On February 7th, Governor Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal visited E. Rivers Elementary School to thank the staff and students for their patience and dedication as they sheltered in place overnight at the school during the recent winter storm. He also presented a proclamation to Principal Matt Rogers honoring the school’s commitment to caring for the children of E. Rivers Elementary.
“I am appreciative for the staff for taking care of these children. I am glad they got home safely,” said Governor Deal. “Teachers work hard in their classrooms, but in these circumstances, they’ve become more than just teachers in a classroom, and they’ve all been heroes in my opinion.”
Atlanta Board of Education Board Chair Courtney D. English, Vice Chair Nancy M. Meister, Steven Lee, and Matt Westmoreland were also in attendance.
While sheltering in place at the school, students were kept occupied by playing in the snow, movies and popcorn, a paper airplane making contest, art activities, and more.
“We decided to make the most of the moment and have fun with the kids and make sure they felt safe,” said Principal Rogers. “At APS, I think our principals and leadership stepped up during an unexpected situation to take care of our students and made sure that they were safe.”
