Rona Falls
Gainesville City Schools
Rona
Falls has been an active parent volunteer at Mundy Mill Academy since the
school opened in 2017. She serves on the PTA, the School Governance Council,
the district’s Technology Committee, and is a regular volunteer within the
school.
“Mrs.
Falls is the first person that comes to my mind when we need a volunteer to
help with school functions,” Dr. Brown wrote. “She has worked in the school’s
Holiday Store, helps with Picture Day, hangs student artwork in our display
cases, chaperones field trips, and attends school events. She is a tremendous
asset to Mundy Mill Learning Academy.”
Amanda
Studer, a third-grade teacher at Mundy Mill Learning Academy and the 2019
Gainesville City Schools Teacher of the Year, wrote: “Mrs.
Falls has a positive attitude and is willing to help in any way. She welcomes
all families into the school and empowers others to be advocates for their
child’s learning. She is truly deserving of this honor for all the hard work
she does and the direct impact she has on Mundy Mill.”
Paul Goolsby
Douglas County Schools
Paul
Goolsby is a grandparent volunteer at R.S. Alexander High School. At least four
days per week, he can be found on campus helping by picking up trash in the
parking lots and grassy areas. He is active in school and community events and
regularly interacts with and encourages students.
His
nomination reads: “Many of our students might not hear an encouraging word from
an adult outside of our building without the words of Paul. Many of our
community members would not be aware of the achievements of Alexander without
the ambassadorship of Mr. Goolsby. Our school is truly blessed to have a
grandfather for all of our students.”
Matthew
Combs, head football coach and math teacher at R.S. Alexander, wrote:
“The greatest leaders are servant leaders. Mr. Paul leads by example daily. His
willingness to do what others won’t and his desire to support all is what makes
him a great man; an example we should all strive to be. Mr. Paul is a pillar of
the Alexander community. He is a stakeholder that every school dreams to have.”
Nathan
Hand, principal at R.S. Alexander, wrote: “Paul
is the true example of a servant leader. He is not too proud to complete a
humble task. He is quick to clean up the student area after a sporting event or
the auditorium after a ceremony. … Any time Paul has a suggestion, I listen. I
know it will be an idea that makes a positive impact on our community.”
Da'Jon Jackson
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Clayton County Schools
Da’Jon
Jackson is a dedicated volunteer at G.W. Northcutt Elementary and works
countless hours after school to assist staff members. He was instrumental in
planning a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) pep rally for
students, has worked with small groups of students to teach them their roles
for the school’s Black History program, and is described as a model parent and
support system who has helped the school grow academically and socially.
“Both
students and staff welcome and appreciate Da’Jon’s positive and personal
approach that instantly makes an indelible mark on everything that he is
involved in,” Vonnetta Wedderburn, an art teacher at G.W. Northcutt, wrote.
“Having him volunteer truly makes a difference in the culture of our school.”
Darren Scheyer
Columbia County Schools
As
PTO president at Riverside Elementary, Darren Scheyer has leveraged his strong
connections within the community to revitalize the PTO’s mission and vision.
Scheyer
has spent countless hours on campus in an effort to be visible for parents in
the community, used social media to effectively communicate with parents about
the PTO, and fully supported the school’s efforts to inform parents about
instructional issues and celebrate students’ successes. He brings knowledge and
expertise that benefit parents and teachers alike.
“Simply
stated, Mr. Scheyer is every principal’s dream parent,” Wright wrote. “He
approaches his duties on our PTO with a spirit of servant leadership and a
steadfast belief that parent-teacher organizations exist for the purpose of
supporting teaching and learning.”
Meshana Spivey
Gwinnett County Schools
Meshana
Spivey has been an active participant and volunteer at J.C. Magill Elementary
School for several years. As the school’s PTA president, she established a strong
and cohesive PTA board and has sponsored events to promote literacy. Spivey
regularly volunteers in classrooms and is an advocate for students with special
needs.
Dr.
Tonya Burnley, principal at J.C. Magill, wrote: “Mrs.
Spivey’s unique talents to build positivity in our building [are] contagious
across our community. I have seen, under her leadership, an increase in
parental involvement and an increase in parent satisfaction. This positive
climate has a direct impact on the success of our students.” Aerrin
James, a fifth-grade teacher at J.C. Magill, wrote: “Mrs.
Spivey is everything you look for in a leader. Her knowledge in organizing
parents for a specific task or purpose is absolutely amazing. She cares deeply
for the Magill community and that shines through in everything she does.”
Jessica Williams
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Georgia Connections Academy
Jessica
Williams has served as a member of the counseling advisory board at Georgia
Connections Academy for three years. In that capacity, she helped the school
create, and was directly involved in implementing, a new program to help
families transition from traditional brick-and-mortar schools to the virtual
school environment. Data on this program shows strong success, and parent
feedback is positive.
“When
I reflect over the transformation our message to parents is undertaking and the
program we have implemented thanks to this one parent, I am so impressed that
one woman is impacting our school in such a major way,” the school’s nomination
reads. “She sets the bar for parent involvement.”
