Celebrate School Crossing Guard Recognition Week – January 20-24

Atlanta Public Schools honors crossing guards across the district for their commitment to child pedestrian safety during School Crossing Guard Recognition Week from January 20 – 24, 2014.

As part of the weeklong celebration, parents, students, teachers and administrative staff are encouraged to give thank you cards, or simply say “thank you” to school crossing guards who live by the motto, “Safety is FIRST with us Everyday Everywhere.” This is the program’s 5^th year celebrating the dedicated work of its 85 crossing guards.

Elizabeth Jones, interim school crossing guard supervisor, is proud of the school crossing guards for their commitment to the job.

“It is not easy waking up early every morning and standing outside on some of the coldest mornings Georgia has witnessed, but our guards do it with professionalism and class every day of the school year!  This is why we celebrate them during School Crossing Guard Recognition Week.”

School crossing guards play a critical role in keeping students safe as they walk to and from school each day. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, approximately 1,000 children between the ages 5 and 9 are killed each year in pedestrian accidents. School crossing guards place the children’s safety above their own by ensuring all traffic is stopped before students enter the roadway, while facing speeding motorists, cell phone users and others disregarding traffic signals.