“We are so happy that we were able to celebrate our writers across the district today. Even though we could not be together in person, we were together virtually!”
Dalton Public Schools held its annual Young Georgia Authors Celebration on Thursday, April 22 in a virtual ceremony.
While COVID-19 restrictions prevented an in-person celebration, each school was connected via Zoom to the event. The ceremony was livestreamed the district website and the DPS Literacy Facebook page, and the recording can be viewed below.
The theme for this year's Young Georgia Authors Celebration was Hope 2021. Alice Ensley, curriculum specialist, said the theme was inspired by the perseverance of students through this unexpected year.
"They have done something no other group of students has ever had to do," Ensley said. "They have learned in new ways, been flexible and resilient, endured countless temperature checks and Zoom meetings, all while wearing a mask and staying six feet away from their friends and teachers. And they continue to write! Our students' perseverance continues to inspire and give us hope."
The ceremony included a performance by the Dalton Middle School chorus and remarks from keynote speaker, Teresa Hensley. Hensley is a published author, literacy instructional coach for Park Creek School and the most recent winner of the district Teacher of the Year Award.
Reflecting on this year's theme in her speech, Hensley said that reading the work of students in the district gave her hope.
"Your bravery, not only of putting words down on paper, but to take that and share it with others, that gives me hope," Hensley said. "It gives me hope for the future."
Ensley said that despite the challenges caused by COVID-19, the virtual celebration was a success.
"We are so happy that we were able to celebrate our writers across the district today," Ensley said. "Even though we could not be together in person, we were together virtually!"
You may view the recording of the event below.
The school winners were:
Elementary School Winners
| Blue Ridge | Brookwood | City Park | Park Creek | Roan | Westwood |
| Nicholas Rodriguez | Preston O'Ferrall | Shamorie Broome | Hunter Fowler | Aylin Canales | Derek Klaeger |
| Angel Escamilla | Eleanor Headrick | Jamarion Ware | Yaretzi Lopez | Chelsea Yanez | Maliha Patel |
| Alex Vicente-Escalante | Hadley Kittle | Daniela Perez | Dominik Huerta | Ariana Guzman Lopez | Harper Weeks |
| Ashley Calderon | Jacob McClure | Giselle Posada | Amy Machado | Nathan Flores-Plata | Chase McCullough |
| Zayetzy Dominguez-Angel | Addison Kitle | Andrew Lara | Gerardo Herrera | Brisa Moreno | Tess Summerlin |
| Christopher Rangel | Mary Susan Broadrick | Madison Stanley | Lilliana McLeroy | Yavier Martinez Zapata | Sara Cloud |
Middle School Winners
| 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade |
| Noelia Guerrero | Rachel Edwards | Elyanna Quintero |
| Sydney Brown | Aaliyah Freeman Alfaro | Hayden E. Poe |
| Gabriel Cuello | Carly Bramlett | Jessica Escutia |
| Andrea Najera | Josue Resendiz | Saige Elrod |
| Jeannie Gray | Olivia Bowen | Hope Hambrock |
| Allyson Sanchez | Hannah Ortiz | Lilli Sharp |
High School Winners
| Dalton High School | Morris Innovative High School |
| Karla Rosas | Chloe Harrison |
| Alexis Romero Diaz | Tai Lewis |
| Adriana Moreno | Jonathan D. Fraire |
| Emma Hefner | |
| Stephanie Rivas | |
| Ian Gowin | |
| Kira Delgado | |
| Anjleena Mutahir | |
| Emmy Vong | |
| Navah Jordan | |
| Daphne Vital | |
| Dylan Spaulding | |
| Aidan Stacy | |
| Addison Simmons | |
| Price Andersen | |
| Brooke Schlisner | |
| Lea Moreno |
District Winners were:
Kindergarten - Shamorie Broome, City Park School
1st Grade - Jamarion Ware, City Park School
2nd Grade - Ariana Guzman Lopez, Roan School
3rd Grade - Nathan Flores-Plata, Roan School
4th Grade - Addison Kittle, Brookwood School
5th Grade - Mary Susan Broadrick, Brookwood School
6th Grade - Sydney Brown, Dalton Middle School
7th Grade - Carly Bramlett, Dalton Middle School
8th Grade - Jessica Escutia, Dalton Middle School
9th Grade - Karla Rosas, Dalton High School
10th Grade - Kira Delgado, Dalton High School
11th Grade - Daphne Vital, Dalton High School
12th Grade - Lea Moreno, Dalton High School
