Local personalities and government officials – including Superintendent Erroll Davis, Atlanta Public School leadership, Atlanta Falcons football players and Homer the Brave – surprised eight outstanding educators in Atlanta Public Schools recently with grants from the Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education (AFAEE). The grants will help fund innovative classroom projects that will improve students’ access to quality education.
The following educators were named 2012 AFAEE winners:
• Vanessa Evans – KIPP STRIVE Academy,
fifth grade teacher
• Stephanie Jones – KIPP STRIVE Academy,
fifth grade English language arts teacher
• Erik Herndon – Young Middle School, eighth
grade guitar
• Dr. Evelyn Mobley – West End Academy,
principal
• Nicole Bartig – Sarah Smith Elementary
School, kindergarten teacher
• Brittany Beaumont – Springdale Park
Elementary, first grade teacher
• Bethany Paquette – Drew Charter School,
third and fourth grade special education teacher
• Peter McKnight – South Atlanta School of
Law & Social Justice, principal
Since its inception in 2005, AFAEE has recognized outstanding teachers and school leaders for their commitment to excellence, while aiming to create a platform to further award winners’ success in APS, retain motivated educators and attract like-minded individuals to the district. Each winner was awarded $7,500, which includes funding for a school project of the winner’s choice ($3,500), funding for a professional development opportunity to increase the winner’s effectiveness in the school or classroom ($1,500) and a personal stipend ($2,500).
“The opportunity to award these amazing educators is what drives our organization. Their passion is contagious and their dedication to creating a brighter future for APS students is impossible to ignore,” said Prescott Miller, board chair of AFAEE. “Our partners look forward to seeing the impact the winners’ projects will have on the lives of their students.”
AFAEE has raised more than $1 million to recognize and honor highly effective APS Educators. For more information or to nominate a teacher for the 2013 awards, visit ww.atlantafamilies.org.
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