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New Inclusive Playground Gains National Attention

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps
toomer-es-playground-in-usa-today

Alyssa Marino, a producer for USA Today’s Humankind, films Fred A. Toomer Elementary School kindergarten student Bowie Danner and her classmates on the school’s new inclusive playground.

Word is spreading fast about the new inclusive playground at Fred A. Toomer Elementary School

The unique activity space makes it possible for students with special needs or mobility issues to play alongside their able-bodied classmates. It has already been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and soon it will grace the pages of USA Today’s online section, Humankind, which features uplifting stories about kindness and the human spirit. A short video feature on the playground is already posted on the Humankind Facebook page.

USA Today online producers Alyssa Marino and Sheeka Sanahori visited Toomer to film and interview students and kindergarten teacher Emily Max, who brought the playground to Toomer. Max was one of six nationwide winners of the Farmers Insurance® Dream Big Teacher Challenge in 2015. Max began thinking about an inclusive space when she noticed that the school’s large playground was not completely accessible to all of the students at Toomer. For example, the area’s floor of soft wood chips made it extremely difficult for students with wheelchairs or other mobility issues to move around freely.

Now Max’s vision of more interactivity among all students has become a reality and is garnering a lot of attention.

“One of our co-workers heard about the story on [National Public Radio], and we thought it would be perfect for Humankind,” Sanahori said. Her post on the Humankind Facebook page had more than 5,400 views by Tuesday afternoon. “We focus on positive, uplifting stories, and this certainly is one.”

Look for the full feature on the Toomer playground to be posted on USA Today’s Humankind in about two weeks.

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Inclusive Schools Week: APS increases inclusive practices to better serve students with, without special needs

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will celebrate Inclusive Schools Week December 2-6, 2013, with this year’s theme, “Authentic Inclusion: Increasing Our Comfort Zone! In an effort to ensure equity and excellence throughout APS, the district continues to focus on building inclusive schools, where all children are full members of their school community. One component of inclusion is to increase the percentage of students with disabilities who are educated in general education classes. Over the past few years, the percentage of elementary, middle and high school students who have disabilities and spend at least 80 percent of their school day in general education classes has increased to 58 percent in 2013-14, up from 55 percent in 2012-13 and 48 percent in 2011-12.

To strengthen inclusive practices, APS principals, special education teachers, general education teachers and central office leaders have worked diligently to use co-teaching in schools across the district. During co-teaching, a general education teacher and a special education teacher provide instruction to a class of students with and without disabilities. Having two teachers in the classroom allows small group instruction to take place so that students can receive differentiated, tailored instruction.

Research shows that all students benefit from an inclusive school environment. While APS educators and leaders are pleased with the increase in inclusive practices, they are not satisfied and continue to pursue more positive movement in this critical area.

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New wheelchair ramp ribbon cutting ceremony at Toomer Elementary

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

Screen Shot 2013-10-23 at 1.27.31 PM

In honor of National Walk to School Day, Toomer Elementary School students, parents, administrators, and community leaders gathered for a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the school’s new ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp that will provide access to the school’s playground.

Screen Shot 2013-10-23 at 1.28.54 PM“This ramp is one of the ways that I ensure that everyone has safe access to the playground and our lower field,” says Dr. Nicole Jones, principal at Toomer.

“It’s amazing to see that they appreciate special needs kids enough to give them a ramp,” says Lawqueshia Raven, parent at Toomer.  “I really appreciate APS and whoever else helped to get this ramp for the kids.”

Screen Shot 2013-10-23 at 1.28.01 PM

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Seven APS Schools Awarded GraduateFIRST Grants

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps
Students at Miles Elementary School will benefit from the GraduateFIRST grant from the Georgia Department of Education

Students at Miles Elementary School will benefit from the GraduateFIRST grant from the Georgia Department of Education

Seven APS schools were recently awarded a federally funded grant through the Georgia Department of Education and GraduateFIRST that will be used to help increase the district’s graduation rate and close the achievement gap for students with disabilities.

Congratulations to:

Deerwood Academy Elementary
Heritage Elementary
Miles Elementary
Bunche Middle School
King Middle School
Price Middle School and
Grady High School

Georgia’s GraduateFIRST program has redefined the state’s approach to raising graduation rates for students with disabilities with dramatic results-an increase of 37 percent in four years.

The program has worked successfully throughout Georgia with middle and high schools for the last six years, as well as with elementary schools during the current school year.  Administration and faculty, with support from a Collaboration Coach through the local Georgia Learning Resource System, are provided with training and support in order to implement strategies to meet students’ needs in the areas of academic performance, behavior, and attendance effectively.

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Jackson High School Educator Named Finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

Elisha R. Gray, a special education teacher at Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School, is among the finalists for the 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year.  Ms. Gray was named APS Teacher of the Year for 2011-12 last October.

Ten finalists for the state recognition were selected from a pool of 150 applicants from Georgia school districts.  The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges, based largely on the applicants’ essay responses.

“I congratulate our ten Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists and those who applied,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John D. Barge. “We have always had a very impressive group of teachers make the top 10, and I know this year will be no different.”

“Ms. Gray represents thousands of APS educators in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district; their spirit, dedication and hard work nurture and enhance the lives of our students,” said Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr. “I am extremely proud of Ms. Gray and all of our talented educators who support the mission of educating today’s children for tomorrow’s world.”

The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet on June 1, 2012 at the Georgia International Convention Center.

Elisha R. Gray, Teacher, Maynard Jackson High School

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