The Mount Zion cluster of schools gathered with parents, community partners and key stakeholders for a Community CONNECTion event on September 29 at Mount Zion Middle School, showing off a freshly renovated cafeteria and kitchen and cutting the ribbon on a new STEM Innovation Lab that introduces career pathways with hands-on experiences earlier than ever before.
After informal networking time, Superintendent Dr. Jessica Ainsworth welcomed guests and showed off the Carroll County School System's freshly minted 2026 Annual Report. The report which highlights student and employee achievements from last school year was formally introduced at last week's board meeting.
Mount Zion High School Principal Connie Cook shared some specific connection points for the Mount Zion cluster including a 97 percent graduation rate and the West Georgia RESA Literacy Teacher of the Year before dividing the audience into three groups for a feedback activity. Administrators led participants to share both areas where Mount Zion schools are thriving and areas where they would like to see enhancements, improvements and further investment.
Finally, students and STEM Teacher Candace Buchanan joined school and district leaders to cut the ribbon and officially open Mount Zion Middle's new STEM Innovation Lab. The STEM lab, one of four opening this school year in phase one of a county-wide rollout, introduces middle school students to career pathways they will encounter in high school with direct, hands-on experience.
The STEM Innovation Lab concept is built on a project-based, inquiry-driven philosophy with dynamic, flexible spaces designed to foster collaboration and high-level problem solving through a three-pillar approach: investigate, design, and innovate.
Each cluster of schools in Carroll County will be hosting a community connection over the next month as the school district implements its 2026-27 theme: CONNECT.
