📚 For reading growth, students enjoyed flavored Lexile Lemonades.
➗ For math growth, they celebrated with Math Munchers Trail Mix.
All students showed growth in both reading and math! We are so proud of their hard work!
After graduating from Irwin County High School in 2006, Raye Dix Harper began her career in nursing, working for a year and a half. While she enjoyed caring for others, she soon realized her true passion was running her own business. Determined to turn that dream into reality, she enrolled at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, where she studied business management and marketing.
Equipped with her new skills, Raye opened her first restaurant in Fitzgerald, Georgia. Her vision, however, was always to operate a business in her hometown of Irwin County. It took four years of searching before she found the perfect piece of land to make that dream come true. Today, she is the proud owner of a thriving restaurant, Dixie Kitchen, in the community where she grew up—one that has been in operation for more than a decade.
When asked about her time at ICHS, Raye credits agriculture teachers Ira Tucker and Wesley Paulk with having a lasting impact on her life. “They taught me that hard work, especially in agriculture, can go so very far,” she recalls. “I learned that I could work harder for myself than anyone else, and I was prepared to take on that challenge.”
Raye’s journey from nursing to business ownership is a testament to perseverance, vision, and community pride. Her dedication to Irwin County continues to inspire future graduates to follow their passions and invest in the place they call home.
ICHS Winter EOC Schedule
Resources for students and parents: https://lor2.gadoe.org/gadoe/file/65da261d-7393-457b-bd7e-b7721b2f15cf/1/GM_Parent_Resources.pdf
Your responses are anonymous and help us improve how we support and engage families.
Please share your honest feedback by completing the 22-question survey using the link for your child’s school. Thank you for your support! To take the survey, please click the link for our child's school.
ICES: https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=A9F44160
ICMS: https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=D6E7C8D5
ICHS: https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=29687600
Mark your calendars for this event on Dec 1st.
Irwin County Schools, in partnership with Irwin County Family Connections and Piggly Wiggly of Ocilla, has provided turkeys to selected families across Irwin County for Thanksgiving.
We are grateful for all donors who have contributed and continue to support families throughout our community.
Have you viewed our decodable book videos? These videos go hand-in-hand with the books your child is bringing home, and the videos are updated each week. Please help us by reading with your child at home. Your partnership can make a big difference and help your child become a confident reader.
Kindergarten- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwWuqf_uEYJhzCar9UCKwguzsUGg3RKPp
First Grade- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwWuqf_uEYJjoNDTHofh4XKrbkBSXIuEP
Second Grade- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwWuqf_uEYJhM3DMRAuSEYX5B_GIi642x
Third Grade- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwWuqf_uEYJg56fotSkuP0EAPXf6XAC6g
Students of the Month: Andrea Zuniga, Tayvon Curtis, Danielle Hall
Staff Members of the Month: Amanda Barrs, Brittany Stinchcomb, Elizabeth Yawn
Thank you all for being positive examples in our school community. We’re proud of you and grateful for the difference you make at ICES!
Join us from 4:30–5:30 for an EPIC hour of fun, hands-on activities, and family fellowship as we dive into "Adventures in Story and History"! Don’t miss this "Power Hour"—see you there! 🎉✨
Again, please wait until 2:40 PM to line up for parent pickup in the front parking lot. This helps keep our dismissal process safe and efficient by waiting until 2:40 before lining up. Cones may be placed to block off the area until that time — we ask that everyone respect this procedure.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
ICHS Alumni Spotlight – Dr. Samantha Miller Fields, Class of 2005
After graduating from Irwin County High School in 2005, Dr. Samantha Miller Fields embarked on a path rooted in creativity, education, and leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art from Albany State University, followed by a Master’s and Specialist degree in Curriculum & Instruction. In 2023, she achieved a major milestone by earning her Doctorate in Teacher Leadership from Kennesaw State University — further empowering her mission to impact students and educators through the arts.
Today, Dr. Fields serves as the District Lead Art Teacher for the Dougherty County School System, overseeing visual arts instruction across 21 schools. She also holds key leadership roles at Dougherty Comprehensive High School as the Fine Arts Department Chair and Visual Art Teacher. Her work includes mentoring educators, expanding arts programs, and creating impactful opportunities for student expression and achievement.
Her leadership extends beyond the local level to national platforms. She is a member of the 2025–2026 National Cohort for the NAEA School for Art Leaders, collaborating with top art educators nationwide to strengthen visual arts education. As a Lowell Milken Center ArtEffect Ambassador (2024–2025), she champions student-driven art that tells the stories of unsung heroes, fostering civic engagement and historical awareness. She has also participated in the Georgia 2Gen Cohort through the Carl Vinson Institute, supporting strategies to break cycles of poverty through education and community collaboration.
Dr. Fields’ dedication has been widely recognized. She is a nine-time recipient of the Albany Kiwanis Club Teacher of Distinction award, a two-time Star Teacher at DCHS, and was named 2024 Teacher of the Year at Dougherty Comprehensive High School, where she was also honored as a Top 5 Finalist for District Teacher of the Year. Beyond the classroom, she serves on the Albany Museum of Art Board of Trustees and the Georgia Department of Education’s District Arts Coordinators Council. In 2025, she presented her work on a national stage at the Model Schools Conference in Washington, D.C.
Her passion for art and education was nurtured by the influence of three extraordinary ICHS teachers: Mrs. Ginger Thompson, Mrs. Roshanda Lingenfelter, and Mrs. Sonya Rankin. Mrs. Lingenfelter brought an unmatched energy to learning, making Dr. Fields eager to attend school each day. Mrs. Sonya Rankin deepened her love for art, offering not only technical guidance but also personal support that extended far beyond the classroom. When Dr. Fields earned her first art teaching position, Mrs. Rankin even took time from her summer to help her prepare — a gesture that Dr. Fields says solidified her passion and drive for the arts.
Dr. Fields is the wife of Terrence, the bonus mom of Jalen, and the proud mother of Tyler, Marley, and Dylan. From the art rooms of Albany to national leadership roles, she continues to inspire, lead, and elevate others — carrying the excellence of Irwin County High School with her every step of the way.
Thank you, Dr. Fields, for representing ICHS with creativity, leadership, and heart!
