A new constellation of STAR students and STAR teachers shines among local high schools.
Each year, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation, or PAGE Foundation, honors high-achieving students at Georgia high schools through the Student Teach Achievement Recognition program, or STAR program.
To be nominated as a STAR, a student must have the highest SAT score in the school as recorded on one test date through November of his or her senior year. A student also must be in the top 10 percent or among the top 10 students, based on grade point average, in his or her class, according to PAGE.
Once a school’s STAR student is chosen, he or she, in turn, names a STAR teacher. The students choose the teachers from among educators who have been instrumental in the students’ academic development.
During the past 55 years, the STAR student program has honored more than 23,500 high school seniors, PAGE says.
Once chosen at the school level, STAR students compete for top spot within their school systems. System winners then compete in the 12 regions of the state. The regional winners advance to face off for the title of Georgia STAR student. Last year, 10 of the 21 regional winners in the state competition scored a perfect 2400 on their SATs, PAGE said in a press release at the time.
“Each STAR student has his or her unique story to tell, and an essential part of that story is the exemplary teacher who inspired and guided them to extraordinary academic success,” PAGE Foundation President Tom Wommack said in a press release announcing last year’s state winner.
Here are the 2013 STAR students and teachers from high schools in Reporter Newspapers communities.
