School’s annual Operation Good Start returns
Percy Harris Jr.
Teacher of the Year

School’s annual Operation Good Start returns
Southeast Elementary School is helping to prepare parents and students for the new school year with its sixth annual Operation Good Start Project.

Since its introduction, Operation Good Start has provided more than 1,200 Southeast students with bookbags and necessary materials to begin the school year.

Principal Alvin Hudson said that the program has also worked to encourage relationships between the Southeast School family and community parents.

“Since the initial start of Operation Good Start, this program has been a good way to kick off the school year,” said Hudson.
“It began as a means of getting parents involved, and I can honestly say that parental involvement has picked up because of this. Our average open house participation is about 75 now, when in years prior to this project, we’d struggle to get 25-30 to come out.”
Hudson said that through the support of several local sponsors, Operation Good Start is helping to demonstrate this community’s commitment to students and education.

“Val Tech and Wal-Mart are major supporters, along with several community partners who also step in to make this project possible,” said Hudson.

“This project benefits students because it lets them know what we expect for them to have each day, and that we’re working to get them off to a good start. It also gives us an opportunity to give back to our parents, and we hope they will see it as an effort to bridge the gap between our school and our community.”

Operation Good Start will take place in conjunction with Southeast’s Open House, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007 from 2-4 p.m. Bags will be available on a first-come basis and distributed upon the presentation of a voucher, which will be given to parents who meet with their child’s teacher.

For information, call Southeast Elemetary at 333-8535.

Percy Harris Jr.
Martial arts master, security officer, community physical fitness activist, carpenter, construction worker, skater.

Throw in husband and father, and these are just a few of the titles worn by Percy Harris Jr.

A Homerville native, Harris is the son of Percy Harris and Pastor Sedonia Petty and husband of 23 years to Carolyn Harris. He has lived in Valdosta for 35 years and is known throughout the community for his friendly and physically active spirit and nature along with his dedication to hard work.

Family and community have always been an important part of Harris’ life. As a teen, Harris and his brother, Timothy George Harris, worked to make a difference in their family’s income.

“My brother and I starting working immediately in tobacco fields, pulp wood, etc., to help bring in an income, so at 13, I began bringing in a steady paycheck,” said Harris.

At a young age, Harris also worked at Sam Bo’s Restaurant. "During that time period, junior high schools had a program that allowed children to work as long as their parents consented to it,” said Harris.

After high school and nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Harris graduated from Valdosta Technical College as a residential, commercial and industrial electrician, along with training in welding and air conditioning and heating.

Harris continues to instill the importance of a strong work ethic in his three adult children, Christopher Harris, Heather Mitchell and Corey Hancock.

“If you raise your children to take responsibility for their actions, you will produce a responsible adult,” said Harris.

Harris’ family also consists of two sisters and two brothers, and he speaks highly of his mother’s influence on him.

“Although my mother and father separated, as a single parent, my mother provided the best that she knew how. She has always had a good relationship with God, and my mother is also the type of person that cares about all people,” said Harris. “And I’m sure that’s where all that I’ve done in the community over the years originated from.”

Harris has been training people in the Valdosta area in martial arts for nearly 16 years. He ran a Martial Arts School in Moultrie while working his brother for a year at Tim's Car Care.

Harris also has a passion for skating. “I’ve trained probably over 500 people how to roller skate over the last 18 years,” said Harris.
As many skaters in the community know, on the weekends, one can usually find Harris in Jungle Jym's Skating Rink or surrounding area rinks as far as Lake City, Fla.

He is looking into the possibility of a project to get area teens focused on something besides playing video games and watching TV all day.“I’m trying to bring a program to Valdosta, dedicated to creating jobs, creating physical awareness, more entertainment, and occupying teenagers’ time, especially, or adults who maybe need something exciting to be involved in,” said Harris. “My dream is to make Valdosta the National Tournament Circuit for Jam Skaters.”

Having worked at Crackin’ Good for eight years, the SAFT battery plant for a year, and another manufacturer for three years in addition to all other experiences, Harris understands the importance of keeping youth occupied. By creating a new multi-activity facility, Harris hopes to promote physical fitness, whether through skating, martial arts or other forms of exercise.“I would like to get teens and young adults to show respect for one another, especially their elders and the law. I would like to keep them working toward seeking self-improvement at all costs,” said Harris. Harris hopes that his own life experiences can positively influence the community.

“When I was 20 years old, I was temporarily paralyzed,” said Harris. "But I put out so much effort to walk again despite what I had been told. I believe you should never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. Maybe they can’t, but you can.”
So, Percy Harris Jr. has a positive message to convey to all.

“To achieve your dreams, remember your ABC’s, avoid negative sources — people, places, things and habits. To achieve, believe in yourself.”

Teacher of the Year
Valdosta Technical College recently named faculty member Marilu Wentworth the Rick Perkins Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the school year ending June 30, 2007.   In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Wentworth is the Printing and Graphics Program Coordinator for the College.  She was voted Teacher of the Year by her fellow faculty and the staff members at the College.

Wentworth has been with the College since 2000.  She has been credited with taking the College’s Printing and Graphics Program forward where enrollments have increased from eight students to its present 24.

In addition, Wentworth has implemented an in-house printing facility within the Printing and Graphics Program that is an example for other state technical colleges.  The printing facility at the College serves as a classroom where students gain hands-on experience for future employment.” 

As the Valdosta Tech Teacher of the Year, Wentworth will move on to compete at the state level against other technical college winners to become the state ambassador for technical education.  A win at the state level would move Wentworth into a national level competition. 

Wentworth explains why she chose to teach in a technical college environment, “To be able to share the exciting processes that happen in the printing and graphics industry is a life-long dream.  As an employee and then an employer, I feel I know the necessary skills needed to be successfully employed in this area.”  Wentworth’s classroom and lab mimic the atmosphere in the outside world of printing and graphics and she believes the students will be more comfortable and ready to face the challenges set forward in the ever-changing industry once they complete their program.

“To know Marilu Wentworth’s teaching style is to know she implicitly cares about her students and the goals they set for themselves,” states Joe Prater, Director of Instruction at Valdosta Tech. Prater went on to say that, “Wentworth guides her students into ‘workplace thinking’ and brings an entrepreneurial, business-like spirit into the program.”