Marion County High School is proud to announce that Jefferson Walker Johnson has been named STAR Student for the Class of 2025. He has selected Mr. Harry Jaynes as his STAR Teacher. STAR Student is an honor awarded to the student in the top 10% of the graduating class with the highest SAT score, and these students are recognized by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators for their hard work and achievements.
Walker Johnson has been named Valedictorian of the Marion County Class of 2025. He is a University of Georgia Certificate of Merit recipient, a Senior Superlative, and serves as 12th grade Class President. He is also a member of Senior Beta and FFA and is a three-sport athlete (football, wrestling, and baseball), in addition to his volunteer work and active membership at Brown Springs Church of God. Walker plans to attend the University of Georgia to major in business finance. He is the son of Jeff and Tara Johnson of Box Springs.
For his STAR Teacher, Walker selected Mr. Harry Jaynes. “Coach Jaynes” is a perpetual student favorite, known for his student-led presentations, debate strategy, and insightful humor. “Coach Jaynes’ class is a rite of passage,” states Johnson. “He is enthusiastic, warm, and engaging. He supports us on the field and in the classroom. He challenges us with court cases, debates, and the dreaded Lanahan readings, but he also understands that we are teenagers with personalities and goals. There is no limit to the support I have felt from Coach Jaynes over the years, and there is no limit to how many laughs we have shared.”
Although he did not begin teaching until the age of 39, Mr. Jaynes earned his undergraduate degree at Columbus State University and was inspired to teach Social Studies by Mr. Donnie Coppedge from Kendrick High School. Before coming to Marion County, he taught at Chattahoochee County High School and Beauregard High School (AL). Jaynes has taught World History, Economics, and Government on the AP and dual enrollment levels at Marion County. He coaches varsity football and middle school baseball. He and his wife, Mary, reside in Harris County. They have three children--Brittany, Amanda, and Bryan--and six grandchildren.
Jaynes describes Walker as “a one of a kind type of student. He has all the traits to be an unbelievable adult in life. He is incredibly well-rounded. He not only excels academically, but he also participates in many extracurricular activities. He works part-time in addition to all of the sports and activities. With this kind of load, it is amazing that he has achieved such academic success. It was a true honor to have the opportunity to teach such an incredible person. Walker is the type of student who is an inspiration to me as a teacher.”
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia's highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Since its creation in 1958 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Program has honored nearly 26,000 high school seniors who have in turn chosen their STAR Teachers to share in this recognition. Every accredited high school in Georgia is eligible to participate in this preeminent student/teacher academic recognition.
To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on any single test date of the SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on grade point average. Nominees' SAT scores must be equal to or be higher than the concorded mean scores on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing and Math sections. Each high school STAR Student is asked to name his/her STAR Teacher. High school STAR Students compete for system titles; and System STAR Students in turn compete for region-wide honors in the 12 STAR Regions. Region Winners and their STAR Teachers are invited to Atlanta to compete for the state PAGE STAR scholarships and awards. STAR Teachers continue on with their STAR Students at every level of the program.
Congratulations to Walker Johnson and Mr. Harry Jaynes on this immense honor!