C.A. Gray Junior High School (CAG) and Willie J. Williams Middle School (WJW) have been named 2024-2025 Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase Schools, a prestigious honor awarded to campuses that demonstrate excellence in building a culture where students feel safe, connected, and engaged.
The Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase Schools® Award recognizes schools that go above and beyond in creating an environment where students thrive academically and emotionally. Through the Capturing Kids' Hearts® Process, educators at CAG and WJW have been equipped with relationship-building tools and processes that help them foster student success and a positive campus culture.
WJW Principal Dr. Josh Purvis shared, "Being recognized as a Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase School reveals the importance our school family has placed on building meaningful relationships with our students. We recognize that before you can capture a student's mind, you must first capture their heart. We want our students to know they are loved and valued."
Each year, Capturing Kids' Hearts recognizes schools across the country for their commitment to transforming their campus environments through a relational approach to education. Schools that receive this designation have shown measurable progress in student connectedness, academic achievement, and overall school culture. This commitment often leads to decreased incidents of behavior referrals.
Both schools became Capturing Kids' Hearts schools during the 2023-2024 school year. WJW saw a decrease in discipline referrals of 21% in year one, and as of March this year, they have dropped another 31%. Dr. Frederick T. Smith, Principal of CAG, reported that they have seen significant improvements in behavior this academic year as well. CAG discipline referrals have decreased by 8.19% in 8th grade and by 33.2% in 9th grade compared to the data from the start of the school year through April for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years.
"This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our teachers, staff, and students who have embraced the Capturing Kids' Hearts philosophy," said Dr. Smith. "By building genuine connections and fostering a supportive community, we've created an environment where students feel valued, respected, and motivated to excel." C.A. Gray was also named a Rising Star School by Capturing Kids' Hearts during the 2023-2024 school year.
Capturing Kids' Hearts will begin at Colquitt County High School in the coming school year. During pre-planning, all employees will be trained by Capturing Kids' Hearts trainers. They will also have access to online resources and be visited by a strategist from Capturing Kids Hearts during the school year.