Superintendent Barge Presents Fountain Award to former Camden County High School Teacher

Recognition named for Monty Fountain, a teacher and coach who helped Superintendent Barge write a better story for himself

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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May 29, 2012 -- State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge today presented the Fountain Award to Mr. John Paul Picklesimer, a retired Camden County Schools teacher who helped a former student write a better story for herself. At a surprise reception at Camden County High School, Dr. Barge surprised Mr. Picklesimer with the Fountain Award.

Mr. Picklesimer was a teacher at Camden County High School when Beth Jones – who had dropped out of high school – applied for a new high school program for at-risk teens. Mr. Picklesimer worked closely with Ms. Jones and other students to ensure they stayed on track and graduated from high school. Today, Ms. Jones is a college graduate and works as a paraprofessional at St. Marys Middle School.

In her application, Ms. Jones said, “Mr. Picklesimer saved my life by coming to Camden County Schools and starting the Optional Education program. I dropped out of school in the 8th grade at 16 years of age, ended up having a baby two weeks before my 17th birthday, and I really had no focus on what my life was going to be or where I was going. I owe Mr. P my life because without him giving me the guidance I needed I don’t know where my life might have ended up.”

The Fountain Award is named after Monty Fountain, a teacher and coach who helped Superintendent Barge and countless others write better stories 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 or at the following link: http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Excellence-Recognition/Pages/Fountain-Award.aspx.