The Walton County School District held an EPIC2 Empowerment Leadership Training on August 3 at Freeport High School as teachers came back to the first day of school year 2018-2019! This was the second annual EPIC event, where every administrator and teacher in the Walton County School District came together to celebrate the starting of an EPIC school year. Bands from Paxton High School and South Walton High School set the mood outside as the crowd was entering the building with pep tunes, and the new district Van was on display showing all the amazing features that will be invaluable tools for reaching out in the community. Inside, the excitement in the air was electric as members of the Walton County Academic Team and the Freeport High School Band stirred and inspired the audience with the Pledge of Allegiance and our National Anthem. Superintendent A. Russell Hughes welcomed new and returning teachers, administrators and district support staff to the event that exemplifies his vision for the Future of the Walton County School District.
As part of the kick-off event, Superintendent Hughes invited guest speaker Erin Gruwell, who founded the Freedom Writers Foundation, to share her story in hopes that she might inspire teachers to be creative, innovative, and engaging as they go above and beyond to help students succeed. Ms. Gruwell is a teacher, an education activist, and the founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation. She created the Freedom Writer Methods, a progressive teaching philosophy and curricula designed to achieve excellence in all students.
By fostering an educational philosophy that values and promotes diversity, Gruwell transformed her students’ lives. She encouraged them to re-think rigid beliefs about themselves and others, reconsider daily decisions, and ultimately re-chart their futures. With Gruwell’s support, they chose to forego teenage pregnancy, drugs, and violence to become aspiring college students, published writers, and catalysts for change. They dubbed themselves the “Freedom Writers” -in homage to civil rights activists The Freedom Riders–and published a book (from Erin Gruwell’s biography on premierespeakers.com). To access more information about Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers Foundation, go to www.freedomwritersfoundation.org
Over 70 presenters in content and choice sessions with topics such as STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math); Learning Targets; Literacy; the Arts; AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and many more, provided informative and inspiring professional development sessions designed to support the Superintendent’s vision for Walton County School District. The day closed with a fun and rousing Pep Rally with Superintendent Hughes challenging all to work together to help make Walton County School District #1 in the State!
Superintendent Hughes sends special thanks to the many people in the district, as well as community members and business partners who came together as an EPIC team to turn his concept for the event into reality.
Author: SWal Life
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