Several Atlanta Falcons athletes recently made a special visit to M. Agnes Jones and Connally Elementary schools. The special hometown guests spoke with students about the importance of health and wellness. Throughout the day students participated in various sports activities and exercises.
Watch the video below to see students interact with the Dirty Birds.
The KIPP WAYS school band and scores of excited students were on hand when representatives from the Atlanta Families Awards for Exellence in Education (AFAEE) surprised KIPP WAYS principal Dwight Ho-Sang and presented him with an oversized check for $7,500 to celebrate his commitment to excellence and to Atlanta Public Schools (APS) students. Similar scenarios played out at nine other schools across the district. Educators from two APS charter schools, KIPP WAYS and KIPP STRIVE, were among the award recipients.
The unsuspecting KIPP WAYS principal admitted that AFAEE was the furthest thing from his mind as he approached the multipurpose room where his students and colleagues and AFAEE representatives waited to surprise him, but Ho-Sang said when he entered the room and saw the balloons and the crowd and he heard the band playing, he knew instantly what was happening.
“We had a similar ceremony at one of our schools last year when another principal won, so I knew right away,” said Ho-Sang. “It’s exciting.”
AFAEE honors outstanding APS teachers and school leaders for their commitment to excellence, while aiming to create a platform to further each award winners’ success.
As part of this platform for success, winners receive a $7,500 monetary award, which includes: $1,500 to fund a professional development opportunity, a $2,500 personal stipend and $3,500 to fund a project of the winner’s choice. Ho-Sang’s project, Gentleman of Distinction, is a male mentoring program designed to increase students’ academic standing and improve their behavior at school.
This year is Ho-Sang’s third year serving as principal of KIPP WAYS Academy. After earning his Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics from Williams College Ho-Sang launched his teaching career in 2002 as a Teach For America corps member at Dunbar Elementary School. Following his two-year commitment as a corps member, he taught an additional year in APS at M. Agnes Jones, and in 2005, he began working at KIPP WAYS as a social studies and language arts teacher. After earning his Masters of Science in Urban Teacher Leadership from Georgia State University, Ho-Sang completed Teacher Leader and Leadership Team training programs, and served as the Lower School Dean and the Dean of Instruction at KIPP WAYS Academy. Before assuming the role of principal at KIPP WAYS, Ho-Sang worked at KIPP DIAMOND in Memphis,
where he served as school leader.
“This is all very humbling. It’s a real honor to be selected,” Ho-Sang said.
AFAEE will formally recognize Ho-Sang and the nine other 2013 winners at the November 21 awards ceremony, which will take place at the Carter Center.
Since its inception in 2005, AFAEE has supported APS by recognizing and honoring teaching excellence, by retaining motivated educators, and by attracting like-minded individuals to the district.
Name: Devontae Carter
Grade: 7th Grade
School: Sylvan Hills Middle School
Devontae Carter is our Spotlight Student from Sylvan Hills Middle School. Devontae is a 7th grade student returning for his second year as a Golden Bear. His team of teachers from last year and this year strongly recommended that we recognize him due to his outstanding citizenship and academic achievement. Devontae was selected early on as a Student of the Month at Sylvan last year as his teachers quickly recognized his admirable character. Devontae is always willing to help others, even serving as a peer tutor where he was able to assist his classmates in academics as needed. He earned the title “King of Social Studies” in the 6th grade last year due to his consistently high scores on exams. Devontae is a natural leader.
At Sylvan, all students are expected to be Sylvan Ready everyday. This means that they are respectful, punctual, prepared, presentable, and engaged. Devontae meets this expectation without reminder on a daily basis. He is very respectful and well-mannered and is a high achiever in all content areas. Devontae was a member of the Sylvan Hills baseball team last year and is part of the football team this year as well. All in all, Devontae is a model citizen and student and we at Sylvan Hills are proud to have him as a Golden Bear.
Name: Joelesha Upshaw
Grade: 5th Grade
School: M. Agnes Jones Elementary
Joelesha Nyzia Upshaw is the middle child in a family of three female siblings. She is currently in the fifth grade at M. Agnes Jones Elementary School where she has been a student since Kindergarten.
Joelesha is an excellent all-around student. She is an amazing writer and her stories are engaging and creative. She is also a member of the safety patrol and a talented dancer. She has served as a member of the M. Agnes Jones dance team since third grade.
Joelesha is extremely bright and exceeded in all categories for the 2012-2013 school year administration of the Georgia CRCT. Additionally, Joelesha has recently been accepted into the Gifted and Talented Education Program.
She spent the summer traveling, flying from Atlanta to California and then driving back via the infamous Route 66. From there she traveled north. In all, her travels covered 28 states. During her travels, she visited several historic landmarks including: the Grand Canyon, the White House, the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the Twin Towers Memorial, and the Empire State Building. More than anything, she enjoyed seeing the Statue of Liberty.
“Oh she is so beautiful,” Joelesha exclaimed.
Joelesha took hundreds of photos with her digital camera. She aspires to become a travel and fashion photographer. What a great start to her career!
Name: Markia Glass
Grade: 2nd Grade
School: D.H. Stanton Elementary
Markia is a spirited second grade student at D.H. Stanton Elementary School. School administrators identify her as a star student, as she faithfully wears her school uniform and is a great role model for her peers. “I like to wear the uniform, and be a good example,” Markia says. She is a hard worker and often supports her teacher in class, and receives rewards and treats for good behavior.
Her favorite subject is math, because she loves to subtract and add. She especially enjoys PE where she can exercise and run with her classmates. Markia considers D.H. Stanton to be a great school; she loves the teachers, class activities, and especially the computers.
“Markia is blossoming into a great student and a future leader,” says Lorrae Walker, 2nd grade teacher. “She embodies the 7 habits of highly effective kids, by leading by example and ensuring that others are doing the right things.”
Name: Jaron Sheffield 
Grade: 6th Grade
School: Sutton Middle School
As a sixth-grader new to a middle school that houses almost 1,500 students, Jaron Sheffield says he really likes his new school; he says he is confident and has not experienced any trouble transitioning. However, Jaron admits that there are some things he misses about his former school, E. Rivers Elementary.
“It was nice going to the same school with my younger brothers, and seeing them everyday, ” says Jaron. “And I really miss my teachers — they were nice to me, and they made school a lot of fun.”
In fact, at Rivers, many teachers regarded Jaron as “exceptional.” His fifth-grade art teacher, Philip Alexander-Cox describes Jaron as “an exceptional and talented artist, and a young man of exceptional character as well.”
These traits ultimately led Jaron to enter the “Dream @ 50 Art Contest,” a national contest for students that commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous I Have a Dream Speech.
“The speech was about how one day the world would be a better place, because everyone would respect each other, and and judge people by what’s on the inside, instead of what’s on the outside; and in the end, everyone would get along,” states Jaron. “I drew a picture based on the peace I thought Martin Luther King imagined, the people that came before him that made it possible — like Abraham Lincoln — and the people that came after him — like President Obama — who show how his dream came true.”
Jaron’s talent, vision and character resulted in him winning Honorable Mention for his art in the Atlanta, metro-wide Dream @50 art contest, and it was even featured at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
“Jaron is a true gentleman,” says Rivers fifth-grade teacher Lindsay Treharne. He is a kind and warm-hearted student who is always willing to help his fellow classmates. Dr. King would be quite proud that a student of Jaron’s character was honored on the 50th anniversary of his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Georgia State University’s Early Childhood Education Department and Atlanta Public Schools have teamed up to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education. The partnership between The Urban Accelerated Certification and Master’s Program (UACM) and M. Agnes Jones Elementary is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching Grant titled Teaching Teachers Together: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Success or better known as 3-STEMS.
“The M. Agnes Jones Elementary and the GSU UACM partnership will provide a bridge for all of our students and teachers to become immersed in a quality STEMS teaching and learning environment,” M. Agnes Jones Principal Margul Woolfolk stated. “This partnership is such a wonderful opportunity to prepare our students for College and Career readiness in a way that’s leading them to become globally competitive.”
The primary goal of the 3-STEMS grant is to increase the number of highly qualified teachers committed to high-need urban schools. Project activities include the development of a Professional Learning Site at partnering school M. Agnes Jones Elementary. The site will serve as a hub for certification and professional learning activities including STEM demonstration lessons for teachers, mentorship and coaching, and specialized STEM summer programs for children and teachers. The grant also supports school innovation projects led by teacher-faculty teams and featuring STEM curricular innovations and using data to inform practice.
Since January 2013, the 3STEMS Partnership has successfully implemented several STEM activities including, a school-based STEM Team, coordinated M. Agnes Jones’ annual Career Day to include local scientists, and facilitated Georgia Tech’s Women in Engineering Student Ambassador program to present engineering tasks to the fourth grade girls to learn about various engineering careers. A STEM Night for parents and community members with interactive, inquiry-based activities was held on April 2, 2013.
Students at M. Agnes Jones Elementary recently had the opportunity to learn about science through fun and engaging methods as a part of the SEED Academy. The SEED Academy, led by 5th grade teacher and academy administrator, Ms. Veronica Wilson, is an after school program that aligns with Common Core and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards to enhance knowledge in the use of technology and science. The program is designed to increase student proficiency in the use and operation of technology through the integration of reading, science, and math standards.
Ms. Wilson, along with Spelman Bonner Scholars, implemented “Fun Labs” where students participate in fun, but educational projects in a lab setting. During this month’s lab, the students were asked to identify the organs in the fetal pig and compare them to human organs. They were asked the essential question of how pigs and human organs are alike and discussed the different organs that humans have, while also explaining the functions of these organs. Students then predicted what organs they would find in a fetal pig. 
Under the supervision of Ms. Wilson, Breagan Ricks and other Spelman volunteers, the students dissected a real fetal pig. The students listened intently to directions to correctly dissect the pig, and they followed the scientific method and recorded their observations. The project was a huge success!
Special thanks to Ms. Wilson and the Bonner Scholars, led by Ms. Breagan Ricks, for another amazing and successful program!
A group of seven British educators finished up their week observing elementary and middle schools APS with a “high tea” at the Center for Learning and Leadership, sharing notes from their trip before preparing their return to the United Kingdom. The teachers shared their experiences with APS administrators Joyce McCloud (Office of the Superintendent), Dr. Susan Dyer (Curriculum & Instruction) and Dr. Eric Rosser (Project GRAD) over tea and snacks.
“I believe that the exchange of ideas and best practices would enhance the educational environment of students both here in APS and students back in the United Kingdom,” Dyer said. “It’s really instructive having somebody externally let us know that we’re on the right track, and that what we do is important enough for them to come from England to sit down and talk to our principals and teachers and ask, ‘What are the best practices APS is using to support and improve academic performance of our students? We can take back these skills to the British Isles.'”
By the time we caught up with British teachers Lynn Keast and Annemarie Kendell the bus was waiting to take them back to their hotels after spending their third and final day at M. Agnes Jones Elementary, so we only had a moment to check in on their experiences. But it was still a delightful experience as they shared what they learned while working with kindergarten team leader Ryan Harry and first-grade team leader Jim Gale. Check out the video above, and come back Friday as we recap the experiences at the other participating schools around APS: Coretta Scott King YWLA, Kennedy Middle School, and Dunbar, Parkside and Smith Primary elementary schools. (Here’s the feature about their first impressions from earlier in the week.)
In the upcoming issue of The Atlanta Educator, we profile fathers who made a difference in students’ lives — starting with Quinton Gist, who has become the PTA president at M. Agnes Jones Elementary. His daughter, Dream, is a second-grader at the school. Gist started out answering the call for someone to help serve as a bus monitor, and it grew from there. We’ll also celebrate the accomplishments of the All Pro Dad’s Day program, which helps men become better fathers. Sutton Middle School and other APS schools participate in the program.
Want to learn more? Get a copy of The Atlanta Educator when it hits the schools next week!
Congratulations to art teacher Raymond Veon of M. Agnes Jones Elementary, who was awarded a fellowship Wednesday through the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. Check out the press release on our district Web site here.
