Greene County students showcase FCCLA wins, internships and TEDx highlights at April board meeting

Felicia Wright Austin, co-advisor for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter, told the Greene County Board of Education that the local chapter earned 19 state ribbons and was named Georgia FCCLA National Program Winner for its Stand Up project, which addresses issues affecting peers and the community.

"This year has been an exciting and successful year for our students and I'm proud of their hard work," Felicia Wright Austin said, noting broad student and teacher participation in the district’s leadership activities.

Eleventh-grader Ariana Grimley described the chapter’s Fine Motor Heroes project, which partnered students with elementary pupils on fine motor skill activities. Ariana said one student qualified for the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., in July and that the chapter is fundraising through popcorn sales and other school-based enterprises to support travel.

"We have our school-based enterprise where we sell different items," Ariana said, adding the chapter will seek community support for national travel.

Laura Ringer, early childhood education instructor and co-advisor, presented the district’s three-level ECE pathway and its internship program. She said pathway completers receive repeated weekly lab experience in pre-K through fifth-grade classrooms and that the program is intended to help "grow our own" teachers and provide career exposure for students exploring education, healthcare and social services.

Student Jay Walker, a senior, described his weekly internship duties in a pre-K classroom and said the experience strengthened his interest in law enforcement by improving his comfort interacting with children.

Board members also previewed a two-minute TEDx highlight video of student talks and announced Greene County School System received recognition from the Georgia Association for Leadership for sustained commitment to professional learning. The board said full TEDx videos are posted online and planned a banner presentation for staff responsible for professional learning leadership.

The presentations were followed by audience and board commendations and a note that the district will continue to support student travel and internship opportunities.

The board did not take any formal action on the student presentations; student travel funding was described as being supported by chapter fundraising and community contributions.