Stephens Co. Names STAR Student, Teacher

Stephens County names its STAR student.

This week, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce announced that Ian Douglas Allen, a senior at Stephens County High School, is this year’s STAR student.

Allen is the son of Doug and Darla Allen of Toccoa.

He said he is excited to receive this year’s honor.

“I was hoping for it,” said Allen. “I was sort of expecting, but I was real glad when they came to me and said you got STAR student.”

To obtain the 2017 STAR nomination, graduating high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the SAT and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average.

As the STAR student, Allen then picks his STAR teacher.

He chose his AP Biology teacher, Mrs. Erin Potterf.

She said she being named STAR Teacher is a pleasant surprise.

“I was not expecting that,” said Potterf. “I feel very honored. I am very honored Ian chose me because he has a lot of wonderful teachers, so I definitely did not expect it. It is a pretty amazing feeling.”

Allen said Mrs. Potterf is a fun and great teacher.

“She is so positive in the classroom,” said Allen. “She makes AP Biology very interesting.”

Meanwhile, Potterf said Allen is an awesome student.

“He is engaged every day and he always asks questions that are what we are talking about, but more than we are taking about, the things I what them to understand from the material and how it applies to life,” said Potterf. “I think that what makes material interesting and pertinent and how it ties into things.”

Allen has been accepted into the Honors program at the University of Georgia.

He will now represent Stephens County at the Region STAR Student competition.

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators Student Teacher Achievement Recognition Program, or STAR, program, now in its 59th year, is sponsored, administered and promoted by the PAGE Foundation.