Augustine Jiménez y Ninfa Murillo de Achieve Atlanta hablan sobre los recursos disponibles para los estudiantes de preparatoria de APS que están pensando en la educación superior, la beca Achieve Atlanta y la aplicación FAFSA.
I am APS is a special series highlighting students, faculty, alumni, and others in celebration of the rich and diverse experiences, backgrounds and contributions within the Atlanta Public Schools family. Together, we stand in solidarity of our shared admiration of APS and the mission which guides us.
— Scroll down for the Spanish translation. —
Augustine Jimenez, Program Associate for Scholarship & Affordability at Achieve Atlanta and APS North Atlanta High School Class of 2016 alumnus. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has had the honor of educating thousands of remarkable students, sharing their inspiring stories of resilience, achievement, and dedication to service with the world
One such exceptional individual is Augustine Jimenez, a first-generation Mexican American whose compassion sets him apart in both education and the community.
As a graduate of North Atlanta High School’s class of 2016 and Boston University’s International Relations program, Augustine’s background as well as his role as a Program Associate for Scholarship & Affordability at Achieve Atlanta, are shining examples of the transformative power of giving back.
In this edition of I am APS, we delve into Jimenez’s experiences, both as a student and as a compassionate advocate for educational opportunities. From the unforgettable experience of Atlanta’s Snowmageddon, where students found themselves stranded at school, to heartwarming moments when teachers, counselors, and advisors went the extra mile to make sure their students were exposed to life-changing opportunities, Jimenez not only enjoyed his time as an APS student, but also learned how to be resilient and pay his life lessons forward.
Join us as we explore his unique perspective on education, community, and the transformative power of giving back.
AUGUSTINE JIMENEZ
Program Associate, Scholarship & Affordability at Achieve Atlanta, North Atlanta High School Class of 2016
What makes you proud to be an APS alumnus?
I think what makes me proud to be an APS alumnus is being from Atlanta. I love this city. I love that I grew up here. I think I wouldn’t have had access to the same opportunities if I had gone to a different school system. The people I met, the teachers that propelled me forward— I can think off the top of my head, one or two teachers particularly who influenced me a lot and encouraged me to be the best that I could be. So that’s what makes me proud to be an alumnus.
What drives you to continue to support Atlanta Public Schools and North Atlanta High School?
I think definitely a spirit of giving back. I want to contribute in any way that I can just to pay it forward. Some of those teachers are still there. A lot of those counselors and advisors are still there doing the same thing that they did for me all those years ago. Any way that I can encourage another student, especially from a low-income background like myself, to rise up for their family, is something I love to do.
Share a memorable experience during your time at North Atlanta High School.
There’s so many funny, exciting moments, but one moment I’ll never forget is Snowmageddon or Snowpocalypse. I actually had to sleep over at North Atlanta High School in the gym, and so did dozens of other students who got stuck during that blizzard. Some students walked home, but I wasn’t that brave. So I slept in the gym. That was a pretty wild experience, but it was also very fun. It felt like a night of camp at school, but it was very cool. I specifically remember this moment when our principal at the time had to break into the cafeteria to get us food to eat for that night. That was fun.
Augustine Jimenez, Program Associate for Scholarship & Affordability at Achieve Atlanta assists APS students with finding funding for postsecondary education. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
What are you doing now in your career?
Currently, I work as a program associate at Achieve Atlanta on their scholarship and affordability team. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but basically, I just make sure that students get the checks that they need every semester. It’s a complicated process, and there’s any number of issues that come up in it. So I talk to students every day, talk to financial aid offices every day, just to make sure that they’re getting the funding that they need and also to connect them to the support services that we offer them as well.
What would you say is something that you gleaned from Atlanta Public Schools that you use today?
I think the biggest lesson is just to be a strong self-advocate, and to seek out opportunities that are there. Sometimes they’re just a little harder to find. They’re not going to come to you. I think that was a big lesson that I learned throughout my time at APS, but then there’s also people here and there who want to help you, who want to connect you to resources, and it’s just a matter of being in the halfway.
What advice would you give to current students?
Seek out those opportunities. Challenge yourself, that’s another thing. APS offers a lot of high-level courses that you can take. They offer dual enrollment, which I didn’t even really know very much about, but I would have taken advantage of back in the day. Also, I would just tell students to keep in mind that eventually they will graduate from high school and go off on their own and deal with big issues on their own, so take advantage of every opportunity while in high school to prepare them for that.
Augustine Jimenez, Program Associate for Scholarship & Affordability at Achieve Atlanta is a living example of the organization’s mission as a first-generation Mexican American who graduated from an APS high school and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Boston University. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
How does your current work contribute to growing and advancing the mission of APS?
I think that a lot of people who come, or students who come from low-income backgrounds, from families who don’t have people that have ever been to college, don’t really know a lot about the options [available] for after high school. They just aren’t aware of the information that is needed, the requirements that you need to go into that next step. And I think that Achieve Atlanta does wonderful work around just informing those families and those students about the options, about letting them know very specifically, these are the things that you need to consider when you are going to make your plan for after high school. And I’m very proud to be a part of that work.
How has APS helped you overcome obstacles?
I think probably the biggest obstacle in my life was coming from a low-income, first-generation American immigrant background. I’m very proud of all those things, but it’s challenging because it feels like you’re kind of starting from scratch. And I think APS was truly the gateway to a better life for my family and me. Without that education, without the preparation for college that I received at APS, I wouldn’t have been ready to make that next step, to have a shot at the American dream. That’s why I’m a proud alumnus.
I am APS (Yo Soy APS): Agustín Jiménez
I Am APS (Yo Soy APS) es una serie especial que destaca a estudiantes, profesores, exalumnos y otros en reconocimiento a las ricas y diversas experiencias, orígenes y contribuciones dentro de la familia de APS. Juntos, nos solidarizamos con la admiración que compartimos por APS y la misión que nos guía.
APS ha tenido el honor de educar a miles de estudiantes excepcionales, que han compartido con el mundo sus valiosas historias de resiliencia, logros y dedicación al bien común.
Uno de estos individuos extraordinarios es Agustín Jiménez, un mexicanoamericano de primera generación cuya compasión lo distingue tanto en la educación como en la comunidad.
Como graduado de la generación de 2016 de North Atlanta High School y del programa de relaciones internacionales de la Universidad de Boston, los antecedentes de Agustín, así como su desempeño en el Programa de Becas y Asequibilidad en Achieve Atlanta, son ejemplos brillantes del poder transformador de retribuir.
En esta edición de I Am APS (Yo soy APS), nos sumergimos en las experiencias de Jiménez, tanto como estudiante y como defensor compasivo de las oportunidades educativas. Desde la inolvidable experiencia del Snowmageddon de Atlanta, donde los estudiantes se encontraron varados en las escuelas, hasta los conmovedores momentos en que los maestros, consejeros y asesores hicieron un esfuerzo adicional para asegurarse de que sus estudiantes estuvieran expuestos a oportunidades que cambian la vida, Jiménez no sólo disfrutó de su tiempo como estudiante de APS, sino que también aprendió a ser resiliente y a difundir sus lecciones de vida.
Acompáñenos a explorar su perspectiva sobre la educación, la comunidad y el poder transformador de la retribución.
AUGUSTINE JIMENEZ
Asociado del Programa de Becas y Asequibilidad en Achieve Atlanta, North Atlanta High School generación de 2016
¿Qué te hace sentir orgulloso de ser un exalumno de APS?
Creo que lo que me hace sentir orgulloso de ser un exalumno de APS es ser de Atlanta. Me encanta esta ciudad. Me encanta haber crecido aquí. Creo que no habría tenido las mismas oportunidades si hubiera ido a otro distrito escolar. La gente que conocí, los profesores que me impulsaron – se me vienen a la mente uno o dos profesores en particular que tuvieron mucha influencia en mí y me animaron a dar lo mejor de mí. Eso es lo que me hace sentir orgulloso de ser un exalumno.
¿Qué te impulsa a seguir apoyando a APS y a North Atlanta High School?
Creo que definitivamente un espíritu de retribución. Quiero contribuir en todo lo que pueda para devolver lo que recibí. Algunos de esos profesores siguen ahí. Muchos de esos consejeros y asesores siguen allí haciendo lo mismo que hicieron por mí hace tantos años. Me encanta hacer cualquier cosa que pueda para animar a otro estudiante, sobre todo viniendo de un entorno de bajos recursos como el mío, el poder salir adelante por la familia, es algo que me apasiona.
Comparte una experiencia memorable durante tu tiempo en North Atlanta High School.
Hay tantos momentos divertidos y emocionantes, pero uno que nunca olvidaré es Snowmageddon o Snowpocalypse. De hecho, tuve que quedarme a dormir en el gimnasio de North Atlanta High School, al igual que docenas de otros estudiantes que se quedaron atrapados durante esa tormenta de nieve. Algunos estudiantes se aventuraron y se fueron caminando a casa, pero yo no fui tan valiente. Así que dormí en el gimnasio. Fue una experiencia bastante descabellada, pero también muy divertida. Fue como una noche de campamento en el colegio, pero estuvo genial. Recuerdo específicamente el momento en que nuestro director de entonces tuvo que asaltar la cafetería para conseguirnos comida para esa noche. Fue estupendo.
¿Qué haces ahora en tu carrera profesional?
Actualmente trabajo como asociada de programas en Achieve Atlanta, en su equipo de becas y asequibilidad. Es un poco complicado, pero básicamente me aseguro de que los estudiantes reciban los cheques que necesitan cada semestre. Es un proceso complicado en el que surgen muchos retos. Así que hablo con estudiantes todos los días, con las oficinas de ayuda financiera todos los días, para asegurarme de que reciban el financiamiento que necesitan y también para ponerlos en contacto con los servicios de apoyo que les ofrecemos.
¿Qué aprendiste en APS que sigues usando hoy en día?
Creo que la lección más importante es abogar por uno mismo y procurar las oportunidades que existen. A veces es un poco difícil encontrarlas. No van a venir a buscarte. Creo que esa fue una gran lección que aprendí durante mis años en APS, pero también hay gente aquí y allá que quiere ayudarte, que quiere ponerte en contacto con recursos, y es solo cuestión de encontrarse en el camino.
¿Qué consejo les darías a los estudiantes actuales?
Que busquen esas oportunidades. Desafiarse uno mismo, es otra cosa. APS ofrece muchos cursos de alto nivel. Ofrece matriculación doble, de la que yo ni siquiera sabía mucho, pero que hubiese aprovechado cuando estaba en preparatoria. Además, le diría a los estudiantes que tengan en cuenta que en algún momento se graduarán y se irán por su cuenta a enfrentarse a ciertos problemas, así que aprovechen todas las oportunidades que tengan en la escuela para prepararse.
¿Cómo contribuye tu trabajo actual a hacer crecer y avanzar la misión de APS?
Creo que mucha gente que viene, o estudiantes que vienen de entornos de bajos recursos, de familias en las que nadie ha ido a la universidad, no saben realmente mucho sobre las opciones [disponibles] para después de la escuela preparatoria. Simplemente no conocen la información que necesitan, los requisitos que hay que cumplir para dar el siguiente paso. Y creo que Achieve Atlanta hace un trabajo maravilloso informando a esas familias y a esos estudiantes sobre las opciones, haciéndoles saber muy específicamente que estas son las cosas que necesitan considerar cuando van a hacer su plan para después de la escuela preparatoria. Y estoy muy orgulloso de formar parte de ese trabajo.
¿Cómo te ha ayudado APS a superar obstáculos?
Creo que probablemente el mayor obstáculo en mi vida fue mi origen de inmigrantes estadounidenses de primera generación y recursos limitados. Estoy muy orgulloso de todo eso, pero es un reto porque sientes que empiezas de cero. Y creo que APS fue realmente la puerta de entrada a una mejor vida para mi familia y para mí. Sin esa educación, sin la preparación para la universidad que recibí en APS, no habría estado preparado para dar el siguiente paso, para tener la oportunidad de alcanzar el sueño americano. Por eso soy un exalumno orgulloso.
Atlanta Public Schools REACH Georgia Scholarship Signing Ceremony. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) recently inducted eight scholars into the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program, a transformative, needs-based mentorship and college scholarship program open to 8th graders in Georgia.
Administered by the State of Georgia, REACH collaborates with Georgia Student Finance Commission, which oversees prominent programs such as the HOPE Scholarship and Grant Program and manages vital educational services.
Extending its reach to all 180 school systems in Georgia, supporting over 4,000 scholars, and committing $40 million in scholarships, REACH has become a beacon of hope for countless students across the state.
Becoming an APS REACH Scholar was no small feat. Prospective students engaged in a rigorous application process, emphasizing involvement in school and academic excellence, and went through a thorough interview where members of APS partners Achieve Atlanta’s College Access team served as interviewers.
Alysia M. Benton and her mother sign the REACH Commitment Form. Benson is a student at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
The chosen scholars and their parents were invited to a special induction ceremony where they signed a commitment form outlining the responsibilities they must uphold throughout their high school journey:
- Maintain a 2.5 HOPE-calculated GPA.
- Exhibit good attendance and behavior.
- Remain drug and crime-free.
- Engage with an assigned mentor and academic coach regularly.
- Attend REACH events, meetings, and programs.
- Participate in activities preparing for college.
- Graduate with a high school diploma.
- Enroll and graduate from a HOPE-eligible college or university in Georgia.
Maria Grovner, APS school counseling coordinator (9-12), expressed pride in the program’s impact since APS began participating, assisting 105 scholars in pursuing higher education.
“We’re very proud of our previous REACH scholars,” Grovner said. “Districts across the state have an opportunity to invest in their scholars by providing them with the scholarship and this is something that we do annually with our middle schools.”
APS school counseling coordinator (K-8), Jennifer Wilson, shared with attendees the incredible potential of this year’s recipients, who are academically excellent and good role models.
“These are kids who are doing the right things when they’re at school and they’re really setting the example and the tone for others in their building,” Wilson said. “They are role models through and through.”
The SY2023-2024 recipients of the Atlanta Public Schools $10,000 REACH Georgia Scholarship. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
To commemorate their induction, each REACH Scholar received a scholarship commitment of $10,000 and several small tokens, including a symbolic million-dollar chocolate bar, which served as a tangible reminder of the immense value education adds to one’s lifetime earnings.
“The difference between someone who doesn’t finish high school and someone who completes four years of college, and that difference in how much money they can earn over their career, their lifetime before they retire, is a million dollars,” Wilson said, explaining its significance.
The $10,000 REACH Scholarship will assist in guaranteeing that college education. KIPP Strive Academy eighth-grader and REACH recipient London Moreland expressed her relief in receiving financial support for her college journey.
“It feels refreshing knowing that I will have support with whatever college I do end up going to and it won’t be as much of a financial burden on my family,” Moreland said.
The SY2023-2024 recipients of the Atlanta Public Schools $10,000 REACH Georgia Scholarship and their families. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
In addition to the financial support, each recipient will receive four and a half years of academic coaching and a one-on-one mentorship where mentors will walk alongside the students and their families, ensuring they can realize their dreams.
The recipients shared their excitement about the mentorship and their gratitude, including eighth-grade Crawford W. Long Middle School student and REACH recipient Kaydon Sims, who spoke of his supportive community and his pride in achieving the REACH Scholarship.
“I am excited to especially work with my academic coach who works in the mental field, which is the field I want to go into to— psychology,” Sims said. “I really hope this helps me advance my intelligence in terms of mental health and music and things that I want to pursue.”
Moreland expressed a similar sentiment regarding the anticipation of gleaning a blueprint from her mentor on how to navigate college.
“I won’t walk in blinded,” Moreland said. “I’ll kind of know what to expect and how I could [develop] good study habits and things of that sort.”
Eighth-grade Willis A. Sutton Middle School student and REACH recipient Zakaiya Rich, who aspires to attend Georgia State University, relished the opportunity for mentorship.
“I’m looking forward to the mentors and them staying with me throughout high school,” Rich said.
As APS continues to empower its students and prepare them for college, career, and life, programs like REACH and other scholarship opportunities will be made available to eligible students and families and posted on the district website.
Please join us in congratulating the SY2023-2024 APS REACH Georgia Scholarship recipients:
Alexis Baylon | Atlanta Classical Academy
Alysia M. Benton | Coretta Scott King YWL Academy
Laila B. Foster | KIPP Vision Academy
Ni-Khole Golding | Herman J. Russell West End Academy
Leon A. Howard | John Lewis Invictus Academy
London A. Moreland | KIPP Strive Academy
Zakaiya A. Rich | Willis A. Sutton Middle School
Kaydon U. Sims | Crawford W. Long Middle School
To access the photos in the slideshow below, click here.
Left to right: Alimah Dawkins, a senior at South Atlanta High School; Tina Fernandez, Executive Director, Achieve Atlanta; Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen, Ed.D.; and Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Achieve Atlanta board member and retired president of Spelman College, celebrate the launch of the Achieve Atlanta partnership.
By: Alicia Sands Lurry
On Monday, Feb. 1, Atlanta Public Schools celebrated the launch of a $20 million scholarship program to benefit low-income APS students. Spearheaded by Achieve Atlanta, the organization launched the need-based scholarship program to help remove the financial barriers preventing students from completing post-secondary education.
APS Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen, Ed.D., lauded the partnership.
“I truly believe that this is the kind of investment that will change the lives of APS students and the landscape of Atlanta’s workforce forever. This type of partnership is exactly what our students need and deserve,” Dr. Carstarphen said. “Achieve Atlanta is a bold, aggressive plan to help us radically improve our students’ college enrollment and graduation rates, and we have high hopes for our partnership. This partnership will help will help us advance toward our vision of a city where every student graduates ready for college and career.”
Dr. Carstarphen and Tina Fernandez announce the college scholarship initiative.
During the program, Tina Fernandez, Executive Director of Achieve Atlanta, announced that the initiative will assist in doubling the number of APS students who receive scholarships. The program will specifically provide scholarships to APS graduates who demonstrate financial need and are accepted to college. Fernandez projects that 900 students will receive the scholarship this year.
“We are excited to work with students to get them ready for the rest of their lives,” Fernandez said. “These students have big dreams and big goals for their lives, and a huge obstacle for many of them is money. Many are forced to either take out mounds of debt, or put their dreams on hold. This program will allow students to make their dreams of attending college a reality.”
Funded by a seed grant of $20 million from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation with additional backing from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the scholarship will support students pursuing various paths following high school. Students attending a two-year or technical program will receive up to $1,500 per year, which is renewable for up to two years of school. Also, Achieve Atlanta will award up to $5,000 per year (renewable up to four years of school) for students attending a four-year college or university.
According to an Achieve Atlanta press release, APS students will be able to apply for the scholarship beginning in early March. Eligibility requirements include enrollment and graduation from an APS high school and minimum standards related to grade point average, financial need and post-secondary enrollment. The scholarship will also provide academic and social support to students while in college.
Over the next 10 years, Achieve Atlanta aims to double the number of APS graduates who complete post-secondary education.
Alimah Dawkins, a senior at South Atlanta High School, said the Achieve Atlanta scholarship will allow her to pursue her dream of attending college. An aspiring film and political science major, Dawkins has already been accepted to Georgia State and Clayton State universities, as well as Wagner, Simmons and Sarah Lawrence colleges.
South Atlanta High School Senior Alimah Dawkins discusses her dreams of attending college.
“I’m extremely grateful for this scholarship,” she said. “This scholarship addresses a real need that many students have.”
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, an Achieve Atlanta board member and retired president of Spelman College, told the audience that she is excited to be part of an initiative that will help change students’ lives.
“The difference between success and failure often for many students is a small amount like $5,000,” Dr. Tatum said. “This program is very exciting and will really make a difference for so many students. It’s exciting to know this city is investigating in its future, the students of Atlanta.”
Dr. Tatum shares how the partnership will impact APS students.
Created in 2014, Achieve Atlanta’s vision is that all students educated in Atlanta Public Schools will complete post-secondary education and obtain the full benefits that a higher education provides.
J. Scott Allen, Latin teacher from Henry W. Grady High School, was named Atlanta Public Schools’ (APS) 2015-2016 Districtwide Teacher of the Year during the APS Employee Recognition Celebration awards ceremony October 29 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center.
J. Scott Allen
It took a little time for the teaching bug to bite J. Scott Allen. But when it did, it bit him hard. Though both of his parents and his brother are public school teachers, initially, Allen chose another “helping profession”—social work. First, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia with both a Bachelor of Latin and Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (Film Studies) in 2002. Then, after earning a Master of Social Work from UGA in 2007, Allen embarked on a career as a social worker in various settings and with unique populations including children in foster care, individuals in substance abuse residential treatment centers, and Grady Hospital’s Emergency Room and Infectious Disease units.
However, after having an opportunity to teach an undergraduate social work class at Oglethorpe University, Allen would come home to tell his wife, “Wow! I can’t believe I get paid to do this. I LOVE THIS!” She encouraged him to follow that passion into a full-time career or risk regretting it for the rest of his life, so he made the switch to education in 2009. Allen, who was born in Atlanta, but grew up nearby in Stockbridge and Alpharetta, taught Latin for one year at Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs before teaching at APS’ Henry W. Grady High School in 2010. He completed certification courses while teaching on a provisional certificate, and became a fully certified teacher in 2012. This year marks his seventh year teaching in general and sixth year at Grady. Allen is a proud World Languages Lead Teacher, as well as the Gifted Eligibility Team Chair. Allen loves teaching and hopes his students see and feel his passion for learning. His favorite part of teaching is forming and fostering positive and collaborative relationships with students. He loves his students and Allen is awed by their creativity and original thought. He loves seeing the “light bulbs” go off. Allen has been married to Michelle Spann Allen since 2008 and they have two children: Sarah Beth who turned two last summer and Jacob who is three months old.
As the districtwide teacher of the year, Allen will now compete for Georgia Teacher of the Year next spring. Atlanta Public Schools is home to the 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Dr. Jadun McCarthy; 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist, Elisha Gray; 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist Tamika N. Ball; and 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist Rita L. Simmons.
(From L-R) Dennis Toliver, Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Grove Park Intermediate; J. Scott Allen, Districtwide Teacher of the Year, Henry W. Grady High School; Travis Brown, Middle School Teacher of the Year, Sylvan Hills Middle School; and Meria J. Carstarphen, superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools. Photo Credit: Dan Gillette, APS
Finalists for this year’s honors included Elementary School Teacher of the Year Dennis Toliver, third-grade teacher at Grove Park Intermediate School and Travis Brown of Sylvan Hills Middle School. Candidates for APS Teacher of the Year are nominated by their respective schools. APS then selects an elementary, middle school and high school teacher of the year from a list of semi-finalists to compete for the districtwide honor.
To see video vignettes for each Teacher of the Year finalist, click on the links below:
APS 2015-2016 Districtwide Teacher of the Year and High School Teacher of the Year
J. Scott Allen, Henry W. Grady High School
APS 2015-2016 Elementary School Teacher of the Year
Dennis Toliver, Grove Park Intermediate School
APS 2015-2016 Middle School Teacher of the Year
Travis Brown, Sylvan Hills Middle School
With the theme “Inspiring Hope and Recognizing Excellence,” the APS Employee Recognition Celebration is an expansion of the annual APS Districtwide Teacher of the Year ceremony. Other 2015-2016 Employee Recognition Celebration honorees include:
Principal of the Year – Trennis Harvey, Heritage Academy
Assistant Principal of the Year – Lakeesha Ramdhanie, KIPP STRIVE Primary School
Schools First Award – Sheral Kemp-Mizell, Supervisor, APS Transportation Department
Students First Award – Tiarra Moore, Instructional Coach and STEM Coordinator, Crawford W. Long Middle School
APS Districtwide Partnership Award – Achieve Atlanta
APS School Partnership Award – IBM
Members of the Atlanta Board of Education (back row), APS Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen pictured with 2015-2016 Employee Recognition Celebration Honorees (front row) and their principals. Photo Credit: Dan Gillette, APS
About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 50,000 students across 98 learning sites. The district is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 87 schools, 17 charter schools and two citywide single-gender academies, where students are offered rigorous instructional programs that foster success in school and life. For more information, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us
Members of the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) leadership team recently surprised several employees with news that they will be honored for their contributions to helping APS achieve its mission and vision. The honors include Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Schools First Award, Students First Award, Districtwide Partner of the Year Award and School-Based Partnership Award.
The winners will be honored during the inaugural APS Employee Recognition Celebration ceremony at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, 100 CNN Center, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Each year, APS employees are nominated by their peers for awards in each category. Nominated employees are judged based on their accomplishments, work history, community service and professional honors. This year, the district expanded the recognition ceremony to include employees who are inspiring and guiding students. The new categories recognize support staff and administrators who play a critical role in educating students. The 2015-2016 Employee Recognition Award winners are:
Principal of the Year – Trennis Harvey, Heritage Academy
Atlanta Public Schools 2015-2016 Principal of the Year Trennis Harvey of Heritage Academy and APS Associate Superintendent of Schools Dr. Danielle Battle.
Atlanta native Trennis Harvey has served as principal of Heritage Academy for seven years. As an educator for the last 20 years, Harvey has dedicated his career to instilling a love of learning in children from all walks of life, in particular, in students
who come from environments where survival is the top priority with education being a close second. He is an energetic educator who makes learning fun for children and adult learners as well. Over the last three years, Heritage Academy has made enough progress to be removed from the Georgia Focus Schools List during the 2014-2015 school year. This progress includes closing the achievement gap of students with disabilities, increasing math proficiency levels from 54 to 84 percent and writing proficiency from 69 to 90 percent. Harvey attributes this accomplishment to a staff who embraces challenge and change and believes in the Heritage Academy mission of creating students who are excellent readers, dynamic mathematicians, and critical thinkers committed to making their community a better place to live. Harvey is a graduate of APS’ Benjamin E. Mays High School, Morehouse College and Brenau University. He was classroom teacher for nine years before serving in leadership roles in education.
Assistant Principal of the Year – Lakeesha Ramdhanie, KIPP STRIVE Primary School
From L-R) Atlanta Public Schools Deputy Superintendent David Jernigan, Atlanta Public Schools 2015-2016 Assistant Principal of the Year Lakeesha Ramdhanie
and Mini’imah Shaheed, Founding School Leader, KIPP STRIVE Primary School.
Lakeesha Ramdhanie’s deep passion for Atlanta’s students and community inspired her to help establish the Atlanta’s first KIPP elementary school, KIPP STRIVE Primary (KSP). For the past four years, Ms. Ramdhanie has served as STRIVE’s Assistant Principal, contributing her expertise in early childhood education and literacy instruction. Ms. Ramdhanie’s deep passion for literacy led her to be nominated by her peers to serve as the Regional Literacy Coordinator. With her leadership, she has guided the scholars at KSP to earn designation as top performers in both math and reading for three consecutive years. Prior to coming to Atlanta, Ramdhanie was a founding kindergarten teacher at SPARK Academy in New Jersey. Ramdhanie earned degree in Psychology in 2009 from Spelman College and last summer, she completed the master’s degree program at Columbia University’s Principals Academy.
Schools First Award – Sheral Kemp-Mizell, Supervisor, Department of Transportation
(From L-R) Atlanta Public Schools Executive Director of Transportation John Franklin, Assistant Director of Transportation William B. Law, APS 2015-2016 Schools First Winner Sheral Kemp-Mizell, cluster transportation supervisor, Chief Operations Officer Larry Hoskins, and Assistant Director of Transportation Kelvin Curtiss.
Veteran transportation supervisor Sheral Kemp-Mizell enjoys working with special needs children and elderly citizens. She started her career in transportation working extensively with students who have special needs from 1973 to 1979, when she was a bus driver and classroom assistant at the Cerebral Palsy Center. During that time, she volunteered with the local and national Special Olympics competition. For a decade, Kemp-Mizell continued to operate in her passion with Lanell’s Transportation Company as a special needs bus driver, route coordinator, and dispatcher. Kemp-Mizell’s career
continued with Atlanta Public Schools in 1988 as a special needs bus driver, dispatcher and now, cluster transportation supervisor. She is a certified school bus driver trainer where she is cultivating the careers of other drivers. Kemp-Mizell is an avid volunteer. She participates in and coordinates groups to adopt children, families, and the elderly for Thanksgiving and Christmas through the provision of toys, school supplies, clothes and meals. Her motto is “Every day is a blessing.”
Students First Award – Tiarra Moore, Instructional Coach and STEM Coordinator, Crawford W. Long Middle School
Tiarra Moore, Instructional Coach and STEM Coordinator
Crawford W. Long Middle School
Tiarra Moore became a science teacher at Crawford Long Middle School through the Teach for America program in 2002. As a Long Middle School educator, Moore has created numerous programs and initiatives including a recycling program, wellness initiatives for students and teachers, the school’s first organic garden and fruit orchard, and inquiry-based science teaching and learning, which has increased standardized test scores in science. In addition to implementing academic initiatives, Moore has established numerous business partnerships for Long Middle including NeuroNexus, Inc., Northside Hospital, the Captain Planet Foundation, Emory University, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the Whole Kids Foundation, the YWCA’s Teen Girls in Technology Program, Georgia Power, Kroger, and the Jonesboro Road Home Depot. She has also garnered $35,000 in grant money for Long Middle within the last four years. Her latest accomplishment is establishing Long Middle School as a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) campus to deliver engineering and computer science courses to a cohort of sixth grade students.
APS Districtwide Partnership Award – Achieve Atlanta
Tina Fernandez, Executive Director, Achieve Atlanta
This school year, Achieve Atlanta launched a $20 million initiative to increase dramatically the number of APS graduates who enter college and successfully graduate from colleges and technical schools. Achieve Atlanta advisers are at APS high schools to connect students to post-secondary institution advisers and financial packages to help close the college funding gap. Achieve Atlanta was created in partnership by The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation and APS.
APS School Partnership Award – IBM Corporation
Lisa Haygood, Program Lifecycle Manager, IBM Corporation
The IBM Corporation has provided a wealth of support to students at L.J. Price Middle School for nearly a decade. Most notably, since 2007, IBM has bolstered the STEM educational experiences for students through its I.G.N.I.T.E (Igniting Interest in Technology and Engineering) and E.X.I.T.E (Exploring Interest in Technology and Engineering) Technology academies. During the two technology academies, members of the IBM family work with Price students on various activities that hone their skills in science technology engineering and math. The success of this partnership can be measured by the increase in students’ test scores, number of students completing fair projects, and the increase in the school’s College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) score.
This year’s event is an expansion of the annual APS Districtwide Teacher of the Year ceremony. APS teachers Dennis Toliver of Grove Park Intermediate School, Travis Brown of Sylvan Hills Middle School and J. Scott Allen of Henry W. Grady High School were named finalists for the 2015-2016 Districtwide APS Teacher of the Year award the week of October 16. The winner will be announced during the ERC ceremony October 29 and will move on to compete for Georgia Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to all of the winners!