Local Student chosen by State School Superintendent

Morgan Bentley, currently a sophomore at Union County High School, was nominated by Union County High School Principal Ed Rohrbaugh for the State Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. Out of 550 state wide nominations, Morgan was selected to join the group of 53 high school students from across the state to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students throughout Georgia. Morgan joins only two other students chosen in the Pioneer RESA area. The members meet four times during the school year with State Superintendent of Schools, Kathy Cox, and act as liaisons between the State Department of Education and the students of Georgia. Union County School Superintendent Tommy Stephens expressed his pleasure in having a representative from Union County on the state council. "I am, as always really impressed with Morgan and I think she will be a superb representative of Union County High School and the Union County School System. Given that she is a terrific student I know she will be a great asset to Superintendent Cox as an advisory board member."

Current discussions for the advisory group include the Georgia Graduation Rule Revision and reversing the trend in the high school drop out rate. Morgan noted the drop out rate in her application essay (excerpt below). She also adheres to Bill Milliken's new book, The Last Dropout: Stop the Epidemic! (Hay House Inc.) "I could not believe the parallel between my essay and Mr. Milliken's book," stated Morgan, "and to read his positive comments on what Georgia is doing makes me feel good that we are headed in the right direction."

Morgan is the daughter of Tsali and Jacque Bentley and the granddaughter of Jo George of Blairsville, GA and Maryjeanne Bentley of Waynesboro, Ga.