By: Alicia Sands Lurry
Students, teachers and administrators at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) and B.E.S.T. Academy have plenty to be grateful for this holiday season, thanks to the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and the Atlanta Football Host Committee.
Carl Adkins, executive director of the Atlanta Football Host Committee College, and representatives with the College Football Playoff Foundation recently visited CSKYWLA and B.E.S.T. Academy to reward hardworking students and teachers with a total of $50,000 – or $25,000 per school. The donation will be used for professional learning, enhancing the arts, and to support teachers in the classroom.
Announced during the “All in Moment” partnership ceremony, the event was held to celebrate the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative and the Atlanta Football Host Committee, the organization tasked with helping plan and produce the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. Guests included Principals Eulonda Washington and Dr. Timothy Jones; Adkins; Ryan Allen Hall, director of community relations for the CFP Foundation; and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley.
“This is all about helping teachers help you become the best you can be as students,” Allen told the combined group of students. “Your teachers work hard to give you a better future.”
During the ceremony, Shockley told students to strive for the best.
“I encourage you to go to the next level and put your best foot forward,” he said.
B.E.S.T. plans to spend its donation on teacher development, student travel, field trips, school immersion, community service and incentive programs, as well as support for college and career readiness.
CSKYWLA will spend $25,000 on instructional college prep field trips that are fully aligned to key aspects of the curriculum from math, science, social studies, language arts and the arts. Students will visit sites and participate in interactive exhibits, lessons and discussions that promote key learnings from these genres.
To date, the CFP Foundation has contributed over $225,000 to APS schools.
