Class of 2025 Education Day Recap Sponsored by FEV Tutor
Before joining Paceline, I was a second-grade teacher at Sue Reynolds Elementary School on Wrightsboro Road. It was enlightening, especially as a new teacher and someone who did not grow up in Augusta. Both of my parents are teachers, and I thought I knew what I was getting into when I decided to follow in their footsteps, but I was not prepared for the challenges I would face in the Richmond County School System. Like most public schools, my class was a mix of students who had someone in their court fighting for them and some who came to school looking for someone to show that they cared. My job was to prepare my students for third grade and show them what they were truly capable of in the future if they were willing to accept help from those around them.
One thing that stands out to me as a non-native Augustan is the number of people willing to help. More than any other community I have lived in, organizations and volunteers are working hard to improve the county and ensure everyone who wants and needs help has access. This is nowhere truer than when it comes to the children of the CSRA, and that was precisely the focus of Education Day.
When I saw Education Day on the agenda, I thought we might visit the school board, tour a school, and hear from some teachers and administrators. What the day entailed was more enriching than I could have imagined. I ended the day in awe of the organizations we visited and learned from. It gave me a perspective I didn’t know I needed heading into the holiday season.
We started the day hearing from Dr. Betsy VanDeusen of the Dr. Paulette P Harris Literacy Center. Dr. VanDeusen shared information about their programs and the importance of the ability to read. Not being able to read can affect not only struggles in school, chances of incarceration, and workforce readiness, but it can also have long-term detrimental effects on your health and well-being. In short, a literate community is a healthier and more prosperous community. This is why the literacy center, which caters primarily to children, also provides support and tutoring for adults.
After touring the Hub to see the other services offered, we loaded the bus for RPM or Reaching Potential through Manufacturing. This partnership with Textron Specialized Vehicles and the Richmond County School System is a brainchild of a prior Leadership Augusta class and is now serving as an inspiration for other school systems across the state. These students work on the manufacturing floor for four hours a day and go to school for four hours a day. We heard from a student panel, and for most of the students there, the faculty and staff at RPM are the only ones they have rooting for their success.
Lunch was spent at Augusta Technical College, where we learned more about the campus and their exciting improvements. The school is growing and working to bring the community more opportunities for growth and learning. We ended the day on a high note at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta headquarters. We were taken through a sample day to see what the students experience when they visit their respective clubs. It was a great time of teamwork, fun, and a competitive spaghetti noodle-building challenge. Although our group didn’t win, it was interesting to see the roles that everyone took on, each bringing our perspectives to the challenge.
It's no secret that Richmond County has its fair share of challenges, especially in education, but it also has more than its fair share of helpers. Our class only saw a small glimpse into the vast resources available in our community, but from what we saw, I believe that we are on the right track to help future generations learn and grow.