As 2023 comes to a close, AccessWDUN spoke with Hall County Schools Director of Communications and Athletics Stan Lewis about the district's goals and focuses as it moves into 2024.
Lewis said in 2023, the district combated the ongoing loss of learning from the pandemic by putting an emphasis on providing more feedback to students and staff.
“We continue to work very, very hard on literacy here in the Hall County School District," Lewis said. "Working with our students on skills with reading, writing, speaking and listening. We’re working on a plan to screen our students so we can get a baseline of where they are, and what we want to do is monitor those students regularly and then provide them feedback so they can grow in those literacy skills.”
Lewis said going into 2024, providing feedback in Hall County Schools will go beyond helping students academically.
“When you talk about feedback, you think about teacher-to-student feedback," he said. "But we're taking that and we want to make it pervasive throughout the district. You know, what sort of feedback are we giving to our principals here at the district level so that they can further help teachers support students? What sort of support is district personnel providing to principals? What sort of support is the superintendent, the board providing to district personnel?"
In 2023, Hall County Schools also worked to develop its Career, Technological, and Agricultural Education pathways. Lewis explained that the school system’s Trades in Training Program, which allows students interested in a career in construction to work under the mentorship of professionals in the industry, has been active over the course of the year.
“They've done some home inspections, they are currently building facilities out at our agribusiness center, of course, under supervision,” he said. “And they're learning a trade for which they're passionate about.”
The CTAE pathways aim to prepare students in Hall County to work in high-demand, high-paying jobs and careers in the area.
Going into the new year, the school system has several other projects in progress that are expected to be concluded in 2024.
Almost near completion is Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School, which is slated to open to students for the 2024-2025 school year.
“Carol Daniels has done a fabulous job working with our architects and putting that beautiful facility together,” Lewis said. “I was out there maybe a month ago, taking a tour and it is unbelievable. I'm just so excited for the communities of Riverbend and White Sulphur. Those students are going to be in a state-of-the-art facility.”
Additionally, thanks to a $1 million donation from the Ivester Foundation, the district is looking forward to opening three new labs at Lanier College and Career Academy, allowing students to explore a variety of careers, including Media Production, Automotive Collision Repair, Welding and Industrial Electricity.
The programs will be available to any dual–enrolled high school students in the district.
Lewis expressed excitement and gratitude for the district's upcoming plans.
“We are proud to be here and be a part of this community, and to work with this community and strengthen it through education," he said. "And we appreciate everybody's support.”
AccessWDUN is speaking with local officials across Northeast Georgia for a series of Year in Review stories to wrap up 2023. Stay tuned each day this week for new installments in this series.
