Category: Athens

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Athens ISD wants to let some DOGS in. That’s Dads Of Great Students (including grandfathers, uncles and other related male adults) who are willing to participate in the Watch DOGS program at Bel Air, South Athens or Athens Intermediate at least one day a year.

“The goal is to provide more of a male presence on the campus,” said Bel Air Assistant Principal Vivian Hardgrave. “The volunteer has to be related to a child on the campus.”

So if someone is the father, grandfather, uncle or adult brother of, for example, a first grader at one of the three campuses in the program, that person, if cleared, would spend the day on campus. Specifically, lunch and recess would be spent with the related child. The rest of the day, the volunteer might go to different classes in that same grade level, as well as help with drop-off and pick-up and perhaps patrol the campus, read to students or share about his career. Activities vary by campus. Volunteers are not involved in student discipline. Continue reading “Athens ISD Looking For Top Dogs (Dads)”

 

Note: This is the final story in a series profiling the principals of Athens ISD’s five main campuses.

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

If you happen to be in the halls of Athens High School, chances are good you’re going to run into Jami Ivey. She is not a principal who hides out in her office. Instead, she interacts regularly with students, getting to know them and either encouraging or admonishing them accordingly.

“I make a point to have a relationship with the kids,” she said.

Ivey’s path to leadership started with very humble beginnings in Denver City, Texas. “Growing up, we lived in houses with holes in them, and I played in the holes. I thought that was normal,” she said.

Neither of Ivey’s parents graduated from high school. She was the first person from her family to have a college degree. “I use that history to connect with kids who need to be the ones to break out of a cycle (of poverty),” she said. “I tell them their education can’t be taken from them. Education is the answer.” Continue reading “AHS Principal Jami Ivey is a ‘Student-First’ Administrator”

Note: This is the fourth in a series profiling the principals of Athens ISD’s five main campuses.

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Winston McCowan is an educator from a family of educators.

“I’m third generation,” said the Athens Middle School principal. “My grandmother taught for more than 30 years. My dad has been a college professor for more than 40 years; he spent 10 at Henderson County Junior College (now TVCC). My mom is a retired elementary principal. Before that she taught kindergarten at Bel Air and West Athens. Both my sisters are in education.” In other words, education is in his DNA.

McCowan’s very early childhood was spent in Athens, though all his formative years were in Mount Pleasant. Set on being a teacher, he graduated from Texas A&M Commerce and spent his first year teaching special education and life skills at Forney ISD. Not long into his classroom tenure, he went back to school and earned a master’s degree in secondary education. His very first year as an assistant principal at Palestine ISD, he was awarded TASSP (Texas Association of Secondary School Principals) Assistant Principal of the Year for Region VII. Continue reading “AMS principal Winston McCowan From a Family of Educators”

Note: This is the third in a series profiling the principals of Athens ISD’s five main campuses. … Tuesday: Rosalie Dennis/BAE … Wednesday: Kelye Garcie/SAE 

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

If ever a person was connected to a building, it’s Ginger Morrison. The principal at Athens Intermediate School has spent her entire 20 years as an educator at the campus. Back when the building was Athens Junior High, she was a student … and her parents both taught there, in rooms 4 and 5.

After graduating high school, Morrison went directly to cosmetology school, where she earned her license and then never spent a day using it.

“I knew that wasn’t for me,” she said. “I went back to school and got my license to teach.”

Morrison spent about 13 years as a classroom teacher, then she was the testing and instructional coordinator, a master teacher, the assistant principal (under now Assistant Superintendent Janie Sims) and is beginning her fourth year as principal at the intermediate school, which has grades 4 and 5. Continue reading “AIS Principal Morrison Believes in Servant Leadership”

Note: This is the second in a series profiling the principals of Athens ISD’s five main campuses. … Tuesday: Rosalie Dennis/BAE  

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Kelye Garcie likes to laugh. While she takes her job very seriously, she also includes cartoons in otherwise routine staff emails and is quick to joke. At the beginning of most school days, you’ll find the South Athens Elementary principal greeting children as they enter the building.

“I want to put a smile on their faces,” said Garcie. “I met them at the door all last year, and they walked up immediately for a hug or a high-five. They love it.”

Last year was Garcie’s first at Athens ISD, when she served as assistant principal. This year, she has taken over leadership of the campus and is excited to be starting back on a wave of good news. The Texas Education Agency released its accountability ratings this month. South Athens received distinction designations in four areas: academic achievement in mathematics, postsecondary readiness, top 25 percent in student progress, and top 25 percent in closing performance gaps.

“It’s an amazing thing to see the dedication of teachers, day after day, working hard,” said Garcie. “And the students just did so well.” Continue reading “Kelye Garcie Takes Over the Helm of South Athens Elementary”