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Glynn County School System

Participants chuckle during Rising Stars orientation

Rising Stars program targets future school leaders

The challenges that confront a school principal daily require a unique skill set. The successful individual must be part administrator, curriculum leader, personnel manager, arbitrator, teacher, coach, comforter, disciplinarian, encourager, mentor and friend. Then there are the related responsibilities regarding school academic performance, budgets, transportation, PTA and booster organizations, extracurricular activities and facility maintenance that must also be addressed.

To help ensure that potential leaders are ready to accept the challenge, the Glynn County School System has instituted the “Rising Stars” program, a professional development initiative that targets current employees who express the interest, desire and competency to move up the educational career ladder. The program, which was developed by the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI), has been successfully implemented in other school districts across the state.

“Rising Stars is a 12-month program of formal classes centered on the key roles and responsibilities of a school administrator,” said Dr. Margie Varnadoe, assistant superintendent for human resources for the Glynn County School System. “The program is designed to increase a candidate’s leadership capacity while decreasing the time required to attain the necessary skills and competencies of the job.”

At each school, the principal serves as a “sponsor” who selects a “performer” to be involved in the program. The sponsor is trained in the Rising Stars model and then commits to supporting the performer throughout the duration of the program. Performers are required to attend all monthly sessions, complete related coursework and performance-based modules, and pass a final assessment. GLISI’s Janie Fields will serve as Glynn County’s “performance coach,” the trained professional selected by the district to provide coaching and feedback against specific program criteria.

“We’re excited about starting the Rising Stars program in Glynn County,” Varnadoe said. “It’s a proven model that develops competent school leaders and improves student achievement.”


2010-11 Glynn County Rising Stars Program Participants

Marcie Long, instructional coach, Altama Elementary
Mavis Jaudon, instructional coach, Burroughs-Molette Elementary
Fern Way-Currin, assistant principal, Glyndale Elementary
Tere Miller, instructional coach, Golden Isles Elementary
Laura Herrington, instructional coach, Goodyear Elementary
Carter Akins, assistant principal, Greer Elementary
Dorothy Antic, assistant principal, Oglethorpe Point Elementary
Katy Ginn, assistant principal, St. Simons Elementary
Tracy Reyna, instructional coach, Satilla Marsh Elementary
Anna Wiles, assistant principal, Sterling Elementary
Lori Joiner, Assistant principal, Glynn Middle
Rebecca Smith, instructional coach, Jane Macon Middle
Calvin Bone, teacher, Needwood Middle
Cathy Pittman, assistant principal, Brunswick High
Michelle Drew, assistant principal, Glynn Academy
Kathy Hambright, teacher, FACES Prekindergarten Center
Jamie Flantos, teacher, Morningstar
Pam McKinnon, behavioral intervention specialist, Central Office

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