Destacamos a estudiantes, maestros, exalumnos y padres como celebración a sus experiencias, contribuciones y éxitos en nuestro distrito. APS sigue con su misión que a través de una cultura de equidad, confianza y colaboración cada estudiante se graduará listo para la universidad, la carrera y la vida
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. #IamAPS
Andrea Norman and Ethan Seay, fifth grade students at Deerwood Academy. Photo by Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
Deerwood Academy students Andrea Norman and Ethan Seay are two remarkable fifth graders who are passionate about learning and embody the school’s student-centered environment.
Norman is a member of the Debate Club, Math Club, and Girls Who Game. She is a true problem solver and likes to extend a helping hand to her peers. Inspired by the legacy of her grandmother and older brother, Norman aspires to follow in their footsteps as a future real estate agent.
Likewise, Ethan Seay is a natural leader whose innate ability to navigate between teamwork and assertiveness sets him apart. Engaged in the Debate Club, Math Team, Leadership Council, and GATE program, Seay embraces every opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities. With aspirations ranging from athletics to teaching to law, Seay has endless possibilities.
Norman and Seay shared with us their mutual affinity for writing and how they are prepared to transition to middle school as students with confidence, aptitude, and intellect.
Andrea Norman is a fifth grade student at Deerwood Academy. Photo by Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
ANDREA NORMAN
Deerwood Academy’s 10-year-old family real estate successor.
What is one of your strengths as a student?
I believe I possess the skills to be a good problem solver. If there’s a problem with the work, I try to get everything that I need to figure out how to fix the problem. And I try to help other classmates with their work if they need help.
What do you like most about being a student at Deerwood?
What I like most about being a student at Deerwood is that there’s always someone here to help you if you need it. And you’ll never have to worry about not having help. You always have a teacher or a student to ask for help with something.
Do you have a favorite subject?
Yes, I like English Language Writing (ELA), where we read stories and then write either opinion writings, narrative writings, or something similar. We take tests every month or two on a writing [assignment], and we really just try to improve our writing and practice for the Georgia milestones.
I also like social studies. I like how interesting it is, and how you get to learn about the past, and how entertaining it is. We learned about the Great Depression, and what stood out to me was how the stock markets shut down because of the money problems after the war. That’s one thing that stood out to me because it happens in America a lot. So I think it’s pretty cool to learn about [those things].
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to sell real estate. My grandma has a real estate [career], and she said she is going to pass it down to me and my brother, who is about to graduate and [start his career in real estate].
Ethan Seay is a fifth grade student at Deerwood Academy. Photo by Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
ETHAN SEAY
Deerwood Academy’s 10-year-old leader and future athlete.
What do you like about being a student at Deerwood?
One thing that I really like about going to school here is that there are opportunities to join different clubs or to be a leader in the school. There’s the leadership council, there’s debate, and many other ones.
What is your favorite subject?
I think it would probably be grammar because I like learning about synonyms and the way they help me build my vocabulary. It also transcends into writing a narrative. You can use better words to help readers picture your story in their minds.
How are you building connections in school?
I’ve had some of my friends I’ve had since kindergarten, and they would explain things to me [about] school. And then now here [at Deerwood], when there are new students, I do the same thing that people did for me when I first came here.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
One thing is an athlete, and if don’t make it in sports, then I would be a teacher or a lawyer. I would play either football or basketball. I’m kind of leaning towards football because I have more knowledge about it, but there’s a high risk of injuries, and I haven’t really been playing a lot of tackle football, really just two and touch. And basketball, I have a lot of knowledge in, and I can play pretty well.
I like that teachers can be caring. If a student needs help then I can use critical thinking to solve their problem.
Are you learning things in school that will help you become any of those things?
Yes. With sports, I’m learning things like teamwork and critical thinking. Same with teachers. And then confidence for being a lawyer. You’ve got to have knowledge about the person you’re defending. I think that this school helps me learn more about those things.
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. #IamAPS
Zoe Hudson, seventh grader at Ralph J. Bunche Middle School. Photo by Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
Picture this: a shy student who thrives in group settings, relishing the opportunity to collaborate and support their peers. But don’t be fooled by their initial reserve—behind that modest demeanor lies a leader with a bright smile and engaging conversation.
Now, meet Zoe Hudson, a dynamic seventh grader from Ralph J. Bunche Middle School, who embodies the characteristics of teamwork, leadership, and ambition, and exemplifies the APS Profile of a Graduate.
At just 13 years old, Hudson is already carving a path toward success, juggling her studies with active involvement in Beta Club and Future Seekers. With dreams of hitting the volleyball court in high school and possibly diving into the world of competitive swimming, her ambition is just emerging.
Hudson sat down with us in Bunche’s state-of-the-art, student podcast studio to share with us her fascination for the mysterious world of true crime, her future aspirations, and what guides her along her academic journey.
Who knows, she may one day become a real-life, modern-day Hercule Poirot!
1. Zoe Hudson at Ralph J. Bunche Middle School. Photo by Allison M. Slocum, APS © 2. Hudson volunteering. Photo courtesy of Marina Hendon.
ZOE HUDSON
Bunche Middle School’s 13-year-old eighth grader and future super sleuth
What do you like about your school?
I think our teachers are preparing us to be good learners. If you don’t want to engage in the class, they’ll make you so that you will still participate in a way and learn something new. Also, if I have a question about the work or my grades, they might they might give out assignments that could help me get my grade up.
Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
Yes, I would like to be a pathologist or a cold case detective because I like solving things for a cold case detective, and for a pathologist, I like getting resources from people, and diagnosing things, and seeing how I could help people. I enjoy watching detective shows with my mom, and I like the part where they start solving [the crime]. I like putting the clues together and trying to figure out who might have “did it” before the show ends.
Have you learned things in school that would help you become a pathologist or a cold case detective?
Yes. I take a biology class and that can help me learn about the human body, and can help me with pathology and detective work. Because if you know how the body works, you can find [clues] with it.
Zoe Hudson, “Measuring Glucose in Your Food” science fair project team lead and Silver Key Awardee. Photos courtesy of Marina Hendon.
Do you have a favorite subject?
My favorite subject is science. I like learning [about] new species and about new organisms. I just really like that there’s new things happening in the category of science, and everything is not really the same. You could find something that could change the whole dynamic of the subject.
I [participated] in a science fair this year and last year. My project was converting sucrose to glucose and how it could affect the human body.
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. #IamAPS
Heritage Academy’s vision is to become a school that equips all students for the demands and opportunities of the twenty-first century. Striving to build a community of excellent readers, dynamic mathematicians, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens dedicated to making our community a better place to live.
Carter Crowder and Ja’Kayla Smith are well-rounded students who check all those boxes.
Carter, 10, is in fourth grade at Heritage Academy and is a highly motivated student. Driven by a competitive spirit, Carter wants to be a professional football player in the NFL or an engineer when he grows up.
Ja’Kayla, 11, has a quieter demeanor, but she’s involved in a little bit of everything at Heritage Academy. Her favorite part of school is being part of the various clubs like debate, art, beta and chess clubs. As a fifth grader, Ja’Kayla is a hard-working student and has clear goals like earning distinguished on the Georgia Milestones test.
Carter and Ja’Kayla were also key members of Heritage Academy’s reading bowl team. Both students spoke with us to share what they love about their school and APS.
Carter Crowder Q&A:
Q: What is your favorite part of being in school?
A: My favorite part is when we do extracurricular things like sports. My favorite sports are football, basketball, and baseball. I’m the best at football. I like to play receiver, quarterback and running back. I also like to play cornerback on defense.
Q: What is your favorite subject?
A: My favorite subject is math. I like to problem solve and answer questions. It’s always been my favorite subject. It never changed over the years. I just like doing math.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up:
A: I want to be an NFL player, but if I want to start an actual career, I want to be an engineer. It requires math and I also like to build things and be creative. I like to practice on Legos and stuff. The coolest thing I’ve built was a pirate ship, and I put it on my dresser. I think that math is helping me become an engineer. And to be an NFL player, you have to practice and do extracurricular things like football.
Q: How have your teachers and classmates helped you?
A: I think me and my classmates make good connections. If I need help on a question or with a teacher, the teacher will come help me and give me tips on how to get the question right the next time and understand it more. I get help from classmates by asking what mistakes I made. My school is a caring, fun, and very hard-working and willing to learn school.
Ja’Kayla Smith Q&A:
Q: What do you enjoy the most at school?
A: My favorite part about this school is the various clubs. I’m in chess club, and I like the challenge of it and how it’s a mind game. I’m also in debate, beta club and I’m in gifted classes. I was also in speech club last year.
Q: Who is your favorite teacher?
A: Ms. Brown, she teaches gifted classes. I want to say she’s the person who runs the beta club and the debate team at our school. She does a little bit of everything.
Q: What was something you were excited to learn?
A: I was excited to learn about forensic science. We got to learn about cases, and I also like fingerprints. We get to do a lot of fingerprint art in forensic science.
Q: How would you describe Heritage Academy?
A: It’s a very hard-working community. It has very nice teachers. It shows a lot of equity and it’s ethical. The staff is very hard-working.
The Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Adult Education Program is a gateway to a brighter future for adult learners. The program offers free basic reading, writing and math skills, high school equivalency (HSE) preparation classes for both options, GED and HiSET and English as a Second Language (ESL).
The program provides a supportive environment for adult learners to pursue an education, earn credentials through short-term training and receive community-based support and resources to assist in a variety of situations. Read more here.
Eric Smart, a deaf adult learner, enrolled in the Adult Education program and wants to make it more accessible for others in his community.
Smart volunteers with Caring Works Hope House, which is a peer support group for deaf people struggling with addictions. Previously, Smart had issues getting cleared for accommodations and finding testing centers where learning was accessible.
Smart shared with us how working with the APS Adult Education Program gave him a chance to succeed and his goal to make the experience better for others.
Register for Adult Education Courses
Q: How was your experience in the APS Adult Education Program?
A: This is actually a really good school. I feel like everyone is very friendly and nice. The principal was friendly as well. I feel like I can connect well with everyone. But it’s been a real struggle to get an interpreter for me for access. I feel a little bit stuck and I feel that barrier in learning because I don’t have access to language. So, I try my best online to get the learning that I need, and the teachers have been really patient with me, teaching me, working with me, and supporting me through the process.
Q: How did APS support you?
A: I’ve taken language courses and English and that’s been a challenge. When I went to take the test for the first time, I didn’t have accommodation with an interpreter, so I failed that first test. So, I tried it again, and they asked me, ‘Can you read lips?’ and that felt a little bit off for me because I prefer writing… I talked to the principal about this, and she told me not to worry about it and that we would find a test center that maybe will be better than the ones we’ve been to so far because they were a very negative experience. We tried again at another one with the 25% extension time. Once I did that, I got 100% and it was not a problem.
Q: What do you hope to achieve once you finish the Adult Education program?
A: My goal is mentorship and peer support. My goal is really to break down barriers so that we can have access to get help in whatever we need education-wise and counseling. There are many barriers to accessing what we need and what we want in those areas. I volunteer for Hope House. It is a peer support group for deaf people struggling with addictions. I really want to encourage a lot of them to come here, but before I go into that, I really want to focus on breaking down a lot of the barriers that I’ve experienced here. Being able to provide interpreters and things of that nature so when the other people come, they can have a better experience all-around in that area.
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.
Dr. Norman “Storm” Robinson III once sat in the auditorium of Benjamin E. Mays High School and was inspired when the school’s namesake visited and spoke to the school. Years later, he stood on the same stage where Dr. Mays stood to give back to his alma mater.
As the associate director for school and community engagement for Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Innovating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC), Storm returned to Mays High School to celebrate the debut of its new Google Tech Hub.
The partnership between Atlanta Public Schools (APS), Georgia Tech’s CEISMC, and Google brings a new level of engagement to learning for Mays students, and Storm was on the team that helped develop the curriculum for the tech hub.
“A lot of times, students don’t have access to these types of experiences around math, science and physics,” he said. “But now they feel honored that we’re sharing this with them because it bolsters them up.”
As a proud product of APS, Dr. Robinson shared how important his experience at Mays High School was to set him on his path.
Q: What was a memorable moment from your time at Benjamin E. Mays High School?
A: My fondest memories were of sitting at the foot of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays when he came to the school to visit and speak and that just made a marked impact on my life. It set me on the path that I’m on now. Walking the halls, I was around so much Black excellence that I just really felt valued. I felt that I was being heard, and my educational experience was tailored for me and my strengths.
Q: How does it feel to bring a program like the Google Tech Hub to your alma mater?
A: It’s indescribable. This morning, we were giving the official kickoff program on the stage where I sat at the foot of Dr. Mays. It just fills me with so much pride. I’m not originally from Atlanta, but I feel like I am from Atlanta. I’m one of those people that moved here from up North to get to a warmer climate, but being here in this building and the experiences and things that I have, the people that we were introduced to and exposed to have drastically, greatly impacted my life.
Q: What advice do you have for current APS students?
A: Be very diligent about your own education. Be an advocate for your own education. If you feel that there is something that needs to be added to it, be an advocate for yourself and ask for that. These teachers and this district are very in tune with the needs of the students. Be able to communicate and be an active participant in your own education. Be open. This is the place to really explore different things and get exposed to different things so that you can pursue different things and really formulate what your success is going to be.
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. #IamAPS
— Scroll down for the Spanish translation. —
Maria Perez-Marrero, Spanish world language teacher at Benteen Elementary School. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
Benteen Elementary School’s world language teacher, Maria Eugenia Perez-Marrero, is passionate about carrying out the vision of the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program at APS, teaching Spanish to first through fifth graders and being a source of information for Spanish speaking families.
The ESOL program values linguistic and cultural diversities, cultivating an environment where English learning students love to learn and its teachers inspire.
Relocating from Venezuela to America over a decade ago, Perez’s 24 years of experience have proven to be invaluable in knowing the diverse needs of her students. She prides herself on being creative and adaptable, two qualities that played a crucial role in her earning the 2021-2022 Benteen Teacher of the Year distinction.
Wearing stylish black frames and her distinctive signature grey curls, Señora Perez invited us into her classroom and shared her motivation for teaching and how she effectively transforms the lives of her students and the APS community.
Maria Perez-Marrero, affectionately called “Señora Perez”, was named the 2021-2022 Benteen Teacher of the Year. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
MARIA EUGENIA PEREZ-MARRERO
World Language Teacher (1-5) at Benteen Elementary School
Why are you proud to teach in Atlanta Public Schools?
I’m very proud to work in APS because it’s a district where I see that the community integrates all the different communities that are within APS. Like African Americans, Whites, Hispanics, and myself as an immigrant, I feel that I can contribute something to this community.
It is a community that has high standards for students to prepare themselves. The teachers and professors have high teaching standards, and I particularly love that.
What is your biggest motivation for teaching?
My motivation comes from many years ago. When I was in third grade, I had a teacher who had a lot of passion for teaching. I saw that she changed the lives of the children. She changed my life; that’s why I am a teacher. That same motivation drives me. I want to transform lives as well. I have many years of experience because in my country, I have more than 24 years of experience in [teaching] elementary school. I saw how the children were changing. They were transforming [as] I was taking care of each child. It is a different world [there]. APS gives me more opportunities, because here I not only teach knowledge, I teach Spanish, I teach culture, I teach traditions, I teach values, and I transform and adapt to the new generations because it is completely different to teach today than when I [first] started.
Why did you choose APS instead of other districts?
I chose APS because it has high standards and it is a truly diverse community. And now, with the integration movement where there are many immigrants, and many are Venezuelans because of our situation, APS has provided a very good reception and has a great interest in these students integrating and [becoming a] part of the APS community.
How did you feel when you were recognized as Benteen’s Teacher of the Year?
When I was recognized as the Teacher of the Year, first I didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect it at all. I was informed through the school’s intercom that I was the Teacher of the Year. And I said, ‘I’m not. No, it’s not me!’ It was a great joy.
And I’m going to tell you why it was very pleasant for me, and it filled me with pride. Although I worked for many years in my country, the recognitions are very political. It’s not because of your work, but because of the sympathy you can have with the government, the ruling party. Here, my colleagues chose me. And it was super gratifying. Besides, I was an example for my children. Because when I arrived here, I was not young. I arrived here only 16 years ago, and for eight years I did not practice teaching. So, for my children to see that they gave me recognition in a foreign country, wow! It was very gratifying. Very, very gratifying.
Maria Perez-Marrero teaches Spanish to first through fifth graders at Benteen Elementary School. Photo: Allison M. Slocum ©
What qualities do you contribute to the classroom?
First of all, I’m very open-minded. If you’re not an open-minded teacher, you can’t understand every child that you’re given to teach. You have to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see what can be happening to that child.
I think I contribute my passion for teaching. I do it from the heart, really. And the fact that I adapt and always look for new things to teach. For me, teaching at APS has been a great challenge because it is not the same teaching as in the 80’s and 70’s when I started in 1976. Children have more information. They are exposed to a lot of technology, which I didn’t know how to handle when I started. So, I had to adapt to all of that.
I think that a teacher who is not open-minded, who is not willing to change and face changes— no, they can’t achieve their goal, which is to transform that child and give them the necessary tools to face the world they will find because it is completely different.
Is there a teaching experience that had a great impact on you?
Wow! Yes, I have many. But there is one that honestly brought tears to my eyes. I had a student that came to visit me not too long ago who was about to leave middle school. She is of Hispanic origin, her parents are Hispanic, and she read and wrote what you told her, but she was not able to do independent writing. So, at that time, I was talking about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., why he fought, what his dream was. I gave her a piece of paper, and I told her, ‘I want you to write your dream.’ And when I read [what she wrote], I cried because she said that her dream was to see that the president of the United States didn’t see Hispanics as a threat, but that Hispanics also came here to work and forge this country. And when I saw that, a girl who is capable of writing that in fifth grade, I felt super happy. And she wrote it for me both in English and Spanish. That has been one of many, but the one that has struck me the most.
En Español— I am APS: Maria Perez-Marrero, Maestra Dedicada de Idiomas del Mundo de Benteen
I am APS/Soy APS es una serie especial que destaca a estudiantes, profesores, ex alumnos y otros en reconocimiento a las valiosas y diversas experiencias, orígenes y contribuciones dentro de la familia de las Escuelas Públicas de Atlanta. Juntos, nos solidarizamos con nuestra admiración colectiva por APS y la misión que nos guía. #IamAPS
María Eugenia Pérez-Marrero, profesora de idiomas de la Escuela Primaria Benteen, es una ferviente apasionada en llevar a cabo la visión del programa de inglés para estudiantes de otros idiomas (ESOL, por sus siglas en inglés) en APS, enseñando español a los alumnos de primero a quinto grado y siendo una fuente de información para las familias de habla hispana.
El programa ESOL valora las diversidades lingüísticas y culturales, cultivando un ambiente donde a los estudiantes de inglés les encanta aprender y donde sus profesores inspiran.
Trasladándose de Venezuela a Estados Unidos hace más de una década, los 24 años de experiencia de la maestra Pérez han demostrado ser muy valiosos para conocer las diversas necesidades de sus estudiantes. Se enorgullece de ser creativa y adaptable, dos cualidades que la ayudaron a recibir la distinción de Maestra del Año 2021-2022 de Benteen.
Luciendo unas elegantes gafas negras y sus gloriosos rizos grises que la caracterizan, la señora Pérez nos invitó a su clase y compartió con nosotros su motivación para enseñar y cómo transforma eficazmente las vidas de sus alumnos y de la comunidad de APS.
MARIA EUGENIA PEREZ-MARRERO
Profesora de Lenguas del Mundo (1-5) en Benteen Elementary School
¿Por qué estás orgullosa de enseñar en APS?
Estoy muy orgullosa de trabajar en APS porque es un distrito donde veo que la comunidad integra a todas las diferentes comunidades que están dentro de APS. Como afroamericanos, blancos, hispanos y yo misma como inmigrante, siento que puedo aportar algo a esta comunidad.
Es una comunidad que tiene altos estándares para que los estudiantes se preparen. Los profesores y los maestros tienen un alto nivel de exigencia en la enseñanza, y eso a mí particularmente me encanta.
¿Cuál es su mayor motivación para enseñar?
Mi motivación viene de hace muchos años. Cuando estaba en tercero de primaria, tuve una profesora que tenía mucha pasión por la enseñanza. Vi que cambiaba la vida de los niños. Me cambió la vida y por eso soy maestra. Esa misma motivación me impulsa. Yo también quiero transformar vidas. Tengo muchos años de experiencia porque en mi país tengo más de 24 años de experiencia en [enseñanza] primaria. Vi cómo cambiaban los niños. Se transformaban [mientras] yo me ocupaba de cada niño. Es un mundo diferente. APS me da más oportunidades, porque aquí no sólo enseño conocimientos, enseño español, enseño cultura, enseño tradiciones, enseño valores, y me transformo y adapto a las nuevas generaciones porque es completamente diferente enseñar hoy que cuando [empecé].
¿Por qué eligió APS en lugar de otros distritos?
Elegí APS porque tiene altos estándares y es una comunidad realmente diversa. Y ahora con el movimiento de integración donde hay muchos inmigrantes, y muchos son venezolanos debido a nuestra situación, APS ha proporcionado una muy buena acogida y tiene un gran interés en que estos estudiantes se integren y [formen parte] de la comunidad de APS.
¿Cómo se sintió cuando fue reconocido como Profesor del Año de Benteen?
Cuando me reconocieron como Profesor del Año, primero no me lo esperaba. No me lo esperaba en absoluto. Me informaron por el altavoz del colegio de que era la Profesora del Año. Y yo dije: ‘No lo soy. No, no soy yo’. Fue una gran alegría.
Y les voy a contar por qué fue muy agradable para mí y me llenó de orgullo. Aunque trabajé muchos años en mi país, los reconocimientos son muy políticos. No es por tu trabajo, sino por la simpatía que puedas tener con el gobierno, con el partido en el poder. Aquí, mis colegas me eligieron a mí. Y fue súper gratificante. Además, fui un ejemplo para mis hijos. Porque cuando llegué aquí, no era joven. Llegué aquí hace sólo 16 años, y durante ocho años no ejercí la docencia. Entonces, que mis hijos vieran que me daban un reconocimiento en un país extranjero, ¡vaya! Fue muy gratificante. Muy, muy gratificante.
¿Qué cualidades aporta usted al salón de clases?
En primer lugar, tengo una mentalidad muy abierta. Si no eres un profesor de mente abierta, no puedes entender a cada niño que te toca enseñar. Tienes que ponerte en el lugar del otro y ver qué le puede estar pasando a ese niño.
Creo que contribuyo mi pasión por la enseñanza. Lo hago de corazón, de verdad. Y el hecho de que me adapto y siempre busco cosas nuevas que enseñar. Para mí, enseñar en APS ha sido un gran reto porque no es la misma enseñanza que en los años 80 y 70, cuando empecé en 1976. Los niños tienen más información. Están expuestos a mucha tecnología, que yo no sabía manejar cuando empecé. Así que tuve que adaptarme a todo eso.
Creo que un profesor que no tiene la mente abierta, que no está dispuesto a cambiar y a afrontar los cambios, no puede lograr su objetivo, que es transformar a ese niño y darle las herramientas necesarias para que pueda enfrentarse al mundo que se va a encontrar. Porque es completamente diferente.
¿Hay alguna experiencia en la enseñanza que le haya causado un gran impacto?
¡Vaya! Sí, tengo muchas. Pero hay una que sinceramente me hizo llorar. Tuve una estudiante que vino a visitarme no hace mucho y que estaba a punto de dejar la escuela secundaria. Ella es de origen hispano, sus padres son hispanos, y leía y escribía lo que le decía, pero no era capaz de hacer escritura independiente. Entonces, en ese momento, yo hablaba del Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cuáles eran los principios del Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., por qué luchó, cuál era su sueño. Le di un trozo de papel y le dije: ‘Quiero que me escribas tu sueño’. Y cuando leí [lo que escribió] lloré, porque decía que su sueño era ver que el presidente de Estados Unidos no viera a los hispanos como una amenaza, sino que los hispanos también vinieran aquí a trabajar y a forjar este país. Y cuando vi eso, una niña que es capaz de escribir eso en quinto grado, me sentí súper feliz. Y me lo escribió tanto en inglés como en español. Ese ha sido uno de tantos, pero el que más me ha impactado.
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. #IamAPS
Many of the great opportunities available to APS students come through valued partnerships that provide new and enriching experiences. Making those partnerships work requires a lot of work and collaboration, but it helps when you have an inside woman like Verizon’s director of government affairs and community engagement, Michelle Arrington.
Michelle is a proud product of APS, who graduated from Frederick Douglass High School with the class of 1995. She comes from a family of APS graduates, and her mother worked for the school district for many years. In her role with Verizon, she has been a part of bringing the only four Verizon Innovative Learning Labs in the state of Georgia to APS.
After the unveiling at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, she shared with us why she’s proud to be an alumni and a partner with APS.
Q: How does it feel to be able to work with APS as an alumni?
A: It’s amazing to be able to have a job where you can also give back to the very same school system that you grew up in. My family were all Atlanta Public Schools graduates from various schools throughout the district. I believe in public school education, and I’m glad that Verizon is investing in these labs across the country for public schools and partnering with them to give students opportunities for digital inclusion.
Q: How did your experience through APS set you on your path?
A: At Frederick Douglass High School, I definitely learned leadership skills. I was the editor of the school newspaper. I was president of the senior class. I was the assistant business manager of the entire student government association. I was president of the communications club, so I did the announcements every morning. It really taught me leadership, the importance of leadership, working with others, and building those core skills I needed and prepared me for college. I definitely felt prepared when I went to Howard University, and leaned on the skills that I learned at Douglass.
Q: What makes you proud to be an APS alumni?
A: I think APS is the best school system in the country. What you learn from the Atlanta Public Schools system, and public school systems in general, is that you get to interact and work with everybody, kids from other walks of life. It makes you a more well-rounded person, and you develop core friendships. My closest friends are people I went to high school with, and we still see each other and get together on a regular basis.
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. #IamAPS
Kaydon Sims is an 8th grader at Crawford W. Long Middle School. Photo: Allison M. Slocum
Kaydon Sims is one of those young people who impress you instantly. Boasting a bright, dimpled smile and a firm handshake, this Crawford W. Long Middle School (Long) 8th grader has mastered the ability to learn and inform in the same conversation.
The youngest of five children, Sims belongs to a village of supportive parents, siblings and mentors who encourage him to pursue multiple interests and strive for greatness. He is a member of Long’s debate team, youth action team, and band, in which he plays the clarinet and participates in a program that allows him to occasionally march with South Atlanta High School’s Marching Hornets.
On November 9, he was one of several Atlanta Public Schools (APS) 8th graders awarded the prestigious REACH Georgia Scholarship, a $10,000 scholarship to attend any eligible, in-state college or university upon graduation from high school.
Kaydon Sims and his father signing the REACH Georgia Student and Parent Commitment. Photo: Allison M. Slocum
Sims is going places— literally. This school year alone he will be traveling on several school trips, including one to Tennessee State University’s homecoming, where Long’s band will perform in a parade, one to Washington D.C., where he and fellow students will learn about history and the government, and an educational trip to Savannah, GA.
Recently, Sims shared with us the value of making meaningful connections and his future plans to join the healthcare industry to make a difference in the lives of many.
KAYDON SIMS
Long Middle School’s 13-year-old 8th grader, REACH Scholarship recipient and future psychiatrist.
Do you have a favorite subject?
I do. Science. I love how we break down the elements that we use in our everyday [lives] like aluminum. Fluorine.
How does one break them down?
First, we look at the actual element itself. We look at the atomic mass, the atomic number, the protons, neutrons, and electrons. Also, the valence. Does it relate with the valence electron rule? So for example, aluminum. The atomic number may be 13, so that gives us the protons and the electrons. This is where the atomic mass comes in and where you put the atomic mass minus the atomic number, which gives us our neutrons. Now, we have our atom for aluminum.
Have you thought about what you want to be when you grow up?
I have. I would like to be a psychiatrist. There’s not a lot of people in the mental field, and I want to add on to their army. I want to understand the brain more.
Do you think that you’ve learned things in school so far that will help you become a psychiatrist?
Most definitely. We have a youth action team, which brings awareness to things that may not be seen as worthy. For example, recently [we focused on] suicide prevention. We made announcements. We had posters up saying how we can prevent [suicide]. We gave ways to ask yourself, ‘Do you really need help?’ and things of that sort. We also do Social Emotional Learning (SEL), where we talk about anger management and how to de-escalate a situation instead of escalating it.
Kaydon Sims is a member of Long’s debate team, youth action team, and band. Photo: Allison M. Slocum
What impact has SEL had on you since it became a part of the curriculum?
When they started incorporating it in the curriculum it was like a weight off my shoulder. It makes me feel more comfortable. [And demonstrates] how we can relate to our friends and sometimes even our teachers, like, ‘How was your day?’
For example, with my English Language Arts teacher, we call it ‘High, Low, High’. Questions are asked [about your day] like ‘What was your high? What was your low?’ Someone actually asked me how I feel and how was my weekend. I can express myself and not just share the high parts, but also my lows.
Do you feel like you’re able to build meaningful connections while you’re in middle school?
I do feel like I’m building a lot of connections. I go to South Atlanta High School for marching band, so I’ve got connections with Mr. Lane, Mr. Richardson, our drill sergeant. Ms. Stinson, of course, as I do want to go into the mental and healthcare fields.
And also Ms. Barksdale. She helps me a lot with preparing how to articulate my words, how to be presentable. She also shares some of the past experience that she had in the [healthcare] field. I really enjoy listening to the stories because when I grow up, I want to be in the same position she is in. Especially Ms. Stinson as well. Dr. Jones as well. I know he’s the 7th grade counselor, but also he’s our sponsor for the Youth Action Camp. He organizes a lot of the events that we do, so I feel like I can also connect with him.
And just getting myself out there, not being shy. Doing a lot of extracurriculars like debate, Youth Action Team. I also do the morning announcements because I’m a good speaker.
Knowing that you want to be a psychiatrist, are you able to take ownership of your learning and steer your education towards things that will benefit you?
Actually my mentor and I were going over schools [recently]. Connections. She said, ‘Look at these high schools.’ They [have] what I’m looking for. For example Midtown, I know it’s far of course, but it’s also a possibility. There’s a possibility in everything. They have a club for clinical psychology. Also, being mentally aware. For example, like when I feel like I’m not on the track that I want to be on because I’m on the track of the national [average]. I want to be ahead of that, I want to achieve. So oftentimes, I’ll stay for tutorial. Sometimes I’ll be the only person. But I’ve got to realize what I want to do, what I want to achieve. And use my connection.
Kaydon Sims is an 8th grader at Crawford W. Long Middle School. Photo: Allison M. Slocum
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. #IamAPS
Belle Williams, the freshman class president at Booker T. Washington High School, was immediately ready to take advantage of everything high school has to offer.
After starting middle school during the pandemic, being able to start high school in-person is a fresh new beginning for a student like Williams, who relishes the many opportunities that await her.
Williams shared how her first year in high school is going and what she’s looking forward to for the rest of her high school career.
Q: How have the first few months of high school been?
A: I really like high school. I started my middle school years in quarantine, so getting to start new and start fresh with a new GPA, new friends, new teachers, that was really cool starting a new year and actually being in school not on Zoom.
I really like the opportunities that I’m allowed here. I like what I’m exposed to. There are so many things I can do and say yes to, so many things I can say no to, which is awesome.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a student?
A: I would say I’m a mix of all of those profiles of a graduate. I may be giving myself too much credit, but I’m going to go for it. As a critical thinker and problem solver, that definitely ties into SGA. You have so many people telling you, ‘I don’t like this. I don’t like that. I kind of like that, but we can do this.’ And you have to put all of those problems and ideas together to create.
Academically, I’m very driven. I know if I fall off academically, everything else will fall as well. I think that makes me more driven and apply myself more to my goals.
I ask my teachers everything. They’ll all tell you I’m very curious. I’m very resourceful as well. At Washington, every teacher, faculty member will help you and get you what you need. When you come here, it’s a very open community. We’re a tight-knit community as well, but we’re open to everyone who comes in. Having these faculty and staff members who will help you when you need them has been key to being more resourceful.
Q: What does it mean for you to represent your freshman class?
A: It means a lot because kids are so opinionated these days. So winning their vote was great. My favorite part about it was campaigning. I really liked being able to meet a lot of people, but also as class president since I’m their voice and their representative, I have to ask them what they want for this school to be. It exposed me to meeting new people.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about Washington High School?
A: My favorite part of school is the community and my friends. We get our work done and we have fun.
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