At East Cobb Middle School (ECMS), we strive to encourage and evoke the best from our students and faculty as they engage through life’s perpetual learning experience. Developing young minds and honing skills for their social and cognitive growth benefits both teacher and student.  At ECMS, such engagement often is not solely encouraged but has become a corner stone for learning at our school.  One such teacher, Ms. Jordon Thompson, epitomizes the quintessential relationship of tutelage and support to foster success in her students.

Often times, Ms. Thompson has submitted her students’ writings: essays, literature reviews and poetry to state and national publications. Recently, two of Ms. Thompson’s students, Kurt Klinkmueller and Alina Walling have been chosen by the national publication, “Voices from the Middle” to have their respective works published.  “Voices from the Middle” is a national publication from NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English. The publication offers articles on research and best practices in middle level reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the visual and language arts.

“Voices from the Middle” is published in the months of September, December March and May of each year. The submissions chosen for each month are done so according to a theme for that month. The theme for September 2009 is service-learning: The Intersection of Civic and Academic Engagement. Kurt’s published book review may be read at the following website http://www.ncte.org/journals/vm.

Kurt Klinkmueller, currently an eighth grader at East Cobb Middle School, as a sixth grade student in Ms. Thompson’s class wrote a book review for “Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception.”  Kurt’s review was published in the September 2009 edition of “Voices from the Middle.” Kurt is the first student from the state of Georgia to be selected for such an accolade. Additionally, as a sixth grader, Alina Walling wrote a book review for “The Hunger Games,” in Ms. Thompson’s class. Her review will be published in the March 2010 issue of “Voices from the Middle.” Alina is the first female from Georgia to be chosen.  ECMS is quite proud of these two students who have produced the type of work product encouraged and taught by our school. Kurt and Alina are the only students from the state of Georgia to be published by “Voices from the Middle.” Congratulations to both Kurt and Alina for a job well done. Ms. Thompson’s sentiment, “I am one proud school mama” echoes the school’s feelings about these students’ accomplishment. Indeed, congratulations to East Cobb Middle School as we celebrate the success of our students. 

Andrew G. Trowers M.Ed, JD