Bartow Students Named To State Advisory Council

CARTERSVILLE, GA — More than 120 students across Georgia have been named to State School Superintendent Richard Woods' 2018-19 Student Advisory Council.

Bartow County eighth-graders Addison Payne of Woodland Middle School and Brett Lance of Adairsville Middle School and Woodland High School 11th-grade student Abby Matthews were all named to the council. This will be Addison's second consecutive year serving on the Council, as she was also appointed to serve on the body for the 2017-18 school year.

Throughout the school year, these middle and high school students will meet with Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom. Members of the Council will also discuss other issues related to education, serve as the superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.

“Every day, I’m faced with choices that will directly affect Georgia’s kids,” Woods said. “Because of the students who serve on this council, I’m better able to make sound, informed decisions. I deeply value their input and involvement.”

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Members were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants who applied to serve on the council. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, which focused on their ideas for public education as well as their community service experience. The chosen students attend public schools all over the state.

Meetings of the Student Advisory Council will be held Oct. 10, Nov. 28, Feb. 5, 2019, and May 13, 2019 for middle school students and Oct. 11, Nov. 29, Feb. 6, 2019, and May 14, 2019, for high school students. Details will be sent via email to selected students.

Photo: Addison Payne, left, with State School Superintendent Richard Woods. Credit: Bartow County School System