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Superintendent Barge Presents Fountain Award to Retired Bibb County Teacher and Principal

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org  or Keisha Ford-Jenrette, GaDOE Recognitions Office, (404) 657-2949, kford@gadoe.org
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April 9, 2012 -- State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge today presented the Fountain Award to Ella Carter, a retired teacher and elementary school principal who helped Jadun McCarthy, 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year, write a better story for himself.  At an assembly presenting Alexander II Magnet School with the 2011 School of Excellence Award, Dr. Barge surprised Ms. Carter with the Fountain Award.

Ms. Carter was the principal at Jones Elementary School in Bibb County when a young Jadun McCarthy transferred to the school after his grandparents took custody of him. Ms. Carter led a school in which achievement and performance was the norm. Every child, no matter who they were or where they came from was expected to achieve. All of the teachers under Ms. Carter’s leadership were high quality teachers.

In his application, Mr. McCarthy said, “I do not know what my story would have been had it not included Ms. Carter. Ms. Carter helped me to write a better story, making me believe that I was not simply the main character in my story; I was the author of my story. As the author of my own story, I have been able to achieve things that were unimaginable when my story began. My story is worth reading, in part, because of Ella Carter.”

The Fountain Award is named after Monty Fountain, a teacher and coach who helped Superintendent Barge and countless others write a better story for themselves. This award was created to recognize teachers who have had a tremendous impact on the education and lives of others.

Nominating a Teacher
Once each quarter, one teacher will be selected for this award. The public is invited to nominate a teacher who had a profound impact on someone's educational career. Nomination forms can be requested by emailing Keisha Ford-Jenrette at kford@gadoe.org (also attached).

Attachments:
Fountain Award Application.doc
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