Savannah High certifies Class of 2025, honors valedictorian, salutatorian and inspirational teacher

A district official for the Savannah‑Chatham County Public School System certified graduates of Savannah High School's School of Liberal Studies and presented the Class of 2025 during the school's commencement ceremony, where students and district representatives highlighted academic, career‑tech and extracurricular achievements.

The certification came as Superintendent Dr. Watts and Savannah Chatham County Board of Education President Mr. Moss were acknowledged onstage; the district official said the graduates “have successfully completed the requirements for graduation for the state of Georgia and the Savannah Chatham County Board of Education.” The official later declared, “Having met the requirements of the Savannah Chatham County Board of Education and the Board of Education of the State of Georgia, I hereby declare by the power vested in me that you, the class of 2025, are graduates of the Savannah Chatham County Public School System.”

Why it matters: school and district leaders used the ceremony both to confer diplomas and to summarize the class's academic and workforce readiness achievements, including scholarship totals and certificates that affect students' next steps in college, careers and military service.

District and school officials said the Class of 2025 earned more than $1.1 million in scholarships. The district official reported the class passed 37 EOPAs (end‑of‑pathway assessments) demonstrating industry‑ready skills in fields such as culinary arts, cosmetology, business, law, nail care and entrepreneurship; 40 students graduated from the college‑prep program; advanced placement pass rates rose sharply; and the class included the largest number of HOPE‑eligible students and honor graduates the school has seen in five years. The official also noted career‑tech and armed‑services metrics, including a reported 230‑point increase in average ASFAB scores.

The ceremony named Jaden Golden as the school's valedictorian and Devin Williams as salutatorian. Jaden Golden, identified in the program as valedictorian and an incoming Georgia Institute of Technology student, referenced a teacher's admonition in her remarks: "The choice is yours," and urged classmates to choose work and perseverance. Devin Williams, the salutatorian, thanked faculty and family and urged classmates to "live with passion, love, and pride."

The senior class selected Shaquanda Middleton as its most inspirational educator. Ashley Duwah, a member of the Educate Chatham Foundation board of directors, presented the award and a $1,000 classroom grant funded by the foundation, saying the foundation was "so pleased to recognize a teacher who is not only inspired, but has nurtured, pushed, and, yes, loved the students and their charge." The foundation's grant is intended for classroom use the following year; the awardee was chosen in secret by the senior class, according to the presentation.

The ceremony also noted athletic and extracurricular highlights: the school's boys basketball team won a GHSA state championship this school year, and seniors reported record performance in SAT scores and career‑technical pathways. Speakers included a student welcome, the introduction of the valedictorian and salutatorian by J. Marcus Miller, and a musical finale featuring a trombone solo by Antonio Powell as the class sang the alma mater.

The ceremony was ceremonial rather than legislative: remarks and recognitions summarized accomplishments and conferred diplomas; the only formal administrative acts announced were the district’s certification and the Educate Chatham Foundation grant presentation. No policy changes, votes or further district directives were announced at the event.