State Superintendent Richard Woods visited Putnam County Middle School last week to designate it as an official Georgia Math Leader.
According to the website, the Georgia Department of Education recognizes “the fundamental importance of mathematics in students’ educations and future careers " by creating the inaugural Math Leader designation. Schools designated as Math Leaders have demonstrated exceptional achievement or growth in mathematics.
“Putnam County Middle School was awarded the Math Leader title for our eighth graders that took the Algebra: Concepts and Connections End of Course exam, a state test for mathematics in high school,” explained PCMS Principal Monical Macklin. “There were two areas schools could be awarded for, achievement and growth, and we received both.”
Woods presented the award banner to Macklin in a brief ceremony on Dec. 2 at the school in Eatonton.
This banner is currently hung in the Administrative Data Room but eventually will be moved to a new, more prominent location.
“We hope to continue to receive this award for years to come,” said Macklin. “We are currently looking for a space that could display more than one of the banners but have yet to decide on the final placement.”
Georgia's new K-12 Mathematics Standards were adopted in 2021 but not implemented in classrooms until the 2023-24 school year.
Math Leader qualifications are based on students achieving the Proficient Learner level or above on the Georgia Milestones mathematics assessments.
According to a Georgia Department of Education press release, the results of the 2024-24 Georgia Milestones assessments present an “early indicator of the success of the new standards.”
“Congratulations to our first-ever Math Leader schools,” Woods said in the press release. “The skill of numeracy is essential as students progress through their K-12 education and in their futures. These schools and their educators, students, families, and communities have worked hard to implement the new K-12 Mathematics Standards and prepare all students for life. I commend them on their outstanding work.”
Macklin said everyone at Putnam County Middle School is proud of receiving the award and Wood’s recognition.
“The eighth graders worked hard to receive this award. We are so excited to have been given this honor,” said Macklin. “We want to display this award for students, families, and visitors to see because we are so proud of our students and their achievements.”