Conyers Rotary celebrates 2026 STAR Students and Teachers

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA-The 2026 STAR Students and Teachers for Rockdale County were honored by the Rotary Club of Conyers during a celebration held at the Conyers-Rockdale Nancy Guinn Memorial Library on Jan. 29. 

The STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student award goes to one student in each high school with the highest SAT score who is also in the top 10 or top 10 percent of their class. That student selects a teacher as their STAR Teacher. The award is a program of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).The system winner who will advance to the regional competition is Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology (RMSST) STAR Student Gabrielle Christie. Her STAR Teacher is Cherie Ullo of RMSST.

This year’s school-level STAR Students and Teachers for PAGE District 3 are:

Heritage High School

STAR Student – Myeisha James (heading to MIT)

STAR Teacher – Catherine Rojas (art)

Rockdale County High School

STAR Student – Eli Richey (heading to George Washington University with Posse Scholarship)

STAR Teacher – Ashley Lamar (social studies, Rockdale Career Academy)

Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology

STAR Students – Gabrielle Christie (undecided, intends to study public policy)

STAR Teacher – Cherie Ullo (English)

Salem High School

STAR Student – Malakai Pearson (undecided, intends to study psychology)

STAR Teacher – Amanda Sparkman (social studies)

Young American Christian School

STAR Student – Carl Henry (heading to UGA, intends to study accounting)

STAR Teacher – Jay Howe (math)

Pictured left to right: Conyers Rotary Club President Jamie Cabe, Young American Christian School (YACS) STAR Teacher Jay Howe, YACS STAR Student Carl Henry, Salem High School (SHS) STAR Teacher Amanda Sparkman, SHS STAR Student Malakai Pearson, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology (RMSST) and system STAR Student Gabrielle Christie, RMSST and system STAR Teacher Cherie Ullo, Rockdale County High School (RCHS) STAR Student Eli Richey, RCHS STAR Teacher Ashley Lamar of Rockdale Career Academy, Heritage High School (HHS) STAR Student Myeisha James, HHS STAR Teacher Catherine Rojas, Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett, Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Shirley Chesser.

Pictured left to right: Conyers Rotary Club President Jamie Cabe, Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Shirley Chesser, Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett, system winner STAR Student Gabrielle Christie of Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology (RMSST), system winner STAR Teacher Cherie Ullo of RMSST, Gabrielle Christie’s mother Dr. Natacha Christie, RMSST Assistant Director Dr. Lynette Clark.