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Ola High School Student Appointed to State Superintendent's 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council

HENRY COUNTY, GA – State School Superintendent Richard Woods recently named Ola High School 11th grader Anthony Coral as a member of his 2024-2025 Student Advisory Council.

At the start of each school year, Georgia public school 10th-12th graders can apply to serve on the Student Advisory Council. Coral was one of 74 students selected from a pool of 1,550 applicants statewide to act as the superintendent’s ambassadors or liaisons between the Department of Education and their respective schools.

The overall application, including essay quality, academic performance, and extracurricular activities, factor in student selection. Appointees meet with the superintendent and other leaders to share their ideas about issues impacting or related to public education.

Coral was partly motivated to apply because of his vision of a public school experience that benefits all students. His essay addressed assignment quality, course assessment tools, and student absenteeism.

“In terms of student work, I believe the considerable number of assignments does little to improve student comprehension,” Coral said. “In my essay, I suggested that research should be incorporated into lessons to maximize learning and minimize workload.”

Coral asserts that student apathy is the most pressing issue in public education today, citing a decrease in students’ concern for their education. He believes in emphasizing the importance of learning to inspire students to value academics.

He also aspires to support initiatives addressing student absenteeism in Georgia – from promoting mental health awareness to reducing the incidence of student illness. He is also seeking approval to conduct research related to student wellness.

Coral’s interest in advancing public education goes beyond meeting college requirements or padding an already impressive resume. His participation in the Student Advisory Council is as intentional as it is inspired. 

After graduating high school, Coral plans to attend a four-year institution to pursue a double-major in a STEM-related field and educational policy, as he works toward a career “synthesizing the two fields to improve education globally.”

Coral’s teachers nominated him for the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP), and after a successful interview, he was selected for the summer residential program. GHP is a one-time opportunity for high-performing high school students based on their passion for a particular subject.

His selection to the program was the first in nine years for Ola High School, and he is the second student in the school’s history to attend GHP in mathematics.

His final project, “Pi in Music (and more!),” is featured on the GHP student site. Coral used Pi to create a musical system more accurate than Pythagorean Tuning and utilized another irrational number to develop the self-titled “Coral Tuning System” based on nine notes rather than today’s 12-note system.

His participation in the program ignited a passion for ensuring equitable opportunities for students regardless of income or school location. Coral intends to integrate the GHP experience with his time on the Student Advisory Council to advocate for students in rural areas and bridge the educational gap between regions across Georgia.

Coral is president of Ola High School’s Math Team and Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, co-captain of the Academic Team, secretary of the Rho Kappa Honor Society, and an active member in the Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Technology Student Association.

In 2023, he achieved the third-highest score on the University of West Georgia’s “Math Day” Algebra Competition and was named Freshman of the Year at Ola High. Coral also pursues dual enrollment courses, including Georgia Institute of Technology’s distance math program.

In his sophomore year, he was selected as Concertmaster for the All-County Honor Orchestra, comprising high school orchestra players throughout the county. Coral also credits his middle school orchestra teacher, Kyla Gwyn, for inspiring him to apply to the Student Advisory Council.

“Her dedication, passion, and self-advocacy led to my interest in education, creating within me a fascination for how each teacher teaches and how each student can learn best,” he said. “Her self-advocacy has inspired me to speak up for my education.”

Coral devotes his time outside of school activities to playing the violin, volunteering at Filipino-centered events, and tutoring through UPchieve, an online service that provides free tutoring for underprivileged students.

Despite a demanding schedule, Coral maintains a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a weighted GPA of 4.545.  He believes that besides his academic performance, essay responses, and extracurricular involvement, his distinction as a first-generation Filipino American and the demographics of his community and school provided a unique perspective that distinguished him from other applicants.

“Mustang Nation is excited to have Anthony Coral join Superintendent Woods’ Student Advisory Council,” said Principal Nick Ellis. “Anthony is an exceptional student in the Governors Honors Program and other organizations at Ola High School. He will make a great addition to the Council and help provide a student voice and advocacy for Georgia students. He is the second student from Ola High School in consecutive years to be chosen for this prestigious group. We are proud that Ola students lead by example in our local and state communities.”

Coral is excited about the opportunity to have a direct say in Georgia’s education policies and to meet peers from different regions and hear their perspectives. The students will also participate in a service project designed to develop collaboration and leadership skills and nurture an appreciation for community engagement and civic responsibility.

“Anthony is a remarkable student and deserving of the opportunity to serve on the State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council,” said HCS Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “As superintendent, it is always inspiring to learn about students like Anthony, but as an educator, I am especially moved by his grasp of the issues and genuine desire to make a difference in public education. His appointment to the Student Advisory Council is a testament to his hard work and commitment to advancing public education.”

The Student Advisory Council will meet in person with Superintendent Woods starting in November, with three additional sessions planned for January, March, and April.

“Anthony has made us proud not only for being selected for this prestigious honor but because of his incredible commitment to excellence in all he pursues,” said Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “We are proud that he will serve as a representative for our district and excited to see where his passion for public education leads him in his undoubtedly bright future.”

Coral follows current Ola High’s Ella Medrano and Eagle’s Landing High’s Jodi Gist, who served on last year’s Student Advisory Council.

About Henry County Schools 

Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools and located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past two decades, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000. 
 
HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society. 

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