Dr. Judy Holton resigns as JCES principal
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Dr. Judy Holton, principal of Jenkins County Elementary School (JCES), recently resigned her position to assume the role of principal of Greenbrier Ele mentary School in Columbia County for the 2008- 2009 school term. The Jenkins County Board of Education accepted Dr. Holton's letter of resignation during a called meeting Thursday, May 8.

Dr. Holton has been employed with the Jenkins County school system for 22 years, the last nine as principal at JCES. She has also served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, Director of Special Services and interim superintendent.

"The faculty/staff at JCES are some of the best folks in education who work hard each day to educate and nurture every child that walks through the doors. Leaving this faculty/staff was one of the hardest parts of my decision," Dr. Holton said.

Under Dr. Holton's leadership JCES has achieved Annual Yearly Progress for the past five years and was recognized as a Title I Distinguished School in 2006 and 2007, The Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP) presented the School Bell Award to JCES in 2005, and JCES was awarded a Reading Excellence Grant of over $800,000, one of the largest grants ever awarded to the school system.

In 2006 and 2007, Dr. Holton was selected as one of 100 High Performance Principals named by Gov. Sonny Perdue and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. The High Performance Principals were chosen because students in their schools displayed higher than expected scores on state curriculum tests.

Dr. Holton has also served on the Executive Board and Board of Directors of the Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center since its beginning, and she commended the organization's staff for their contributions to the local school system and community.

"I only hope that the people here have learned as much from me as I have from them. It is with mixed emotions that I leave the school system at this time with the many challenges ahead. But, after much prayer and thought, I believe God is leading me to make a change," Dr. Holton commented.

"I am excited about the new opportunities for my family and me, and I appreciate the opportunity to have served in the Jenkins County school system. I encourage everyone in this community to pull together to keep the school system moving forward. The children deserve it. As far as I'm concerned, education is the one positive thing Jenkins County has going for it right now. I challenge everyone to invest in it wholeheartedly," she added.