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By Brandon Ussery

Dr. Rachel Hazel, Superintendent of Troup County Schools, appeared before the West Point City Council on May 27 to provide updates on students’ academic progress and introduce new initiatives for teachers.  These initiatives highlight the success of Troup County Schools, demonstrating that the administration prioritizes the quality of education students receive while advancing the skill sets of its staff. The Summer Professional Learning Program will equip educators with the necessary tools to deliver a high-quality education to students. Participants in the program will be financially compensated for their time 

“This is an administration that truly believes that to pour into students, we need to pour into our adults, and we believe we are in the people business, and so we are going to invest in our people this summer. We are paying them to come in, to learn, and to grow with us,” Hazel proclaimed to the council on Tuesday. 

The Callaway Foundation supports a new professional learning center, enabling teachers to bring their classes for training and curriculum updates. This approach avoids the need for substitutes while teachers are in training and allows the teachers to bring students along for real-time implementation of changes and updates. Model classrooms will be staffed by district personnel and interns during these sessions to ensure that educators can learn while also applying new knowledge..

The Callaway Foundation is also investing in the transition of the Unity School, gifted to the LaGrange Housing Authority (LHA) in 2021.  Earlier reporting from the LaGrange Daily News indicates that the property was reserved for later use by the Troup County School system, contingent upon the LHA being approved for grant money to provide support services to the area. 

West Point Elementary has introduced a “House System,” similar to the one implemented by The Ron Clark Academy, a non-profit middle school located in Southeast Atlanta, where students are sorted into houses that aim to build character, foster relationships, and cultivate school spirit. 

The house system categorizes students into houses, designed to foster positive qualities with external representation while creating an inclusive learning environment. The behavior management system is being taught to educators so that the success of the Ron Clark Academy can be replicated in schools in Troup County districts.

West Point Elementary is set to become one of the first partner schools with the Ron Clark Academy; teachers are already being trained on how the House System model functions and how to implement the program in their respective classes. 

During her address, Dr. Hazel noted that nearly all Troup County schools are showing profound academic improvement, emphasizing the work of students and staff. She also demonstrated that her administration genuinely cares for the well-being of students and staff, as evidenced by the professional education programs offered to educators over the summer.