Dougherty schools celebrate national award, state honors, alumni support
From a national blood donation award to state recognition for schools and teachers, the Dougherty County School System is celebrating achievements in community service and education.
ALBANY — From a national blood donation award to state recognition for schools and teachers, the Dougherty County School System is celebrating achievements in community service and education.
Westover High School received the 2025-26 National Sickle Cell Scholarship Champion award Sept. 16. In an email announcing the honor, William Chunn said Westover collected more blood donations than any other high school in the country.
Superintendent Kenneth Dyer highlighted additional honors during the Board of Education’s Sept. 24 meeting.
Robert Cross Middle Magnet School earned both Title I Distinguished School and Title I Reward School designations from the Georgia Department of Education, Dyer said. The honors recognize schools among the state’s highest-performing 5% and those among the 5% showing the greatest improvement, respectively, based on state assessment results.
Albany Middle School became the district’s first Apple Distinguished School, recognizing its use of technology to support teaching and learning.
The school also received $13,668.19 from Albany High School alumni, who presented the donation Sept. 22 after raising the money during alumni weekend festivities. Although Albany High is no longer operating, its graduates continue supporting current students through Albany Middle.
Two elementary school teachers earned statewide recognition. Yetay Anderson of Sherwood Acres Elementary was named a 2026 Accomplished Teacher through Georgia LEADS, one of 14 educators recognized statewide, Dyer said.
Kenisha Wester of Live Oak Elementary received a Mentor Teacher Award from the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education for the Southwest P-20 region. The honor is one of nine presented statewide annually to educators who help prepare future teachers.
The district also received a banner and plaque recognizing its state-certified teacher induction program. Dyer said Dougherty is one of 15 Georgia school systems with the certification, which recognizes support for teachers beginning their careers.
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