The SSTAGE (Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators) Board of Directors has selected Woodstock Elementary School to receive the 2012 SSTAGE Star Award for Promising Practices at the elementary school level and Teasley Middle School to receive the award at the middle school level.  The Cherokee County School District is runner-up for the State system-level award.  The School District now has the honor of having received the most SSTAGE Star Awards in Georgia.

The schools will be recognized at SSTAGE’s annual awards presentation, and representatives from the schools will be invited to present at a future professional learning event.

“Thank you for sharing your innovative practices with SSTAGE,” said Dr. Donna Major, SSTAGE President.  “Your enthusiasm, team collaboration, dedication, and understanding of RTI (Response To Intervention) will be an inspiration to educational leaders and teachers across the state of Georgia.”

In making this decision, the SSTAGE Board of Directors Site Team considered the following characteristics of effective Pyramid of Interventions and RTI practices:

• Effective systematic problem solving process at each tier;
• Coordinated system of instructional/behavioral supports/resources;
• Coordinated system of assessment and progress monitoring;
• Job-embedded professional learning and ongoing teacher supports; and,
• A systematic plan for parent/family communication and involvement.