Dominy named STAR Student, selects Carter as STAR Teacher

This year’s STAR student for Appling County High School is Andrea Taylor Dominy. Taylor is an honor graduate. Her score on the SAT was 1820 out of a possible 2400. She has earned the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Georgia Certificate of Merit, Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science, and the Wellesley College Book awards. Taylor has been a Goal Card recipient all four year of high school. She has worked diligently in school, maintaining the highest average in her class each year. She has played on the Lady Pirates Varsity softball team for the past four years as a starter infielder/outfielder. Taylor is the president of the Beta and FBLA clubs. She is also an active member of the Math team. She has volunteered in the school system and at a local pharmacy through the WBL program. Taylor plans to attend Georgia Southern University in the Pre-Pharmacy program and later transfer to a College of Pharmacy. Taylor is the daughter of Andy and Sandy Dominy, and the granddaughter of Jay and Shirley Taylor and Mickey Dominy and the late Pete Dominy.

Next Taylor stepped to the microphone and presented the following information about her selection of STAR Teacher

As Star Student, it is an honor to select Mrs. Gail Carter as Star Teacher. Mrs. Carter is a very dear person to me and has played a significant role in my life ever since I was two as you will see in this clip.

Mrs. Carter has been an inspiration to me for many reasons over the past years. These reasons are included in the book of Romans. Romans 12:7 and 8 reads “If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

I have had the pleasure of having Mrs. Carter as a teacher for two years in my high school career, but she has actually been a teacher to me since first grade when she took on the challenge of giving me piano lessons. Riding my bicycle two houses down the street to play the piano with Mrs. Carter was always the highlight of my week. Mrs. Carter does not only teach math and piano, but she teaches them well.

She has a special gift that makes her an enjoyable teacher to have as well as an enjoyable person to be around. Anytime I am worried or overwhelmed with schoolwork, I know exactly who to go to. Mrs. Carter always seems to have encouraging words to say that immediately lift my spirit. Over the years, Mrs. Carter has given me something that is difficult for any person to give, especially a busy teacher. She has given me her time. No matter the hour of the day, Mrs. Carter is always willing to give me a quick tutoring session. She generously opens her home to me or replies to a text anytime I have questions concerning a math problem.

Mrs. Carter is the type of teacher who wants to see her students work hard and succeed not only in her class, but in life. Wearing a smile filled with kindness, she always says to me, “You know you’re my girl and I want to see you succeed.” If you are around Mrs. Carter, you will immediately notice her caring, fun-loving nature through her words and actions.

Mrs. Carter’s gift of teaching accompanied by her encouragement, generosity, and kindness make her well-liked by her co-workers and students and make me honored to call her my neighbor, friend, and Star Teacher.