education

Oglethorpe County FFA officers prepare flowers for the floral design contest Thursday in the high school cafeteria. From left, sophomore Katherine Horsley, senior Daisy Brown and senior Andee Dellinger organized vases and flowers before students arrived to compete. (Photo/Ella Jones)

Oglethorpe County FFA officers prepare flowers for the floral design contest Thursday in the high school cafeteria. From left, sophomore Katherine Horsley, senior Daisy Brown and senior Andee Dellinger organized vases and flowers before students arrived to compete. (Photo/Ella Jones)

FFA competition brings hundreds of students to Oglethorpe County

Ella Jones
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
For senior Callie Bridges, the floral design competition at Oglethorpe County High School was both a test and an opportunity to showcase her small business. The contest required a timed arrangement, an identification exam and a written exam.
Students take a music class in a classroom at the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School on Tuesday. Staff and school officials continue to work out logistical issues with the new school. (Photo/Lucy Grey Shields)

Students take a music class in a classroom at the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School on Tuesday. Staff and school officials continue to work out logistical issues with the new school. (Photo/Lucy Grey Shields)

New school brings logistical changes, upgraded security

Lucy Grey Shields
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Students, parents and staff noticed a number of logistical changes at the new Oglethorpe County Elementary School during its first week. Issues — particularly with the carpool lane — arose on Jan.
Jimmyka Gresham (front row, from left), Damarcuse Harper, Gloria Hgay, Jeffrey Molina and Zachary Wilson, eighth-graders at Oglethorpe County Middle School, are the newest class of REACH scholars. They must abide by the contract to receive a $10,000 scholarship when they graduate high school. Behind them are principals of Oglethorpe Schools: Katie Baldwin (from left), primary and elementary schools; Mack Baldwin, middle school; Bill Sampson, high school. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Jimmyka Gresham (front row, from left), Damarcuse Harper, Gloria Hgay, Jeffrey Molina and Zachary Wilson, eighth-graders at Oglethorpe County Middle School, are the newest class of REACH scholars. They must abide by the contract to receive a $10,000 scholarship when they graduate high school. Behind them are principals of Oglethorpe Schools: Katie Baldwin (from left), primary and elementary schools; Mack Baldwin, middle school; Bill Sampson, high school. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Class of 2028 REACH scholars sign contract

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The lives of five Oglethorpe County Middle School students were changed on Friday morning when they signed the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program contract, which will alter their next four years.
Oglethorpe County Primary and Elementary School principal Katie Baldwin hugs special education parapro Toni Evans after presenting her with the OCES Classified Employee of the Year award at the board of education meeting in Lexington, Georgia, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Three of the county's four Classified Employees of the Year were honored at the November Board of Education meeting. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

Oglethorpe County Primary and Elementary School principal Katie Baldwin hugs special education parapro Toni Evans after presenting her with the OCES Classified Employee of the Year award at the board of education meeting in Lexington, Georgia, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Three of the county's four Classified Employees of the Year were honored at the November Board of Education meeting. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

BOE approves purchase of three school buses

Caleb Baldwin and Cassidy Hettesheimer
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved buying three new buses and discussed other structural improvements at its Tuesday meeting.
The 2023-2024 teachers of the year (from left): Shonda Cronic, OCPS kindergarten; Lindsay Gregory, OCES gifted third-fifth grade teacher; Janet High, OCMS English teacher; Lee Jones, OCHS band director.

The 2023-2024 teachers of the year (from left): Shonda Cronic, OCPS kindergarten; Lindsay Gregory, OCES gifted third-fifth grade teacher; Janet High, OCMS English teacher; Lee Jones, OCHS band director.

Teachers of the year inspired by students, community

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, October 12, 2023
The Oglethorpe County School System teachers of the year were honored by the Board of Education at its meeting last week. The teachers shared their motivation and inspiration with The Oglethorpe Echo. Comments have been edited for length and clarity.
Ninth-grader James Adams (left), who achieved a perfect score on an Algebra I End of Course Test after completing a summer class through Georgia’s Virtual School. Third-grader Catherine Yauck (right), who won first place in the Plains Peanut Festival Postcard Contest. (Photo/Caleb Baldwin)

Ninth-grader James Adams (left), who achieved a perfect score on an Algebra I End of Course Test after completing a summer class through Georgia’s Virtual School. Third-grader Catherine Yauck (right), who won first place in the Plains Peanut Festival Postcard Contest. (Photo/Caleb Baldwin)

BOE approves bus radios, routing software

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, October 5, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education unanimously approved two measures to help bus transportation at its meeting on Tuesday.   The first was the purchase of bus routing software, not to exceed $15,000.    Board members expressed concern with the large number of bus riders.
CASSIDY HETTESHEIMER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County School Superintendent Beverley Levine (left) and Becky Soto, chair of the Board of Education, discuss the 2023 Georgia Milestones scores and other business at a meeting on Tuesday night. The Board of Education will host two public hearings about the millage rate on Friday, Sept. 8.

CASSIDY HETTESHEIMER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County School Superintendent Beverley Levine (left) and Becky Soto, chair of the Board of Education, discuss the 2023 Georgia Milestones scores and other business at a meeting on Tuesday night. The Board of Education will host two public hearings about the millage rate on Friday, Sept. 8.

BOE proposes lower millage rate

Caleb Baldwin and Cassidy Hettesheimer
Thursday, September 7, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education presented a lower millage rate for 2024, although the amount of taxes collected will increase by nearly 10%. The BOE said the new millage rate, which is the amount of tax dollars for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value, would be 15.
OC new teachers

OC new teachers

New teachers look forward to opportunity

Caleb Baldwin
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Oglethorpe County schools introduced 26 new teachers and staff members this year. Four of them discussed their strategies and personal goals for this year with The Oglethorpe Echo.   These answers have been edited for content and clarity.