North Springs Students Get New Media Center, Principal

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Students and faculty beginning the school year on Monday at North Springs Charter High School will see a number of exciting improvements at the Sandy Springs institution.

Classes will resume Aug. 8 in the Fulton County School System, and North Springs has been outfitted with a new media center, new community based instructional classrooms, upgrades in the visual art and health sciences classrooms and new tennis courts.

New classes, faculty and administrative leaders will also take shape on Monday, including Principal Scott Hanson.

"Everyone is probably most excited about our state-of-the-art media center," said Hanson, who was named principal in April and assumed his responsibilities in June.

Construction on the $250,000 renovation began immediately after the end of the 2015-16 school year. The 50-year-old room was gutted to create a large open and light-filled space with the addition of three floor-to-ceiling windows, new furniture and spaces for meetings and collaboration.

“The entire media center is designed to look and function more as a college media center," Hanson said. "We think the students will love it."

North Springs also has added three large new classrooms for area students with special needs. An initiative of Fulton County Schools, the classrooms will enable students to attend their home high school rather than go to a center-based school farther from home. Health science students will find a new clinical health science lab for phlebotomy and specimen collection, and art students will find new sinks and storage cabinets in the painting and drawing and 3-D studios.

Math and science magnet students will be able to take engineering and microbiology electives this year and the department has added four new teachers: Terry Lester, biology and AP environmental science; Kelvin Suggs, chemistry and honors chemistry; Tony Szscesniak, physics and forensic science; and John Cantwell, biology and AP biology.

In addition, Dr. Travis Chapman has been named STEAM coordinator, a new position awarded to the school’s Governance Council to help North Springs achieve its goal of becoming an innovative, STEAM-focused school, certified in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

North Springs has also revamped its work-based learning program. This year, under the full-time direction of former business teacher Brian Patterson, 155 juniors and seniors have been selected to work as off-campus and on-campus interns in a wide variety of fields including medical, dental, business, financial and legal services.

North Springs also welcomes new athletic director and administrative assistant Lamarr Glenn, and new assistant principal Dr. Mulanta Wilkins, who will be responsible for the ninth grade.

The school is also looking ahead to more construction upgrades this year to enhance science labs and build a music technology lab for a new music technology class that will allow music students to create and record original scores and tracts.

In September, all students will receive their own tablets as part of Fulton County Schools’ commitment to personalized learning.

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Images via North Springs Charter High School