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Trackmobile Funds STEM Field Trip

Over 175 Troup County, GA, students will benefit from the donation

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When Michael Young, the Trackmobile North American sales and marketing manager, entered Berta Weathersbee Elementary in LaGrange, GA, he had heard the stories about student achievement being low and student discipline being high. What he witnessed was different.
The Trackmobile sponsorship funding was delivered to Cooks and Nolan by Young after taking a tour of the building, talking to students and teachers, and visiting renovated areas like the media center.

“After hearing about the school’s recent troubled reputation, I experienced a much different environment than I had envisioned," Young says. "It was remarkable to see the level of discipline, courtesy, and positive engagement the students exhibited during my tour.”
That is what made the donation from Trackmobile to fund an educational field trip for over 175 Berta Weathersbee students mean something. All students and teachers in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will travel to the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta thanks to this generous donation. The students will learn about architecture, design, and other elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math principles that are much needed in future career opportunities that will be offered in Troup County over the next five years.

“This will be a cultural experience for the student population at Berta," says Willie Cooks, Berta Weathersbee principal. "Our free and reduced lunch rate is over 85% and many of our students do not get to experience trips like this, quite frankly, due to funding needs. This opportunity will be life changing for some of our students and we are excited Trackmobile has provided the financial resources for us to make this happen.”

In the past, Berta Weathersbee had a reputation for severe discipline issues and low student achievement. With new building personnel like Cooks, and Instructional Specialist Christy Nolan, leading the charge in facilitating pride and instilling character values within the students, offering opportunities for parent participation, and calling on partners like Trackmobile to provide educational experiences like field studies, that perception is shifting.

Cooks, a 20-year veteran that served as a drill sargeant in Fort Benning, GA, went into the education field after retiring. His sense of community and desire to continue serving by helping to mold and guide youth within his community drove him to begin a new career in early education.

“I realized the importance of starting early with good fundamental discipline and direction,” explains Cooks. “School administration seemed like a natural fit. Taking what I learned in the military and using it to support the underserved children in our communities to set an example of responsible behavior and goal-oriented
direction gives my life new purpose."

The funding for the field trip on May 7 will be one of the ways the new administration will help Berta turn the corner.

“We are proud to support the future of Troup County through sponsoring these students," says Mr. Young.

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