TIFT COUNTY SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER |
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BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
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The Tift County Board of Education encourages the constructive involvement of community members and school system employees on matters affecting Tift County Schools.
Current matters for which the Board of Education is seeking public review and comment are listed on the right side of this screen. Comments should be submitted via the Google Form link below. |
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FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW |
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Co-Teaching: Strengthening Instruction for Tift County Students |
At the December Board of Education meeting, Kim Bruce, Director of Special Education, shared a presentation highlighting co-teaching and what it means for Tift County students, along with the district’s expectations for effective co-teaching practices.
Co-teaching is an instructional delivery model in which a general education teacher and a special populations teacher share responsibility for planning, delivering, and assessing instruction for students with a wide range of learning profiles and instructional needs. Special populations teachers may include special education teachers, gifted teachers, ESOL teachers, and EIP/REP teachers.
During the presentation, Ms. Bruce reviewed the six commonly recognized co-teaching models. While “one teach–one observe” and “one teach–one assist” were discussed, these models are not aligned with Tift County Schools’ expectations for high-impact instruction, as they do not fully leverage the expertise of both educators in the classroom.
Tift County Schools has established clear expectations for co-teaching models that promote collaboration and maximize teacher's instructional expertise to impact student learning. The district’s preferred models include team teaching, alternative teaching, station teaching, and parallel teaching—all designed to ensure both teachers are actively engaged in instruction and assessment thereby reducing the student to teacher ratio during co-teaching.
Through intentional co-teaching practices, Tift County Schools is committed to creating inclusive, high-quality learning environments where every student is supported and challenged to succeed—because in Tift County Schools, #AllMeansAll.
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ESPLOST VI Annual Update Highlights Continued Investment in Students |
During the December Board of Education meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Business and Operations Klinton Guess provided an annual update on ESPLOST VI, highlighting both current projects underway and those completed in November.
The presentation also included a brief history of ESPLOST in Tift County Schools, tracing its impact since the program’s inception in 1997. Over the years, ESPLOST funding has played a critical role in improving school facilities, enhancing learning environments, and supporting long-term planning across the district—without increasing the property tax burden on local residents, since 60% of ESPLOST dollars have historically been contributed by non-Tift individuals who stop and shop in Tifton.
Through ESPLOST, Tift County Schools has been able to make significant investments that directly benefit students by providing safe, modern, and well-equipped facilities that support teaching and learning. This dedicated source of local revenue continues to strengthen our schools and helps ensure that student needs remain at the forefront of every project.
We are truly fortunate to have the continued support of our community through ESPLOST and are grateful for the lasting impact it has made—and continues to make—for our students and schools.
To view a complete list of ESPLOST projects, visit:
www.tiftschools.com/page/esplost
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STUDENT AND STAFF RECOGNITION |
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Student Artwork Winners Recognized |
At the December Board of Education meeting, we proudly recognized the winners of our Tift County Schools Christmas Art Contest.
Pictured are Jonathan Jones (Board Chairman), student artists Kyndal Turner (Grades 9–12), Gabriela Lopez (Grades 6–8), Ja’Keem Silas (Grades 3–5), Raylie Grace Snow (Grades K–2), and Superintendent Natalie Gore.
These talented students’ artwork will be featured on our official Tift County Schools Christmas card. We are so proud of their creativity and hard work!
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Raylie Grace Snow - Len Lastinger Elementary (2nd Grade) |
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Ja'Keem Silas - Charles Spencer Elementary (3rd Grade) |
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Gabriela Lopez - Northeast Middle School (8th Grade) |
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Kyndal Turner, Tift County High School (10th grade) |
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Max Nelson Represents Georgia at National 4-H Congress
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Tift County Schools was proud to recognize Tift County High School junior Max Nelson at the December Board of Education meeting for being selected to represent the state of Georgia at the National 4-H Congress, recently held in Atlanta.
Max’s selection reflects his continued success and involvement in the 4-H program. Through his dedication and leadership, he has earned recognition not only at the local and state levels, but now on a national stage. His commitment to excellence exemplifies the values of hard work, service, and personal growth that 4-H promotes.
We commend Max for representing Tift County High School, Tift County Schools, and the state of Georgia with pride. Congratulations to Max Nelson on this outstanding achievement—we look forward to seeing his continued success.
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Celebrating One Act Excellence |
Tift County High School’s One Act Play cast and crew were recognized at the Board of Education meeting for an outstanding season. This talented group captured the Region 1-AAAAAA Championship with their production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and went on to compete at the state level, finishing an impressive 5th place in Georgia.
Advisor Jake Alley expressed his appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and countless hours this group poured into bringing the production to life.
Cast & Crew Members:
Laci Barbee, Gavin Carlson, Emily Rowe, Jackson Shirts, Caroline Womack, Anton Gregus, Madison Bowyer, Clayton Shirts, Chase Turner, Kennedy Merwin, Halle Newbern, Azia Farley, Christian Dennis, Joshua Stringfield, Pedro Perez, Kiera Gibbs, Norah Dean, Claudia Tanner, Andrew Stewart, Ellabeth Mitchell, Bernardo Ramirez, Gabrielle Spires, Hayden Taylor, Landon Taylor, Brandon José, Kaitlyn Fields, Semaj Garcia-Baker, Hailey King, Tucker Moore, Melody Cameron, Chris Robinson, Annabell Beck, Lyra Edwards, James Whitley, Dalton Sinyard, Leah McMurphy, Meghan Vicars, Greta Coarsey, Ja’Maria Williams, and TaLiyah McDaniel.
Special Recognitions:
Region 1-AAAAAA All-Star Cast: Anton Gregus & Chase Turner
Region 1-AAAAAA Best Actor: Jackson Shirts
State All-Star Cast: Jackson Shirts & Chase Turner
Congratulations to this incredible group for representing Tift County Schools so well at the region and state stage!
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REACH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS RECOGNIZED |
Tift County Schools is proud to celebrate four outstanding middle school students who have been named 2025 REACH Scholarship (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Recipients. This prestigious recognition honors students who demonstrate strong academic performance, dedication, and the potential to achieve long-term educational success.
At Eighth Street Middle School, three eighth-grade students were selected for this honor. Lacy Sargent has earned recognition for her hard work and commitment to excellence, setting a strong foundation for future success. Ja’Lynn Lane was also named a REACH Scholarship recipient, with her achievement highlighting her determination, focus, and drive to reach her goals. Joining them is Bre’Ajia Everhart, whose selection reflects her continued effort and confidence as she works toward a bright future.
In addition, Kaitlyn Blocker, an eighth-grade student at Northeast Middle School, has been named a 2025 REACH Scholarship recipient. Kaitlyn’s achievement reflects the dedication and effort she brings to her academic work each day, and we are excited to see what she accomplishes in the years ahead.
The REACH Scholarship program provides students with critical support as they continue their educational journey, reinforcing the belief that achievement is possible through perseverance and commitment.
Congratulations to Lacy Sargent, Ja’Lynn Lane, Bre’Ajia Everhart, and Kaitlyn Blocker on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud of these students and look forward to watching them continue to succeed.
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The Beyond the T Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of our students, staff and community.
Do you know someone who deserves recognition for going 'Beyond the T'? Click here to submit a nomination.
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Mental Health Resources Available for Middle and High School Students |
Tift County Schools is proud to announce a new collaboration with ESE Mental Health to offer referrals to access to high-quality mental health services for our middle school and high school students.
Through this partnership, students will have increased access to licensed mental health professionals who can provide counseling and support —right here in our school community. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to the well-being of every student and to creating safe, supportive environments where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
We are grateful for this opportunity to work together in supporting the whole child.
Thank you GaDOE for listening to our concerns and acknowledging the importance of providing service opportunities to our students in need. We hope to expand this service to all students in the near future.
For additional information, please contact your school principal or school counselor.
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School Climate Surveys for Family Members: |
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