Newnan High School’s Lauren Brown was announced as the 2006 Coweta County STAR student, at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Forum on Tuesday morning.

Brown – a Newnan High senior – introduced English teacher Barbara Landreth as her STAR teacher at the breakfast meeting, held at the Central Educational Center on February 28. Brown and Landreth were among four STAR students and teachers from each of the four Coweta high schools who were honored at the Chamber event.

The STAR program recognizes Georgia high school students who are among the top academic achievers in their classes. The program is sponsored locally by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce.

Coweta County Superintendent of School Blake Bass greeted and congratulated each of the STAR students and teachers, and Brown was then recognized as the highest-achieving student in Coweta County.

This year’s honorees and their STAR teachers are:

East Coweta High School – STAR student Tarun Patel and ECHS chemistry teacher Dan Harrington. Patel’s parents are Fhobhna and Dinesh Patel.

Patel – who plans to study either genetics or biochemistry at college – named Harrington his STAR teacher because his chemistry classes “are exciting. He teaches extremely well… It is like watching a magician or a pyromaniac at work.”

The Heritage School School – STAR student Sarah Parker and Heritage math department head and teacher Darrell Comfort. Parker’s parents are Rodney and Kathryn Parker.

Parker – who has already been accepted at Ohio State and Stanford Universities, and is deciding between the two – named Comfort as the first among many excellent teachers who have inspired her most as a student.

Northgate High School – STAR student Daniel Sexton and English teacher Sherry Taylor. Sexton’s parents are John and Nancy Sexton.

Sexton – who plans to study chemistry at college – named Taylor as his STAR teacher because her sponsorship of the Northgate Academic bowl placed her as “the most important influence in my life as a teacher (who) pushed me to achieve at a level that I would not perform at otherwise.”

Newnan High School – STAR student (and Coweta County STAR) Lauren Brown and NHS English teacher Barbara Landreth. Brown’s parents are Toni and Mark Brown.

Brown – who plans to focus on international studies at college – said that Landreth is “a legend at Newnan High” among current students and many, many former students, “because she leaves a lasting impression on her students through her demand for excellence.”

In turn, Landreth praised Brown after she was named county STAR student as an intelligent, beautiful, cultured, refined and courteous young woman, among other admirable qualities. “She is teachable and talented… respectful and respected. She is my honor.”

Chamber member Clayton Hicks hosted Tuesday’s Forum, which was being sponsored by Bank of Coweta, BB&T, F&M Bank, First Coweta Bank, Flag Bank, Regions Bank, The Bank of Georgia, and United Community Bank.

The state-wide STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) program is sponsored primarily by the PAGE Foundation Inc., which is part of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and is co-sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

A top academic senior is chosen for each High School in Georgia as a STAR student. STAR students must have the highest score in one sitting on the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year, and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students in their class.

STAR students select their own STAR teachers, meant to be the teacher (of any grade and school) who has had the greatest influence on their lives.

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