Concerned parents called to the attention of Thomasville City School administrators a highly offensive social media post made by a now former school system employee. The system immediately placed the employee on leave and launched an investigation of the matter. Following a meeting with system administrators this morning, the employee is no longer employed with our school system.
Thomasville City School system regrets the conduct of this employee and assures the community that this type of conduct by our employees will not be tolerated.
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Lori Sumner 🌟
📐 Mrs. Lori Sumner is a dedicated educator currently teaching 7th-grade math at Scholars Academy. With 19 years of teaching experience, nine of which have been with Thomasville City Schools, Mrs. Sumner brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her classroom. She is certified in middle school math and science, high school science, and holds a Gifted Education certification. 🌟 Mrs. Sumner also has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, a Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. 🎓 👨👩👧👦 Mrs. Sumner is married to Corey, a THS graduate, and they have two children. Their daughter, Emily, is a Scholars program graduate and now attends Georgia Southern, while their son, Preston, is currently a student at Scholars Academy. Outside of school, Mrs. Sumner enjoys reading 📚, gardening 🌱, cooking 🍲, spending time outdoors 🌞, and caring for her chickens 🐔. ❤️ What Mrs. Sumner loves most about teaching at Scholars Academy is the supportive leadership, which encourages teacher leaders to use their unique gifts. She also cherishes her students’ love of learning and takes pride in watching them tackle challenging concepts and progress toward mastery. A huge thank you to Mrs. Sumner for her dedication and all she does for Scholars Academy! 🙌🎉
🐝The Scholars Academy Spelling Bee 2024 was quite a thriller! 🐝
Thank you to each one of the students who participated in the Scholars Academy Spelling Bee 2024!
Pursuing mastery, Eli Johnson earned 1st place in Round 15. Tension filled the room as Destiny Jordan strove with Aiden Mimbs to the end of Round 20. The audience gave a collective audible sigh for Destiny on her last word and cheered for Aiden Mimbs as he earned 2nd place.
What a memorable and historical afternoon for our students to be a part of the 100 Years of the Bee! Congratulations Eli and Aiden and Destiny on a job well done!
🤠 Get ready for a rootin' tootin' good time at the Sadie Hawkins Dance! Dust off those cowboy boots and hats! 🎶🤠
Parents and guardians, we need your help to make this night a success! Please sign up to be a chaperone or bring supplies using the link below. Your support keeps these events safe and fun for everyone. Yeehaw, let’s make it a night to remember! 💃🤠🕺
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040E49A5AB2DA2F85-sadie
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Rebecca Ramsey Nicolay 🌟
Meet Mrs. Rebecca P. Ramsey Nicolay, an inspiring educator and proud Thomasville native! 🎓 A 1999 salutatorian graduate of Thomasville High School, Mrs. Nicolay went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology, and Culture from Georgia Tech 🐝. She began her teaching journey with Thomasville City Schools in 2007 as an ELA teacher at MacIntyre Park Middle School 📚, where she taught for six years while completing her Master’s at Valdosta State University 🎓. A standout moment in her career was participating in the prestigious Blackwater Writing Project Summer Institute ✍️, where she explored new ways to teach writing for students from K–12 to college. Since joining the Scholars Academy in 2013, Mrs. Nicolay has taught Honors English to 7th, 10th, and 12th graders 📖 and now focuses on AP Language, AP Literature, and Honors American Literature at the high school level. A true leader 🌟, she has twice been named Scholars Academy Teacher of the Year 🏆 and served as District Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024 🏅. Mrs. Nicolay also lends her expertise as the English Department Chair, District Coordinator for PBIS, and advisor for Thomasville High School’s Helen M. Fortney Chapter of the National Honor Society 🌟📜. Passionate about student growth and community involvement 💪, Mrs. Nicolay serves on the Keep Thomas County Beautiful Board 🌎, is a member of the Junior Service League 💃, and actively participates in her church’s music ministry 🎶. As she says, “I love supporting, guiding, and working with young people, and I love learning, so as a teacher, I am privileged to thrive in my happy place on a daily basis!” ❤️📚 Now in her 18th year with Thomasville City Schools, Mrs. Nicolay’s dedication and enthusiasm for learning continue to inspire everyone around her 🌟. Fun Fact: Mrs. Nicolay absolutely loves to dance—anytime, anywhere 🕺💃—and if there’s live music, you can count her in! 🎶 Thank you, Mrs. Nicolay, for your passion, leadership, and dedication to your students and community! 🐾
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Jackie King 🌟
Meet Mrs. Jackie King, our amazing Spanish teacher in her sixth year at Scholars Academy! 🇪🇸 Mrs. King’s love for language started with her time in Peru and Bolivia, where she served as a missionary and developed a deep appreciation for other cultures. After attending BYU for a year, she earned her cosmetology license 💇♀️ from Paul Mitchell The School. She later returned to BYU to complete her degree in Latin American Studies and then earned her Master’s in Foreign Language Education from Valdosta State University. 📚 Originally from the West, Mrs. King grew up in California, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. Her dad was a computer engineer who worked with Lucasfilm/Pixar in its early days! 💻 She is the 5th of 9 siblings and enjoyed growing up playing sports and games with her family. 🏀🎮 Mrs. King is not only passionate about teaching Spanish but is also a professional hairdresser with over 20 years of experience. ✂️ She runs a salon from her home and loves experimenting with different hairstyles—never wearing her hair the same way two days in a row! At Scholars Academy, Mrs. King enjoys the close-knit community. 🏫 She teaches most students across multiple grades and loves watching them grow from middle to high school. She also chose this school to be actively involved in her own children's education, supporting them and their peers during their formative years. 💙 We are so lucky to have Mrs. King at Scholars Academy! 🌟
🙌 Check out these Hands on Thomas County opportunities to earn community service hours during the month of November!🙌
Mr. Kirkley's middle school Computer Science classes have enjoyed using Music Lab , which is a platform that allows students to make music with code. They are developing foundational coding skills and an appreciation for the connection between music and technology.
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Mr. Seth Kinneer 🌟
Meet Mr. Seth Kinneer, an exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) teacher who is in his second year at THS/Scholars Academy and his 6th year of teaching overall! 📚 Mr. Kinneer holds a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees, bringing a wealth of knowledge to his classroom. Originally from just outside Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Kinneer has called Georgia home for nearly 20 years. His wife, Charity, is an assistant principal at Valdosta High School, and they have two sons: Caleb, who is in the marching band at Georgia Tech, and Elijah (Eli), a student at THS. 🎶🏫 Mr. Kinneer enjoys sports, reading, and vacationing with his family. Fun fact: he played high school basketball in Ohio and once held the school record for three-pointers in a game! 🏀 He was also a 1994 second-team all-conference award winner for his free throw shooting percentage. What he loves most about teaching at the Scholars Academy is getting to know his students and witnessing their achievements. He treasures the conversations with former students who share how his class helped them succeed in other ELA courses. Mr. Kinneer also values the collaborative spirit among teachers as they work together to prepare students for future success. 💡 We are lucky to have such a dedicated and passionate educator at THS/SA!
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Miss Anna Kate Pomeroy 🌟
Meet Miss Anna Kate Pomeroy, our talented and dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist! 🎓 She earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Valdosta State University in May 2024 and is currently completing her clinical fellowship. This is her first year as an SLP outside of grad school, and we are thrilled to have her on our team! Anna Kate is passionate about helping children communicate in any way they can—whether it's through words, signs, AAC devices, or more. She loves making a difference in the lives of her students, helping them express their thoughts and feelings. 🗣️💬When she's not at school, you can find her spending time with her four beloved fur babies—two dogs and two cats—who are her world! 🐾🐶🐱We are so excited to have her expertise and heart here with us this year!
✨REMINDER ✨
🎗️Red Ribbon Week is coming up TOMORROW! 🎗️
📅 October 28 - November 1
Join us as we come together to raise awareness about the importance of staying drug-free! 💪 Let's support our community and encourage healthy choices for a brighter future. 🌟
🎈 Show your support by wearing red and participating in activities that promote a drug-free lifestyle! 🙌
📸 Share your photos using the hashtag #RedRibbonWeek and let's make a difference together! ❤️
#BeDrugFree #HealthyChoices #StayStrong #thomasvillecityschools
Congratulations to our Middle School Teacher Top Readers! Thank you all for your participation and showing our students that readers really are leaders!
📚✨ Thank You, Thomasville! ✨📚
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at last night’s Literacy Fair! Your energy and enthusiasm made the 15th Annual Literacy Fair an unforgettable celebration of reading and community.
Special thanks to Malcolm Mitchell for inspiring us all with his passion for literacy and storytelling! We’re so grateful to each participant, volunteer, and guest for helping us make this event a success. Together, we're making a difference, one page at a time!
#ThankYou #LiteracyFair2024 #ThomasvilleCommunity #ReadwithMalcolm #LiteracyMatters #thomasvillecityschools
📚 Staff Spotlight: Ms. Rachael Sable 🌟
Meet Ms. Sable, now in her 2nd year of teaching and her 1st year at Scholars Academy! She holds a Bachelor’s in Biology and Spanish and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Foreign Language Education, with graduation set for Spring 2025. 🏅 Although Ms. Sable has lived in many places due to her parent's military service, she calls South Georgia home. When she’s not in the classroom, you’ll find her reading (she’s part of a book club 📖), hanging out with her dogs 🐕, camping, hiking, or doing arts and crafts 🎨. She’s also passionate about training working dogs and has a four-year-old Belgian Malinois named Fury. Ms. Sable loves the welcoming and supportive school community at Scholars Academy, where students are eager to learn and demonstrate the potential of the next generation. 💫 We are so lucky to have Ms. Sable as part of our team!
✨REMINDER ✨
The 15th Annual Literacy Fair 📚is happening TODAY at 5:00-7:00 PM at The Ritz Amphitheater!
We are thrilled to welcome Malcolm Mitchell—former NFL player, UGA football star, literacy advocate, and author—back to Thomasville! 📚🏈
Get ready for an inspiring interactive program at the 15th Annual Literacy Fair. 🌟 Don’t miss it!
#literacymatters #literacyfair #literacyforthomascounty #thomasvillecityschools
📢 AP Biology Lab in Action! 🧬
Mrs. Russo's AP Biology students practiced their micropipette skills this week as they prepare for the upcoming Genetics Unit. Not only did they perfect their lab techniques, but they also explored various careers where these precision tools play a key role in groundbreaking research and innovation!
Come out and support our THS Softball and Baseball Teams at the Halloween Game on October 29th at 5:30 PM at the THS Softball field! 🎃⚾️
Wear your favorite Halloween costume "school appropriate" and enjoy a fun-filled evening.
Cost is $5 per person. After the game, kids can grab some candy and take pictures with their favorite Bulldog player.
Don’t miss out on this good time! 👻🍬📸
Please park on the grass area behind the softball field or use the front school parking lot.
It's time for the Second Nine Weeks High School Student Vs. Teacher Book Challenge! 📚👩🏫👨🎓 Who will be the top reader this time? 🏆
Here's how to join:
Read a book of your choice. 📖
Submit a short summary to Mrs. Ponder. 📝
Door prizes 🎁 are up for grabs, and the top student and teacher readers will be revealed at the end of the challenge! 🥇
Stop by and see Mrs. Ponder for more details.
Let the reading battle begin! 🎉📚✨
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Ms. Djuana Rinehart 🌟
Meet Ms. Djuana Rinehart, our amazing 6th Grade Social Studies teacher at Scholars Academy! 🎓 She holds her Bachelor's, Master's, and Ed Specialist degrees from Valdosta State University and is also Gifted Certified. ✨Ms. Rinehart started her teaching career in Decatur County, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 1996 🏆 and later became the State Teacher of the Year Runner-Up! 👏 In 1997, she joined Thomasville City Schools and has been the Director of Science Academy for over 20 years. 🔬✨A proud mom of 4 daughters (all THS grads!) 💕 and "Nonnie" to 3 grandkids, Ms. Rinehart loves traveling, reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. 🌍📚👟Fun fact: After high school, she worked as a deckhand on an 80-foot crew boat in Louisiana’s offshore oil industry! ⚓️🚤 She's also obsessed with post-apocalyptic fiction, Diet Mt. Dew 🥤, and Welch’s Gummy Fruits! 🍇Ms. Rinehart says her favorite part of teaching at Scholars Academy is the close-knit, family-like community. 💖 She’s proud to now teach the children of some of her former students—what a full-circle moment! 👩🏫👨👩👧👦 Let’s give a big round of applause for Ms. Rinehart! 👏
😁 Scholars Academy Hands On Thomas County Volunteers 😁
A great big shout out to all those who helped to improve our community!
We are so proud of our students, parents, and teachers that came out on a beautiful Saturday morning and gave of their time in service. Thank you all for your hard work! A special thank you to the organizers of Hands On Thomas County who provide such excellent assistance, put us in the right places, and blessed us with lunch and a commemorative T-shirt.
Take a look at each group and commend them on a job well done! 💖
