The Thomas County Central High School honoree of an annual program that recognizes one of the brightest lights in each graduating class has been announced. Lindsey “MiKayla” Jordan, 17, has been named the TCCHS Class of 2017 STAR Student.
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, or STAR, program is sponsored by PAGE, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.
“STAR is important because it recognizes the individual achievement of a student who has performed above and beyond everyone else in their grade,” TCCHS Assistant Principal Dr. James Rehberg said. “The student has to demonstrate exceptional academic knowledge as indicated by his or her SAT score and be ranked in the top 10 or 10 percent in their class as an indicator of effort and motivation.”
Jordan is “very honored to receive the recognition” and said receiving it “meant that all of my hard work was rewarded.” Jordan thought she might have the highest SAT score in her class, but admits “it was still a surprise and a relief to know that I actually ended up being STAR student.”
“As both a student and an individual, it means a lot,” she said. “It isn't something that everybody can achieve and it's a distinctive recognition, as I am the only one of the senior class to have received it. Plus, it's something that I can look back on after I graduate and really feel good about and know that I was successful through my high school career.”
Jordan could have selected any instructor she had throughout her K-12 education as her STAR teacher. She chose TCCHS English Language Arts instructor Stacey Mitchell.
“She's a great teacher and I chose her because she's had such a positive effect on my writing ability and kept me writing even when I didn't have the inspiration,” Jordan said. “Since I would love to be an author, I really appreciate everything she's taught me even just with academic essays, and I feel like everything I've learned from her is going to help me not only through college but through the rest of my life, too.”
Mitchell is “so honored” to be Jordan’s chosen teacher.
“It feels great to know that she thinks highly enough of me for this honor because I think highly of her as well,” she said.
Jordan admits Mitchell’s classes are “a lot of work” but she appreciates Mitchell’s efforts to both challenge her students and help all of them succeed.
“I'm actually really glad she didn't make her classes easy because all of the work I had to do really improved my abilities and I really enjoyed everything, regardless,” she said. “Mrs. Mitchell is pretty laid-back and easy to talk to if you're having issues, and she's interested in helping all of her students achieve their best.”
Jordan, currently enrolled in Mitchell’s creative writing class, also took her Honors American Literature and Advanced Placement Literature classes.
“I am so proud that MiKayla is STAR student,” Mitchell said. “It is a well-deserved honor for all of her hard work. MiKayla is creative and has great initiative. She is an excellent writer, and she makes insightful and meaningful contributions to class discussions.”
Jordan’s favorite memories of Mitchell’s classes stem from such conversations.
“Mrs. Mitchell always kept things interesting and loved to just talk with us students at times to know how we were doing, and I always enjoyed our conversations,” she said. “She kept the class lively and fun.”
Mitchell believes Jordan “has an enthusiasm for learning and for the written expression that I do not see too often.” She also calls Jordan “truly one of the best all-around students I have taught in 23 years of teaching.”
“I enjoyed reading her papers and seeing her progress as a writer over the past few years,” Mitchell said. “It has also been wonderful getting to know her as a person. For all of her intellectual accomplishments, I am most impressed by the person she is. MiKayla treats others with respect. She exhibits ambition, integrity, and determination in all that she does. She is mature beyond her years.”
Rehberg said Jordan “is an exceptional student with a very bright future.”
“She's quite capable, as demonstrated by winning this award, and we are very proud she was recognized for her academic ability,” he said. “She is a wonderful representative of our school and an awesome Yellow Jacket.”
After graduation, Jordan plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in entertainment and media studies. She has a variety of possibilities in mind for her minor, including “geology to consumer foods to studio art.”
To Jordan, career possibilities are endless…as long as she enjoys the job.
“Past college, I want to do camera work for sure, and I would love to do film work or even documentary work, but I also wouldn't mind being a cook or an artist or even a paleontologist,” she said. “I want to have a career that I really enjoy, and I'm going to let my interests and my passions dictate what I do after my education.”