Good News in Schools

Superintendent's Report

At the Clayton County Board of Education's regular monthly meeting, Superintendent Dr. Edmond T. Heatley made announcements of special awards to one student and a few district staff members.

David Smith II, an honor graduate of Lovejoy High School's Class of 2010 earned international recognition as a silver medalist in the high jump at the recently held IAAS World Junior Olympics in Moncton Canada. Smith jumped 7 feet five and three fourths inches and was one of two American athletes to earn medals in the overall competition. Smith was also named the ESPN-Gatorade Player of the Year for  Georgia in the area of track and field. He will attend Auburn University in Alabama on a full scholarship this fall.

Dr. Heatley presented the district's 2010-2011 Principal of the Year, Kelly Veal from Lake City Elementary. Ms. Veal is a veteran educator presently in her 24th year in public education. She began teaching at Pointe South Elementary School in 1987, until 1996 when she was named assistant principal at East Clayton Elementary. In 1999, she was tapped to lead Hendrix Drive Elementary as principal until 2007, when she was named principal at Lake City Elementary.

Veal also accepted the framed "No Excuses" School certificate which was awarded to the school by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. The announcement was made during a statewide announcement event held at the Clayton County School on May 28. The foundation recognized 35 schools in 19 Georgia school districts through its 2010 Report Card for Parents. Lake City Elementary School is the first Clayton County School selected for the honor.

The district's Purchasing Department  headed by Lonita Collier received the 15th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for 2010. The award is achieved by those organizations that demonstrate excellence in procurement by obtaining a high score on a rating of standardized criteria. This is the second consecutive year the district has received this award.