Caroline Yates is announced as STAR Student and Chris Yoder is selected as STAR Teacher

Wesleyan School is honored to announce that senior Caroline Yates is the STAR Student for the 2024-2025 school year. Partnership Gwinnett named Yates STAR Student upon recommendation by the school. In turn, Yates selected Chris Yoder, AP United States Government and Politics teacher, as the teacher who has had the greatest influence on her academic life and thus the 2024-2025 Wesleyan STAR Teacher.

Yates is involved at Wesleyan School as a peer leader and SALSA mentor. She participates in Hand-in-Hand and Omicron Service Society. Additionally, Yates is a four-year member and captain of the varsity cross country team and has been a leader on the track team. She participated in a Christian Life mission trip to Costa Rica, partnering with Joshua Expeditions, during her junior year and plans to attend the Yucatan, Mexico mission trip this year. In addition to these involvements, Yates initiated a Career Explorations Panel Program, offering juniors an opportunity to connect with alumni, in the spring of 2024. At last year’s Honors Day, Yates was named the recipient of the junior girls' Outstanding Achievement Award as the best all-around student in every aspect of school life as well as being named the recipient of the Yale Book Award. Outside of school, Yates works part-time at a local boutique and often babysits for families within the community.

When asked why she selected Yoder as her STAR teacher, Yates said, “Mr. Yoder has affected my entire high school experience and changed it for the better. I first got to know him as my cross country coach when I was a new student joining a new sport. I grew to appreciate his analytical approach to problems, his dedicated investment in his students and athletes, his strength of character, and his commitment to Wesleyan every day. Junior year, when Mr. Yoder became my A.P. U.S. Government and Politics teacher, I saw his analytical approach translate to the classroom. He inspired and deepened my love for history and interest in politics and taught me how to apply his effective, analytical approach in other courses. Mr. Yoder's consistent encouragement in the classroom and his own excitement for the course made it one of my best and most impactful classes. Both as a teacher and a coach, I am so incredibly grateful for the impact that Mr. Yoder has had on me and my high school career.”

Yoder holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Education, both from the University of Georgia. Yoder is in his 18th year of teaching at Wesleyan School. In addition to teaching AP United States Government and Politics, he also serves as the Director of Studies. Outside of the classroom, he serves as an assistant coach to both the cross country team in the fall and the track team in the spring. He has helped lead the girls cross country team to five consecutive state titles.

The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program is sponsored, administered, and promoted by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the PAGE Foundation. Since its inception in 1958, the STAR program has honored over 29,500 students and the teachers selected as the most influential to their academic achievement. To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score in a single sitting on the SAT, taken through the November test date of their senior year, and be in the top 10 percent or among the top ten students in their class based on grade point average. Students and their teachers are honored by receiving special recognition in their communities from more than 165 statewide civic organizations and businesses and were celebrated at a luncheon on Feb. 12, 2025.

We are honored to have Caroline Yates and Chris Yoder represent Wesleyan as our STAR Student and Teacher. Congratulations to each of them and their families!