Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods took a walking tour of LaFayette High School last week, giving local education officials a chance to showcase programs making an impact in area classrooms and discuss how state representatives can better serve local communities.
“I think that’s best done by listening and not interjecting our thoughts and positions, but responding to what their actual needs are,” said Woods.
Jag, a registered therapy dog, performs a trick at the command of Beverly Hedges at LaFayette High School during the state school superintendent’s tour of the school Jan. 9. The Shih Tzu-poodle mix has helped students who struggle to socialize in the classroom, Hedges said. (Staff photo by Myron Madden)One of the most important takeaways Woods said he got from the tour was the need for additional resources in the area of students’ mental health and emotional well-being, which he said could be weighed down by numerous internal and external factors, such as living in poverty or coming from a family of divorce.
“We’re looking at how we can take some of the baggage off of our kids and get them in the best position to learn,” Woods said.
One of the initiatives Woods indicated a desire to support is Georgia HOPE’s School-Based Mental Health Program, which has provided individual counseling, family counseling, diagnostic appointments and more to 126 students at LHS, in addition to the 3,000 other children served throughout schools in eight counties, including Walker and Catoosa.