2013 Student Achievement Month Winners Front row (l-r): Roderick Felton, CIS of Central Georgia; Jamiya Lockett, CIS of Central Georgia, Nerya Rodney, CIS of Troup County. Back row (l-r) Kylan Patterson, CIS of Atlanta; Amanda Horne, CIS of Cochran/Bleckley; Virdaryal Thomas, CIS of Central Georgia; Jessieka Reaves, CIS of Atlanta; Linda Cotton, CIS of Central Georgia; Dante Sullivan, CIS of Troup County; Anqunette Poole, CIS of Central Georgia and Chykymbrion Jackson, CIS of Turner County.
Imagine that you were struggling in school because you were hungry, bullied and couldn’t concentrate, had vision and dental issues you couldn’t afford to fix, and behavioral and attendance problems were setting you back. Would you be able to excel? These are some of the issues that students in Communities In Schools (CIS) face regularly, and yet many excel academically with the help of CIS site coordinators. These coordinators work in partnership with educators and volunteers, and perform countless other tasks, including supporting students as they prepare Student Achievement Month (SAM) entries.
SAM provides an opportunity for CIS students to gain the confidence and hope needed to succeed in school through an environment of competition and cooperation. Students participate at the local, regional and state level in four categories: written expression, public speaking, computer technology and creative expression. SAM entries depict positive stories regarding how students excelled and assumed responsibility for self-improvement and self-discipline through CIS programs. Take second grader Jamiya Lockett for example. Jamiya couldn’t read but very much wanted to because she loved to hear stories that her mom would read to her every night before bed. Jamiya’s CIS site coordinator helped her learn to read through an AlphaSkills reading program called Read with Sarah. In fact, many site coordinators and educators have learned how to teach students to read through the CIS sponsored Read with Sarah training program, which provided strategies and techniques to deliver effective reading practices.
SAM also allows CIS of Georgia the chance to honor statewide winners who worked hard to earn top prizes during a celebratory luncheon. This year, guests heard the public speaking winners (elementary, middle, and high school) deliver their winning speeches, and the president of AT&T Georgia, Beth Shiroishi, delivered encouraging words. “Think hard about the choices you make, learn from each other, and push yourself past what feels comfortable to reach your goals,” Shiroishi emphasized.
During the luncheon Kathleen Richardson received the CIS Site Coordinator award. Kathleen’s elementary students nominated her and said she is a friend, provides encouragement and is also loving, nice and kind.
SAM would not be as successful without our sponsors who help defer luncheon expenses and make it possible for us to provide prizes valued up to $1,000, and scholarships in lieu of prizes for high school seniors who want to attend an accredited college or university. This year’s sponsors include Walmart, Arby’s Foundation, AGL Resources, Georgia Natural Gas and AlphaSkills, and we appreciate all of them. A special recognition also goes to members of AT&T’s young leadership group, oxyGEN Atlanta,who provided in-kind services that brightened the luncheon with floral arrangements.