Augusta, GA

Finding Solutions: Local students learn how to become teachers

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2024

Finding Solutions: Local students learn how to become teachers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Nearly 300 high school students met at Augusta University’s campus for Future Georgia Educators Day.

It’s something done across the state to give high schoolers more insight into the teaching profession.

Organizers are finding solutions in how to get more teachers in the classrooms.

Teachers — they’re something we need more of.

“We do not have enough teachers in our state. Every year hundreds of classrooms remain vacant with just a substitute or a teacher who may not be highly qualified to teach that particular subject area and we’re not growing enough teachers in the state,” said Mary Ruth Ray, coordinator for Future Georgia Educator Day.

That’s why the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, or PAGE, has made it their mission to host events like this.

“PAGE makes a concerted effort to hold FGE Day to bring in students from area high schools to a college campus exploring what it would be like to be a teacher,” said Ray.

Students are taken through various workshops learning about why they should teach, what it’s like to work at a middle school and even education jobs beyond teaching.

Daviney Tinker, a sophomore at Harlem High School, said: “It’s helpful because I can see how other people like it in the profession and how much you go through and what you do and how you inspire other people.”

Tyler Malloy, a sophomore at Lakeside High School, is looking to become a teacher and then eventually a principal.

He says having more men in the profession is important.

“We need both men and women in this workforce because it’s mostly a female-dominated career path. But some students don’t have people in their life who are male role models, so if you have a man as a teacher, it can really help with that,” said Malloy.

Brooke Blunt, a junior at Columbia Virtual Academy, is already looking forward to the future and the message she wants to share with her future students.

“Even when no one believes in you just believe in yourself because you’re really the only person you will always have,” she said.

Students were also able to attend a college fair.

About 100 more students attended FGE Day compared to last year’s event.

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Augusta, GA

Officer-involved shooting leaves 1 hospitalized on Telfair Street

Published

2 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Officer-involved shooting leaves 1 hospitalized on Telfair Street

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An officer-involved shooting left one person hospitalized on Telfair Street early Friday morning.

Deputies say they responded to the 200 block of Telfair Street around 1:05 a.m. after multiple 911 calls reported several individuals were involved in a fight. Calls also reported shots were fired.

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was fired upon when arriving to the scene.

The deputy returned fire, striking one individual at least once, according to deputies.

The sheriff’s office says evidence at the scene indicates multiple shots were fired.

Deputies rendered first aid to the injured individual until EMS arrived. The individual was transported to a local hospital by Central EMS, the sheriff’s office says.

The suspect is listed as stable, and has been assigned a hospital room, according to deputies.

Authorities once released from the hospital, the suspect will be arrested and booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. They say they anticipate the suspect will be in the hospital for a while.

No deputies were injured during the incident.

The sheriff’s office says the area remains secured, with traffic blocked in all directions, while evidence is collected and witness statements are obtained.

The Regional Use of Force Task Force has been notified and is responding to assume the investigation. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene.

The shooting remains an active and ongoing investigation.

This is the first officer-involved shooting in Richmond County this year.

The last officer-involved shooting was in October 2025. A Richmond County deputy was injured in a shoot-out with a wanted man on Washington Road.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Players and Imperial Theatre announce merger plans

Published

14 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Players and Imperial Theatre announce merger plans

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) The Augusta Players and the Imperial Theatre have announced their intent to merge, with the goal of strengthening the arts across the CSRA.

The merger aims to improve efficiency and sustainability for both performing arts organizations. Both boards plan to conduct a national search for a shared CEO.

The alliance requires approval and is not yet finalized.

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Augusta, GA

Five AU Volleyball Players Honored on PBC All-Academic Team – Augusta University

Published

1 day ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Five AU Volleyball Players Honored on PBC All-Academic Team – Augusta University

AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has revealed the 2025 Volleyball All-Academic Team, previously known as the Team of Academic Distinction. The teams are part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes. Five Augusta volleyball players were named to the list: Libby Nickels, Layne Witherspoon, Sydney Harrington, Mia Saavedra, and Lauren Posa.

In order to be eligible for the PBC All-Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following requirements:

1) Participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor

2) Achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and

3) Student-Athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically

Transfer students are immediately eligible once they meet the above requirements. The Peach Belt Conference sports communications professionals oversee the program.

PBC VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
NAME	INSTITUTION	YEAR	HOMETOWN	GPA	MAJOR (MINOR)
Libby Nickels	Augusta	Sophomore	New Smyrna Beach, Fl.	4.00	Criminal Justice
Layne Witherspoon	Augusta	Junior	Wildwood, Mo.	4.00	Kinesiology
Sydney Harrington	Augusta	Junior	Albany, Or.	3.75	Business Administration
Mia Saavedra	Augusta	Senior	Tampa, Fl.	3.80	Business Administration
Lauren Posa	Augusta	Senior	Johns Creek, Ga.	3.75	Kinesiology
Cassidy Bloom	Flagler	Senior	Naples, Fla.	3.74	Business
Gracie Fleming	Flagler	Junior	Denver, Colo.	3.5	Marketing
Clare Sheedy	Flagler	Senior	Plymouth, Ind.	3.97	Political Science
Lexi Baum	GCSU	Sophomore	St. Petersburg, Fla.	3.85	Undeclared- Nursing Track (Global Health Studies)
Liv Diaz	GCSU	Junior	Snellville, Ga.	3.66	Undeclared- Nursing Track
Riese Johnson	GCSU	Senior	Cumming, Ga.	3.61	Biology
Sadie Parkerson	GCSU	Sophomore	Kennesaw, Ga.	3.77	Exercise Science
Hayley Shepherd	GCSU	Graduate	Kathleen, Ga.	4.00	Special Education (G)/ Psychology (UG)
Lexi Polychribes	GCSU	Senior	Adrian, Ga.	3.51	Undeclared- Nursing Track
Nya Warren	GCSU	Sophomore	Gray, Ga.	3.86	Undeclared- Elementary Education Track (Global Health Studies)
Sam Alwardt	Lander	Sophomore	Summerville, S.C.	3.89	Biology
Karson Browning	Lander	Sophomore	Boiling Springs, S.C.	3.50	Physical Education
Emmi Cheek	Lander	Sophomore	West Jefferson, N.C.	3.68	Biology
Ameila May	Lander	Sophomore	Vale, N.C.	3.73	Exercise Science
Katie Miller	Lander	Senior	Sugar City, Id.	3.55	Nursing
Alyssa Tegelar	Lander	Senior	Blairstown, Iowa.	4.0	Visual Art
Ryleigh Willard	Lander	Sophomore	Roebuck, S.C.	3.73	Exercise Science
Aubrie Beard	Middle Georgia	Sophomore	McDonough, Ga.	3.61	Nursing
Paige Collier	Middle Georgia	Senior	Winston, Ga.	3.72	Aviation Science & Management
Ellie Johnson	Middle Georgia	Senior	Canton, Ga.	3.89	Early Education/ Special Education
Noemi Combi	Salem	Junior	Castello Di Brianza, Italy	4.00
Alli Bishop	USCA	Junior	Chesterfield, Mo.	3.649	Nursing
Chloe Duzenack	USCA	Sophomore	Loveland, Co.	3.659	Exercise and Sport Science- Health & Fitness Management
Sidney Hogan	USCA	Senior	Saint Louis, Mo.	4.00	Exercise and Sport Science- Allied Health
Ana Cate Loftus	USCA	Sophomore	Powell, Oh.	3.554	Mechanical Engineering
Avery Pearson	USCA	Sophomore	Wellington, Co.	3.786	Nursing
Lexi Rogers	USCA	Redshirt Sophomore	Moore, S.C.	3.892	Psychology
Anna Sommer	USCA	Senior	St. Louis, Mo.	3.776	Exercise and Sport Science- Basic Sciences