STAR Student And Teacher Recognized

2-23-16

2016 Star Teacher Dr. Andrea Irvin (L) Star Student Kayla Duarte (R)

(Cleveland)- The 2016  White County STAR Student and Teacher recognition was held Monday night during a special meeting of the Cleveland Kiwanis Club.  Meeting at Western Sizzlin, the club recognized  Kayla Duarte as the STAR Student and Dr. Andrea Irvin as the STAR Teacher, as selected by Duarte. 

The STAR, which stands for Student Teacher Achievement Recognition  program is sponsored and administered by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation.

During the meeting White County School’s  Teacher of the Year Robin Shelnut  spoke to the group.  Shelnut is an elementary school teacher,  she ask those attending to lift up educators in their prayers, she said, “it’s a stressful job, but the rewards are great, and in many ways , as an educator,  we see that reward on a daily basis, here on this earth.  When we see that light bulb come on and we see those children’s faces light up and they know they are loved.  So pray for us that we will have insight, discernment, determination and compassion to meet the needs  of our students and to make sure that they know that we love them and that we believe in them”.

After the meeting  Duarte, Who is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Duarte  said, “I was really excited and still am, of course.  It was completely unexpected, honestly I didn’t even think I would get this honor but defiantly when they told me I was beyond excited”. 

Dr. Irvin commented “ I was humbled, humbled really to tears, I did, I cried and I guess as an educator you really don’t know how much you do inspire or what you do matters. It’s a confirmation really more than anything it confirms that I am doing something and I am making a difference.”   

To obtain the STAR nomination, graduating high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date of the three part SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. Duarte will represent White County in the regional competition that will be held next month in Dahlonega.