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Lincoln marks a milestone

• Dougherty county's first magnet school celebrates its silver anniversary Tuesday.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Hundreds of students and teachers at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School celebrated its 25th anniversary Tuesday afternoon. Lincoln is the county’s oldest magnet school.

The school was established in 1983 in response to parents’ demand for a “comprehensive education,” Principal Sheryl Holmes said after the celebration. The school system surveyed parents to find out what they specifically wanted from the new school.

“From the survey, they knew what parents were looking for and the school system put together the school,” Holmes said.

Beth O’Brien, the only teacher who has taught at Lincoln since the magnet school’s inception, said she enjoyed the ceremony.

“It’s been great,” said O’Brien, a Kindergarten teacher who is retiring this year. “It’s just a landmark that we’re celebrating the 25 years and how much we’ve accomplished.”

During the ceremony, students presented a time capsule of facts and details about life in 2007-08 to be opened in 2012 by future fifth-grade students. Later, 100 students released red, white and blue balloons.

“(This ceremony is) to recognize our accomplishments and to let the boys and girls here know that Lincoln didn’t just start yesterday. It started 25 years ago,” Holmes said. “We build on the success of the year before.”

The school has 43 teachers, 27 paraprofessionals and 734 students, though the student body will increase next year as the school adds another third-grade class, Holmes said.

She credited the school’s successes over the quarter-century to involved “stakeholders” — parents, students, teachers and administrators.

“I’m excited about all of the ... accomplishments Lincoln has made and I know our success will continue with the support of our stakeholders,” she said.

The school’s focus is on academic subjects — reading, math, language arts, social studies and science — and any student in Dougherty County can apply to the school, she said.

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