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EDUCATION
BRIEFS
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Atlanta Public Schools has invested in portable air purifiers for its schools as part of its
safety initiatives to maintain in-person instruction and mitigate pandemic-related risks.
APS has acquired 5,000 EnviroKlenz Air System Plus purifiers fromTimilon Corporation.
The systems will be stationed throughout the district to operate quietly in the background
of classrooms, providing additional air exchanges to filter out airborne pathogens.
Sixty Atlanta area teachers were awarded a total of $30,000, thanks to the Witherite Law
Group and 1-800-TruckWreck. The money was provided to help cover classroom expenses
that teachers often pay for themselves. Throughout February, Witherite Law Group ran the
Keep Your Classrooms Running campaign for teachers to submit their stories and classroom
needs for the chance to win $500. Parents, principals, and other community members also
were able to nominate deserving teachers.
The Atlanta-based, but internationally focused, organization Children’s Literature for
Children (CLC) has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for the
second year in a row. CLC collects, buys, and distributes books to children who might
not otherwise have access to them. The organization was founded by Kemie Nix, a former
teacher at The Westminster Schools, who also wrote children’s book reviews for the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. Learn more about CLC at childrensliterature.org.
Robert Lewis Service
A Westside’s John Lewis Invictus Academy (JLIA) celebrated Black History Month
by honoring the school’s namesake with the launch of a new, school-based Student and
Community Service Center. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring, Atlanta
Mayor Andre Dickens and U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams took part in the center’s
ribbon-cutting ceremony. The center provides a variety of services for students and families
at JLIA, including mental health counseling, mediation and mentorship programs, a free
clothing closet and free school supply store for students, and monthly food distributions,
as well as connection to healthcare, emergency funds for utilities, and resources such as
housing, employment, and gas cards.
Veteran educator Julius Cave has been announced as program manager of The Literacy
Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship in metro Atlanta. He will help spearhead combating
educational inequity among Atlanta’s youngest students by training and placing more
young men of color as paid literacy tutors in local pre-K classrooms. Cave will lead
recruitment efforts for the inaugural class of 20 Leading Men Fellows who will begin
tutoring in Atlanta Public Schools and Sheltering Arms pre-K classrooms in the Fall of
2022. Get more info at theliteracylab.org.
Two Georgia researchers are among the 2022 award recipients named by the Society For
Biomaterials. Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University’s Julia Babensee
won the Clemson Award for Basic Research, while Ankur Singh of the Georgia Institute of
Technology secured a Mid-Career Award, awarded to a recognized SFB member who has
demonstrated outstanding achievements in and/or contributions to the field of biomaterials
research. More info and award winners at biomaterials.org.
A Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Adanta recently announced the 2022 Bigs and Littles
of the Year at their annual Big Appreciation Event. Big and Little Sister of the Year Carla
Leary and Little Sister Leah have been matched since December 2014 while Big and Little
Brother of the Year Christian Doetsch and Little Brother Brayan were matched in March
2014. Chosen from over 1,100 matches across 12 metro counties, they are recognized for
their extraordinary commitment to one another and the mission of BBBS. Both pairs have
since been selected as the Georgia Bigs and Littles of the Year and are eligible to be chosen
at the national level as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Big and Little Brother or Big
and Little Sister of the Year. nn
Lack of students to
temporarily shutter
school near Forest Cove
redevelopment
By Collin Kelley
The demolition and redevelopment of the Forest Cove apartment complex in
southeast Atlanta will also force the temporary closure of Thomasville Heights Elementary
School (THES) due to a lack of students.
Atlanta Public Schools and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta (a non-profit school
management organization that partners with APS to operate Carver cluster schools)
announced that the court ruling fast-tracking the relocation of Forest Cove residents will
result in far fewer students projected to be zoned for the school.
All students living in Forest Cove will be able to complete this school year at THES.
Next school year, beginning in the fall of2022, students who currently attend THES but
do not live in Forest Cove will be temporarily rezoned to Slater Elementary School.
“The Forest Cove redevelopment will dramatically improve living conditions for
residents and ultimately result in positive outcomes, and we are sensitive to the sudden
nature of this situation,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring. “Therefore, APS and
Purpose Built Schools Atlanta will continue to partner to help minimize disruption for
families, students, and staff. PBSA is a valued partner. They are doing good work and we
look forward to their return at THES when the Forest Cove redevelopment is complete.”
Last December, the Atlanta Municipal Court condemned the deteriorating apartment
complex and ordered the relocation of all Forest Cove families by March 1 and the
demolition of the property by Sept. 22.
“THES has served this neighborhood since 1971 and is the bedrock of an invaluably
strong school-community connection,” said Greg Giornelli, President of Purpose Built
Schools. “We are confident that the parties to the Forest Cove redevelopment plan will
rebuild the apartments over the next three years, and we expect to re-open THES within
that timeframe.”
The decision to close THES and to rezone students in the Thomasville Heights
neighborhood to Slater Elementary School requires the approval of the Atlanta Board of
Education. The matter will be presented to the Board at its April board meeting, with a
decision expected in May. QD
12 APRIL 2022 | H3
AtlantalntownPaper.com