Sunday, October 24, 1999

Georgia Stories Web Site Expands

Georgia Stories: History Online, a web site that supports and expands on many of the study topics of PeachStar's popular Georgia Stories I & II video history series, has added two new sections of interest to 8th grade social studies teachers.

"Colonial Georgia (1732-1776): Daily Life in Early Georgia - James Oglethorpe" corresponds to Program 4 in the Georgia Stories I video series.

"The First Century of Statehood: Pre-Civil War Georgia (1784-1860): The Trail of Tears" corresponds to Program 8 in Georgia Stories I.

Georgia Stories: History Online presents primary source materials, annotated web links, student study questions, and teacher-only information that provides background to questions and topics. Teachers should consult the password information section (from the Home page click on "Schools" and then "Gaining Password Access") to take full advantage of this educationally rich resource.

The site is a wealth of information and has been visited by scholars around the globe. (Tony-winning author Alfred Uhry used Georgia Stories: History Online when he researched the musical Parade, which tells the Leo Frank story.) When you visit the site, be sure to read and sign the "Guest Book."

As funding becomes available, more sections will be added to the site. It is hoped that eventually, every study topic in the Georgia Stories video series will be enhanced by Georgia Stories: History Online. The web site is a collaboration between PeachStar Education Services and Georgia Tech's Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC).

Friday, October 8, 1999

Georgian Named Top Library Media Specialist in U.S.

Nancy Clark, until recently the library media specialist at Druid Hills High School in DeKalb County, is the 1999 School Library Media Specialist of the Year. Clark received the national recognition from the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). This summer Clark accepted a new position as Instructional Technology Coordinator for DeKalb County Schools. She had served as media library specialist at Druid Hills High for 18 years and before that was a classroom teacher for seven years.

The AECT award is the latest of many honors that Clark has received in her career. In 1997 she was named Georgia Media Specialist of the Year by the Georgia Council of Media Organizations. Clark considers herself "first and always a teacher," and her students and colleagues agree. She was Druid Hills High's 1997 Teacher of the Year and was the recipient of the Emory University Excellence in Teaching Award for 1987 and 1995.

Throughout her career Clark has served in many professional organizations, often in leadership capacities. She is a past president of the Georgia Library Media Association. Community activities include involvement with Habitat for Humanity, the Women's Resource Center, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Red Cross and Eglestons Children's Hospital.

Clark is a big fan of the PeachStar Satellite Network and reports that Druid Hills has used Georgia Stories, SALSA, GED, NASA programming and various programs on history, health and safety and staff development, including Technology in the Classroom and Multimedia in the Classroom.

"I think the resources that our satellites make available to unserved and underserved areas are especially valuable," Clark says. However, she expresses concern that many schools with limited resources may not be able to take full advantage of satellite and cable resources because they cannot afford technology such as descramblers and school-wide distribution systems. "We must continue to expand and improve the access to all students and teachers."

Nancy Clark is a tremendous asset to the students, faculty and staff of DeKalb County Schools, and she is an outstanding representative of all Georgia educators. Congratulations to Nancy Clark, 1999 School Library Media Specialist of the Year.

And if you're going to be at COMO ...

PeachStar will host a special reception honoring Nancy Clark at the Georgia Council of Media Organizations (COMO) conference on Jekyll Island. The reception will be in Room #8 ("Ocean View") of the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Thursday, October 21, from 7:15-8 p.m. Come by and say hello - and receive a free gift from PeachStar!