High School Announces Its STARs

Jasper County High School has announced its STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) student and teacher of the 2021-22 school year, George “King” Smith and his teacher, Dr. Tyson Harty.

Each year, every high school selects a STAR student, and that student selects his or her STAR teacher. The STAR student generally has the highest SAT score of the class, and must maintain other qualities as well.

Piedmont Academy’s STARs are slated for publication next week.

Jasper County’s STAR studnet, King, this school year has spent most of his time in AP and Dual Enrolled classes, writing and filmmaking, and serving as president of both the Technology Student Association and the Beta Club at his school. He has already been accepted into UGA, and will either be attending there or at GA Tech this fall.

After lots of experience in classes taken under Dr. Harty, his star teacher, King is interested in pursuing filmography and music technology in the future.

Tyson Harty has taught at Jasper County High School for 15 years, 10 years in science, and the last five in film and engineering. He has a Ph.D. in Biomechanics and an M.S. in Bioengineering, both from Oregon State University, and a B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University.

“I’ve known King since his freshman year both as his teacher for three years of engineering and two years of Audio, Video, and Film, and as an advisor/coach for Technology Student Association (TSA).

“King is versatile and creative, as evidenced by his accomplishments behind the camera, writing and directing award-winning short films, and as a songwriter in the audio studio, recording and mixing original songs for guitar and vocals.

“He has always been willing to test out new ideas and take on new projects, making them his own with a high degree of self-motivation and self-confidence. With a great sense of humor and a kind, out-going personality, King excels at leading and motivating his peers, a trait most evident as a student film director, our TSA chapter president, and Electrathon electric vehicle racing team crew member.

I am honored to be selected as King’s STAR Teacher. When I work with King, I am continually impressed by his mature, leadership style and communication skills that make me consider him as more of a colleague than a student, and often I learn as much from him as he does from me.”