For the past ten years, language arts teacher Susan Buckson Greene has been selected by students as an outstanding teacher worthy of the school's "Stellar Awards." Her creative approach to making education engaging for her students includes devising games for them to play. She also creates incentives for academic improvement, setting up her classroom as a movie theatre-complete with free popcorn-an exclusive event that students must earn tickets to attend. As a result of her methods, her ninth graders have improved their grade point averages and significantly increased their enrollment in AP English. On the writing portion of one state exam, 100 percent of her students passed. An expert at building positive relationships, Greene established a system for home-to- school communications that increased parental involvement by 85 percent. Committed to helping her students excel, she makes herself available to students before and after school and on Saturdays, and serves as both class advisor and teacher liaison to the parent booster club. This optimistic educator can also be found at area colleges supervising aspiring teachers and sharing with them the importance of the career they've chosen. Greene served as Magnet Coordinator for the S.T.A.R. (Students for Teaching and Academic Readiness) Academy, which prepares high school students to work in the education field at varying levels. Currently, Susan is excited to be back in the classroom teaching 9th grade English. She also serves as the Lead teacher for the 9th grade interdisciplinary team. In 2010, Susan was appointed as the Senior Pastor at Bellview A.M.E. Church in Aragon, GA.Â
