Brandon Middlebrooks with parents Sonya & Daniel (seated), principal Josh Ingle & teacher Tonya GatlinATLANTA (WRCB) - State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge has named 50 students from around Georgia to his 2011-2012 Student Advisory Council. Among them are Colter Creswell from Northwest Whitfield, Erica Manis from Whitfield Career Academy and Brandon Middlebrooks from Dade County High.
Middlebrooks also placed first in nationally in an FCCLA (Family Community & Careers Leaders of America) contest in California this past summer. Principal Josh Ingle says, "Brandon is a fantastic young man and has tremendous support at home." His father Daniel teaches in Hamilton County and his mother Sonya serves as the school nurse at Davis Elementary.
As members of the council, these students will meet twice throughout the school year to advise the Superintendent and the Georgia Department of Education on how state policies are impacting the classroom. The Student Advisory Council will also discuss other education-related issues and will serve as the State Superintendent's ambassadors in their respective schools.
"The Student Advisory Council is an invaluable resource to the leadership of the Georgia Department of Education," Superintendent Barge said. "This group will provide a unique perspective on how state policies are working in the classroom and allow me the opportunity to communicate directly with students in schools throughout Georgia."
More than 700 students applied to be a member of the Student Advisory Council by filling out an application and answering an essay question. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, as well as their school and community involvement.
"We had a large number of qualified applicants this year, which made the task of choosing the members of the Student Advisory Council very difficult," Superintendent Barge said. "I think we have a great group of students, and I'm looking forward to our first meeting."
The first meeting of the Student Advisory Council will be held in November at the Georgia Department of Education in Atlanta.
