Submitted Photo Valwood School senior Addy Perlman, STAR student, stands with selected STAR teacher, Coach Peter Allen.   

HAHIRA – Valwood senior Addy Perlman was recently named a Student Teacher Achievement Recognition student by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators program and will be honored at a luncheon hosted by the Valdosta North Rotary Club. 

Perlman earned the distinction by having the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date and by meeting other rigorous STAR criteria, including being in the top 10 percent or top 120 of their class in grade-point average, according to a press release. 

Perlman selected Coach Peter Allen as her STAR teacher.

“Valwood has been more than four walls constructed of cement blocks and slathered in orange and blue paint. It has been my home, and my teachers and my peers have formed a loving and a supportive family,” Perlman said. 

“I chose Coach Allen as my STAR teacher because he is my inspiration. For the past three years, I have waited, sometimes rather impatiently, to burst through his door to experience the adventures of knowledge and of literature he presents to the class. Each word that he utters fills my ears and ignites my veins with inspiration.

“Writing is my passion. For years, my pen has been my sword, and the worlds that I have created within my mind have served as my escape from reality. Coach Allen has molded those worlds, and he has sculpted my abilities and transformed them from a myriad of ideas into well-crafted thought processes. He has furthered my creative desires, and he has supported me through all of my endeavors,” she said.

“I am fortunate enough to say that all of my teachers have guided me and have supported me, including Ms. Vallye Blanton, Ms. Tammy Brooks, Mr. Andy Stamschror, and Mrs. Retter (formerly Mrs. Traci Carver).”

Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR Program has honored nearly 26,000 high school seniors. Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to participate in the preeminent student/teacher academic recognition, according to the press release. 

STAR students and teachers are honored by their schools and receive special recognition in the communities for one of more than 165 civic organizations and businesses that serve as local STAR sponsors.