Thirteen members of the Athens High School choir earned places in the Texas Music Educators Association Region 21 Honor Choir or All-Region Mixed Choir. Members of the Honor Choir are (top row, from left) Lindzey Roberts, Dakota Emanis, Melanie Clay, (middle row, from left) Sydney Harrod, Torryn Traxson, Rachel Benson, Jackson Killgore and Edgar Pinedo. Members of the All-Region Mixed Choir are (bottom row, from left) Jacob Moore, Bethany Oglesby, Katelyn Hanson and J Brenden Wallace. Not pictured is Honor Choir member Mackenzie Knotts. “I am thrilled at this accomplishment,” said Choir Director Bridget Scott. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)
Category: Education
AHS Outstanding Performer
2017 Athens High School graduate Trevor Baumgartner was selected as an “Outstanding Performer” at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble contest this past May. Only 2 to 3 percent of students earn this distinguished honor out of approximately 100,000 who participate. “This achievement is truly a mark of musical excellence,” wrote State Music Director Dr. Bradley Kent. “Awards of this nature do not come easily.” The announcement was made after the school year ended. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)
November superlatives at Athens ISD
Athens ISD’s November Teachers and Employee of the Month were recently celebrated at the Athens Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Pictured (from left) are Francene Kennedy, second-grade teacher at Bel Air Elementary; Brenda Meyer, third-grade teacher at Central Athens Elementary; Jodye Dalrymple, third-grade teacher at South Athens Elementary; Devon Bowie, a PE coach at Athens Middle School, grades 6 through 8; Dallas Robertson, U.S. history teacher, head baseball coach and head freshman football coach at Athens High School; Cody Smith, pre-AP and AP chemistry, and pre-AP physics teacher for Pinnacle Early College High School; and Bill Carpenter, plumber with the maintenance department. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)
Respected Athens ISD teacher discusses success in the classroom
By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Coordinator
Before Maureen Bogowitz became an award-winning educator at Athens ISD, she was a dedicated parent volunteer … as well as stay-at-home mom of two, children’s choir teacher, Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout Troop leader, and holder of a degree in English and comparative literature. In retrospect, becoming a teacher with that background seems practically inevitable.
“They roped me in through the PTO,” laughed Bogowitz just outside her office door at Athens Middle School. On her wall is the iconic image of John Lennon in a sleeveless New York City t-shirt and shades — not typical “teacher” decor, but somehow perfect for a woman who describes herself as “a dreamer.”
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Businesses enable local author to give away books at AISD
By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Coordinator
Athens-based children’s author Sharon Ellsberry, author “The Spaniel Family” books, teamed up with 12 local businesses in order to give all Athens ISD second-graders a copy of “The Spaniel Family’s Thanksgiving.”
“We’re happy to be able to do this at all three campuses this year,” said Ellsberry. “We want to let the students know that their community cares about them, and we also want to encourage the joy of reading.”
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