There's a reason that Mansfield Elementary School is touted as one of the best in the county. Many of its teachers were once students at the school, where academic success and community involvement are synonymous with its success.
"Mansfield Elementary School has a tradition of excellence that dates back over a century," said retiring Principal G.W. Davis, who has served as the school's principal for nearly two decades. "As a community-centered school, we have tremendous support from our parents, partners and friends. Our parents are hard-working citizens who value and support public education. Many of our students are third and even some fourth generation students. Several of our staff attended Mansfield. Our students work hard and get results. The strength of a school is not in brick and mortar or technology and textbooks. The strength of our school lies in the people that make it a true family of learners."
Newton County School Superintendent Gary Mathews couldn't agree more.
"Mansfield Elementary is a wonderful example of a school that works when it comes to a kid-oriented environment and student achievement. When you visit there, it is a delight to see MES children and teachers working together for the common good. Teachers and outgoing Principal G.W. Davis and incoming Principal Lynne DiNardo have created a welcoming environment that has resulted in earning federal Adequate Yearly Progress for the past many years. It is not by accident that the percent of MES students scoring proficient or above on state assessments is quite high in both English language arts and mathematics. With 100 percent of fifth graders passing Georgia's ELA assessments and 97 percent of them passing the math assessments, it's hard to get much better. It's clear, too, upon visiting MES that all curriculum areas contribute to a well-rounded and successful elementary school graduate."
Taking Davis' place next year is assistant principal Lynn DiNardo. DiNardo has worked for the Newton County School System for 21 years and has been assistant principal at both Ficquett and Rocky Plains elementary schools.
With MES being one of the top schools in the county, DiNardo said in a previous article that she plans to keep doing what's made it so successful in the past - work with and support the other educators in the building toward a common goal of success.
"The faculty and staff at MES are fabulous. They all work together with one goal in mind, student achievement. The families and community have supported MES and I hope will continue to support us as we strive towards excellence," said DiNardo in a previous article.
