New year, new learning experiences for Miller Co. students

COLQUITT, GA (WALB) - One week after Miller County students started their first day for the year, school leaders said their focus is on enhancing their education system with new ways of learning.

One student at a time, the Miller County School System is finding new ways of educating the nearly 1,000 students in the district.

"We offer several supplemental support programs through computer-based programs. We offer I-learn, I-station, USA test prep and these are supplemental to instruction in the classroom," said Miller County Middle School Principal Cleve Roland.

Just this year, school district leaders added 10 full computer labs and four half labs to the consolidated school system.

"These labs are critical for the push from the state department to help with online testing when we do the Georgia Milestones in the Spring," said Miller County Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Crawford.

From elementary to middle and high school students, learning only through a textbook is a thing of the past.

"We are currently in the process of trying to add some more career pathways. We're in the process of talking with Southern Regional Technical College on adding some college courses," said Miller County High School Principal Mike Simmons.

Simmons said this school year they're hoping to add culinary arts, early childhood and additional criminal and medical services courses. And the new computer labs will be a big help.

"This is a way of ensuring we are testing online and that we have more computer access for kids," Simmons explained.

This is access students didn't have before, but now students in the entire district will be ready for life after Miller County.

"We want them to be productive citizens. We want them to have a chance to join the workforce and be productive and learn the soft skills that they need to know to be prepared in the future," said Simmons.

The entire school district is consolidated on one campus. District leaders said the state superintendent will tour the schools next Tuesday.

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