Sandy Springs Education Force Honors Volunteers, Supporters

Sign up for the Sandy Springs Patch newsletter!

---------

Sandy Springs Education Force, the city’s leading organization dedicated to inspiring public school students to graduate from high school and go on to productive futures, honored community volunteers and supporters at its fifth annual VIP Breakfast.

As 125 guests enjoyed breakfast May 7 at Heritage Hall, Mayor Rusty Paul and interim Fulton County Schools Superintendent Ken Zeff reaffirmed their commitment to the city’s public school children and recognized the importance of SSEF’s work.

A presentation of highlights from SSEF’s 2014-2015 programs followed.

Lake Forest Elementary Principal Harvey Oaxaca introduced Reading Buddies, a program that invites volunteers into school to read with at-risk elementary students. Fourth-grade student Sair Banos shared how much he has learned from his Reading Buddy and new friend, Les Fuchs.

In turn, Fuchs said that he also gained more from his experience than he could have imagined.

Janet Lane, student support specialist at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, spoke about After School All-Stars, SSEF’s program providing weekday academic support and enrichment experiences at the middle school.

North Springs Charter High School students Phalne Hammond, Ajee John and Vanessa Lovinsky, former All Stars who now volunteer with the program, all praised how the initiative bolstered their academic and creative motivation.

Riverwood International Charter School Counselor Ann Wilson presented SSEF’s SAIL program, designed to help high school seniors make post-high school plans and apply for college.

Most of these students are not only the first in their families to attend college, but also the first to graduate high school. Mentor Tiffany Byers related how satisfying it felt to help her student achieve college admission, and SAIL participant Ulises Cortez-Lorenzo described his excitement about pursuing automotive technology studies after graduation.

“We see the impact of SSEF’s programs every day in our schools,” said Dr. Gonzalo LaCava, Fulton County Area Superintendent and SSEF Board member. “SSEF provides the necessary resources, mentoring, and opportunities for our economically disadvantaged students to be successful in life.”

SSEF also gave awards to four special community members:

• Karen ”Kissy” Dabbs received the Carolyn Axt Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of her creation of SSEF Mini Libraries, a program to collect used children’s books and distribute them to disadvantaged elementary school students. In its first year, the initiative donated 14,000 books.
• Dr. Marlene MacLeish of Morehouse School of Medicine and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute was recognized as SSEF’s Sponsor of the Year. Dr. MacLeish’s foresight and support has allowed SSEF to bring the STEM experience to more than 700 students each year through its annual STEM showcase, and to fund grants for year-round STEM projects and clubs in Sandy Springs schools.
• Janet Lane was named the SSEF School Program Champion for her exemplary advocacy of the After School All-Stars at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, which has grown under her guidance from 60 students to more than 175 Lane engages her students academically and scours the community to bring them unique enrichment opportunities.
• The Couchman Noble Foundation, founded by long-time SSEF and community supporters David and Melanie Couchman, received the Finish Line Sponsor of the Year award for their steadfast support of in-need public school students, with special thanks for their sponsorship of SSEF’s 2014 inaugural Footprints for the Future road race.

The Sandy Springs Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating community collaboratives that support educational and enrichment opportunities for public school students’ success throughout their academic school years and beyond.

For more information, visit the organization’s website.

What Should You Read Next?

• Riverwood Named Positive Athlete Georgia School Of The Year
• North Springs Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian For the Class of 2015
• Riverwood, North Springs Make Most Challenging High Schools List
• Riverwood Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian For Class of 2015
• Sandy Springs Students Take Part in STEM Showcase

----

Photo 1: From left to right, David and Melanie Couchman of the Couchman Noble Foundation; Dr. Marlene MacLeish of Morehouse School of Medicine; Janet Lane, Sandy Springs Charter Middle School student support specialist; community volunteer Karen ”Kissy” Dabbs, SSEF Executive Director Irene Schweiger and SSEF Chair Lorie Lewis.
Photo 2: Community volunteer, Les Fuchs, Lake Forest Elementary School Student Sair Banos and Lake Forest Principal Harvey Oaxaca.
Photo 3: From left to right, community volunteer Tiffany Byers, Riverwood International Charter School student Ulises Cortez-Lorenzo and Riverwood Counselor Ann Wilson.
Photo credits: Sandy Springs Education Force