Dazzling Paulding Teacher-Student Combo Recognized As STARs

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — One of the county’s most dazzling teacher-student combinations were recognized recently, sending Paulding County High School senior, Jacob King, on to the state Student Teacher Achievement Recognition competition April 23.

Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, or STAR, students are recognized for having the highest SAT score at their schools. The students, in turn, chose a STAR teacher to honor. King admitted his first SAT score of 1440 probably wasn't the best in the school. He said he didn't study much because he wanted a baseline. He had two attempts left and he said, for those, he studied hard. On his second shot, King scored 1530. On the third, and final, SAT attempt, he scored 1560. He's been accepted to Georgia Tech, where he hopes to get a biomedical degree and then go on to pre-med.

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King attributed his success to his STAR teacher nominee, Heidi Leonard.

"While I was able to make adequate grades in middle school, I did not know how to study, stay organized or apply myself," said King in his nomination of Leonard. "When I arrived in high school, I quickly realized that success would require a solid work ethic, as AP Human Geography and AP World History, both taught by Mrs. Leonard, were and remain the most difficult and work-intensive classes that I have ever taken. The difficulty of the two classes forced me to develop strong study habits and stop procrastinating if I was to be successful.

"However, I was not alone on my journey to establish a strong work ethic, as Mrs. Leonard would often spend time in class not only teaching material for AP exams, but teaching different ways to study and effectively remember lessons taught in class," said King. "I not only learned human geography and world history, but I learned how to be successful through working both harder and smarter. I am incredibly grateful to Mrs. Leonard for not only teaching me that success requires hard work, but for also cultivating in me, and other students, important life skills, such as study habits and time management, that will last me a lifetime; that is why I chose her to be my STAR teacher."

When Leonard spoke, she said these are the days that represent all that is good in our community, and in the school district. She calls herself King's biggest cheerleader.

"Days like today are the fuel that keep weary old educators’ engines going," she said. "We are able to celebrate students for years of diligence. We are able to celebrate their parents for years of support and commitment to their child and their academic endeavors. So first of all, I would like praise Mr. & Mrs. King, who allowed
their son to apply to and embark on a journey in a magnet program in a school that was on the other
side of the school district from them."

King's parents are Kevin and Michele; and he has a sister, Jessica.

"This took a level of parental commitment that came at a cost of time, energy, and mileage. For the numerous open houses and parent functions you attended, I commend you," said Leonard. "For the numerous times you picked Jacob up from clubs and organizations and volunteering and school activities, I commend you. Parenting is not for the faint of heart and you have gone above and beyond in regard to his education."

Her student has a unique passion for learning, Leonard pointed out.

"... While he pursues academic excellence, he does not simply chase a Grade Point Average. He is not a point-mongering AP student. I don’t recall ever discussing grades with Jacob. I’ve never known Jacob to concern himself with class rank, and while he does not diminish the significance of this elite status, what is imperative to him is learning out of his own intellectual curiosity. It is this intellectual curiosity which currently ranks him first in his class. He has an impressive thirst for knowledge.

"I cannot emphasize enough what a fantastic student and person Jacob King is," Leonard concluded. While there is no such thing as the perfect individual, I firmly believe that people should be in the pursuit of excellence. To whom much is given, much is expected, and Jacob embodies the fulfillment of this
exhortation and gives me great hope for the future."

Like many, King said his life has been greatly impacted by the horrible curse of cancer.

"I want to go to med school and become an oncologist," he said. A medical oncologist is a person who manages cancer. "I've had a lot of family with cancer. I'm grateful to the people who've made this their profession and I want to help people in similarly difficult situation."

Photo by Patch Editor John Barker