meeting the needs of students who are already achieving at advanced levels, but they can also serve as catalysts for a number of school improvement activities that improve performance of many students. With modifications in content and pacing, with attention to students’ strengths and interests, these strategies can be employed with a wide range of achievement levels to make classroom instruction more engaging and relevant. It is our mission to take a proficiency view of all students, an important first step in raising expectations for student achievement, and then to provide curriculum that maximizes the talent of each student.