Gilmer High School has announced its Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) honorees for the 2020-2021 school year. This year’s STAR Student is GHS senior Morgan Todd, who selected former band instructor Joe Pflueger as his STAR Teacher.
“We are very proud of Mr. Todd and Mr. Pflueger and the academic excellence they have exemplified at Gilmer High,” said Carla Foley, principal.
Todd, a trombone player, said he took Pflueger’s band classes in his 9th, 10th and 11th grade years, as well as in middle school for 6th grade band. During that time, he participated in the marching, jazz, symphonic and pep band programs.
Todd said Pflueger was his “most academically helpful” teacher.
“He (wanted) the students to pass all their classes, not just his. He always tried to put incentives out there and would find help if students needed it (with) tutors,” Todd added.
Pflueger, who retired from teaching last year and is a current Board of Education member, said you can tie just about any academic subject into music.
“There’s lots of ways to do that. We talked about, all the time in band class, how important it was to display integrity and character. I knew if the kids got the respect and team management, the music part would take care of itself,” he added.
Pflueger called Todd a “very respectful and high achieving” student.
“He always tried to stay focused on his academics and his extracurricular activities. You could always see the wheels turning in his head any time I would ask a question,” he added.
Pflueger said this is the first time he’s been chosen as a STAR Teacher.
“I know how many amazing teachers this young man has had at every level of his education. For him to pick me is a very nice and humbling gesture,” he noted.
The STAR program is sponsored, administered and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the PAGE Foundation. To qualify, a student must be a high school senior, have the highest SAT score on a single test date and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class in terms of grade point average.
Todd said he took the SAT his sophomore year.
“He took it way early and for that score to hold from his sophomore year is pretty amazing,” Pflueger noted.
School system STAR Students go on to compete for region honors, then region winners compete for the title of State STAR Student.
The Ellijay Lions Club is among more than 172 Georgia civic organizations and businesses that help sponsor the STAR program in their communities.
The son of Chris and Dr. Anne Todd, of Ellijay, Morgan said he plans to attend Berry College and focus on a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)-related area of study, with at least a minor in music.