Bus Trip 19 was Another Winner!
Bus Trip 19 is now history! It was a wonderful trip. We visited eight great schools over three days (October 25 - 27) - two on day one, four on Wednesday and the final two Thursday. We had a great group this year. Almost 80 riders were joined at every site by local visitors to celebrate achievement and snare best practices to take home.
Visit our Bus Trip 19 page for trip reflections and photos. We will also be producing a videotape of the event and hope to have it ready in a few weeks. Thanks to everyone who made this another very memorable experience!
The 2011 Honor Roll
Eight schools made up the 2011 trip. Congratulations to all and thank you for the wonderful hospitality.
- Lake Oconee Academy, Greensboro, Greene County Schools
- Oak Hill Middle School, Milledgeville, Baldwin County Schools
- Langston Chapel Elementary School, Statesboro, Bulloch County Schools
- Claxton Middle School, Claxton, Evans County Schools
- Taylors Creek Elementary School, Hinesville, Liberty County Schools
- Golden Isles Career Academy, Brunswick, Glynn County Schools
- Sugarmill Elementary School, St. Mary's, Camden County Schools
- Ware County High School, Waycross, Ware County Schools
Press Release
The Bus Trip 18 video (long and short versions) is now posted. Take a look! Thanks to everyone who nominated some of Georgia's best schools!
The Georgia Partnership maintains a statewide focus on education. Based on an analysis of the geographical reach of recent trips and in light of our commitment to showcase exemplary schools that represent the diverse geography and population of the state, the 19th Annual Bus Trip Across Georgia will focus on the mideastern and southeastern region of the state.
Please direct questions about the 2011 trip to Diane Hopkins, 404-223-2460, or Bill Maddox, 404-223-2464.
We appreciate your input and help with this exciting process. Check out the rest of this page to read reflections from previous participants, view video footage, and learn more about this unique event.
2010 Trip
Theme: Georgia's Public Schools: Greater Flexibility, Greater Focus on Results
Seven schools made up the 2010 Bus Trip Across Georgia. Some could argue this was one of the best of the 18 annual trips. The Partnership asked the trip participants to capture their thoughts after visiting each school. The Reflections below will provide insight into each of these achieving schools. They are examples for other schools across the state. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality:
See the trip photos now!
Rider Robert Hahn offers his review of the trip. Read it now! Do you wish to comment? Drop a note and we will post it! Thanks, Robert!
An exciting addition to this year's trip was the participation of several students from Ms. Amy Carter's Teaching as a Profession class at Lowndes High School in Valdosta. Ms. Carter also serves as a state representative. These great young people jumped in a school bus and made the long trip to join the tour. They blended right in with the other participants. They provide fresh insight into what the tour was all about this year. Here a couple thank you notes from the students:
Andrew Herren: I wanted to thank you for allowing us to come on the bus trip. It was a great experience for me, and I learned a lot. This trip helped me finally decide on becoming a teacher.
Amber Hardesty: My time touring with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education was awesome! I learned so much about all the different schools we visited. What I learned on this trip will definitely help me in my future career as an educator. I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity.
For several years future educators from many of Georgia's teaching colleges and universities have participated in the trip. This year we were joined by 15 students representing Albany State University, Augusta State University, Clayton State University, Dalton State University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Southern University, Gordon College, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Middle Georgia College and State University, Piedmont College, and the University of Georgia.
The Annual Bus Trip Across Georgia is a wonderful experience. It offers both an opportunity to praise achieving schools for the great work they are doing and affords influencers from around the state a chance to see and share best practices.
It is rare when a participant feels the trip was not professionally beneficial. From the looks of the comments received, this year was another winner.
What did they say?
WOW!!! What a wonderful opportunity to tour excellent academic institutions and what intelligent young people we met. I've found that there are so many great opportunities for young people throughout the state and I'm ready to share some interesting best practices with my principal first thing.... This was a great learning experience, a chance to witness best practices in action and an opportunity to learn from other outstanding educators and business leaders on the tour. I hope to share with you all before the school year is over some gains made as a result of the tour!
Marilyn Udeh
Parent Liaison and Partners in Education Coordinator
Tri-Cities High School (Atlanta)
I learned so much from visiting other schools and plan on presenting what I learned to the other administrators in our system, as well as our county office staff. I hope I have the opportunity to do it again next year and can bring along some other educators that will benefit and share their experience with others.
Dawn Bennett
Assistant Principal
Heard County Elementary School
There's more.... much more!