State School Superintendent Richard Woods visited Red Bud Middle School to present prestigious Math Leader banners to Ashworth Middle School, Red Bud Middle School, and Gordon Central High School. The recognition highlights these schools' commitment to excellence in mathematics and their outstanding achievements in student growth and proficiency.
Superintendent Woods was welcomed by Gordon County Schools Superintendent Alice Mashburn, along with Board of Education chairperson Charlie Walraven, co-chair Bobby Hall, and Marsha Wilson. Presented with the banners were Red Bud Middle School Principal Chad Moore, Ashworth Middle School Principal Danny Lowrance, and Gordon Central High School Principal Dr. Amy Parker. During his visit, Mr. Woods toured several classrooms at Red Bud Middle School and engaged with 8th-grade students, fielding their questions. RBMS 8th grade students Emma Osmanovic and Ethen Smith led the tour for Mr. Woods, providing insights into their classrooms and learning experiences in the classrooms of Tyler Lyles and Autumn Gibson, Cassie Bartley, and Sandra Cash.
The Math Leader Awards celebrate schools that have demonstrated exceptional student achievement and growth in mathematics under the new K-12 Mathematics Standards:
Ashworth Middle School – Recognized as a High School Outstanding Achievement Math Leader for its excellence in mathematics among 8th-grade students taking high school Algebra 1. The school’s high percentage of students performing at the Proficient Learner level or above showcases its commitment to academic success and numeracy skills.
Red Bud Middle School – Awarded dual honors as both an 8th Grade Gateway Growth and High School Outstanding Achievement Math Leader. This distinction reflects the school’s remarkable student growth in eighth-grade mathematics and high levels of achievement among 8th-grade students taking Algebra 1.
Gordon Central High School – Recognized as a Growth Leader for its significant improvement in mathematics achievement, as measured by the Algebra: Concepts and Connections End-of-Course (EOC) assessment. This award highlights the school's dedication to ensuring all students make measurable progress in their numeracy skills.
The Math Leader Awards for the 2023-2024 school year acknowledge schools that have increased the percentage of students scoring at the Proficient Learner level or above. These awards emphasize the importance of numeracy in key transition years and require greater growth from schools with lower initial achievement levels. Mr. Woods discussed the prestige of this recognition and hoped to visit Gordon County Schools again next year with more achievements of academic success and growth.
The event served as a moment of pride for Gordon County Schools, celebrating the collective efforts of students, teachers, and administrators in advancing math education and ensuring academic success. Congratulations to Ashworth Middle School, Red Bud Middle School, and Gordon Central High School for their well-earned recognition as Math Leader schools.