About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2019)
8 | Education Facebook.com/TheReporterNewspapers ■ twitter.com/Reporter_News Ann Culbreath, Austin Elementary Ann Culbreath, the principal of Dun- woody’s Austin Elementary School, was chosen by Auburn University College of Education as its 2019 Outstanding Educator, an award given to alumni. “I was elated and hon ored but felt it was surreal,” Culbreath said of winning the award. “It is so humbling to have been selected by my alma mater by other educators in the field.” The school community celebrated by declaring April 10 as Austin “War” Eagles SPECIAL Austin Elementary Principal Ann Culbreath in her office. Day. This award adds to a list of recent awards for Austin Elementary and its leadership, including the public school’s recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2018 and Plati num Award Winner from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement for four years in a row. Culbreath was also nominated for 2018 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstand ing Leadership by the U.S. Department of Education. She helped established the Austin Ea gle Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps pay for curriculum materials not covered by county or state funding, and led the creation of the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program. Culbreath has been an educator with the DeKalb County School District since 1987 after graduating from Auburn. She has served as Austin’s principal for seven years, and will next year lead the school into its next chapter as a new, 900-seat school expected to open in fall 2020 to re lieve overcrowding. The school is being built on the for mer Dunwoody Senior Baseball fields less than half a mile from the existing school. Culbreath said the school is excit ed for the new facility, and hopes to grow the partnership with the Dunwoody Na ture Center since it will be closer. Q: What are you most looking forward to with the new school? I am looking for ward to a brand new state-of-the-art fa cility where students enjoy coming to school each day to engage in learning while having fun! Q: What major changes will the new school bring? A: The biggest change will be an in creased enrollment with my students and staff. The school has the capacity to hold 950 students and our current enroll ment is 680. We currently have a partner ship with the Dunwoody Nature Center, but we look forward to more collabora tion since we will be next-door neigh bors. My hope is that our students can “play in the dirt” all the time! Q: What keeps you going year after year? A: I always feel like there is always more to give and learn since education is al ways evolving. I truly believe in life-long learning! Q: What do you hope students learn from you? A: That hard-work and perseverance pay off. Also that you can do anything you set your mind to doing if you believe in your self. Q: How has educating changed since you became an educator? A: The level of accountability has in creased for everyone, as well as the lev el of instruction for our students. In addition to increased accountability, technology has transformed how stu dents learn and teachers teach. Lessons are now planned integrating technolo gy to engage students and make learn ing fun. Q: What is your favorite memory at your school? A: When students see me in the hall or in their classrooms and they tell me sweet stories about themselves or me. Most re cently a student wrote me card that said, “Congratulations on your trophy! I will see you at Auburn when I get to college.” It is amazing to me how impactful I am as their principal and how the students look up to me on a daily basis. Exceptional Educator HA IS ON THE WAY, SO... i ic> ttyiM/ cv 770-396-0192 OUR DRAWING WILL BE HELD FRIDAY MAY 31ST CELEBRATING GENERATIONS OF MOMS WHO BRIGHTEN OUR LIVES ALL MONTH LONG AT FINE JEWELRY NAME i SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30350 ' EMAIL PHONE | BRING TO! 2090 DUNWOODY CLUB DRIVE STE 107
