College of Education

By: Al WestonGeorgia College & State University special education associate professor Dr. Rob Sumowski is a gifted educator, much loved by current students and alumni. The walls of his office proudly show photos of him with his students, including ones of him serving as wedding officiant for multiple College of Education alumni. Sumowski has also served on the University Senate, even as a presiding officer for the 2023-24 school year, the highest role in the Senate. Sumowski’s gifts...

Holly Starmer Witcher, ’01, a special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School in White County, is the 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year. A 23-year teaching veteran, she was also named Teacher of the Year in two other school districts: Rockdale County in 2006 and White County in 2023. Witcher was selected out of approximately 110,000 teachers to be the state’s Teacher of the Year. She feels it’s “a huge honor” to be selected and has been advocating for other Georgia teachers...

Superintendent of Lee County Schools Dr. Kathleen Truitt gave a keynote commencement address at her alma mater, Georgia College & State University.She told students graduating from university’s College of Education that she was “dumbfounded” when asked by GCSU President Cathy Cox to speak at commencement. “I am simply a regular person and what would I have to really offer you at such a pivotal moment,” Truitt said. “And then it occurred to me, maybe just maybe I could share how a regular...

In preschool, a set of twins demonstrated their knowledge and reasoning skills differently than other children. The sisters had trouble remembering the shapes and sounds of letters. Their special education teacher, Berinda Turk—a four-time graduate of Georgia College & State University—wasn’t sure, but she thought the twins might be dyslexic. She couldn’t get them out of her mind and heart.   “I wanted to learn more about dyslexia so this year, if I was presented with the same type...