Sandy Springs Education Force honors volunteers, supporters

Riverwood Vanesa Hernandez left Aiden Hudson of High Point Elementary and Harrison Crawford of North Springs High shared their experiences and successes with Sandy Springs Tuition Force programs Photo by Bob Pepalis Teachers students and school system representatives helped the Sandy Springs Teaching Force SSEF show appreciation Tuesday morning for its supporters and helpers by sharing successes in the programs the nonprofit organization backs At its annual appreciation breakfast at Riverwood International Charter School on April Gonzalo La Cava the chief human materials officer for Fulton County Schools stated SSEF and the Sandy Springs population s action ensures that every aspirant can thrive in school and life Your continued sponsorship is just not appreciated It s creating a lasting measurable change for students our society and our schools La Cava declared SSEF implements free supplemental programs to engage backing and encourage economically disadvantaged constituents school students to excel academically finish high school and then move onto a vocation or college There s no way that we can make the kind of impact that we have without all of you our sponsors our donors our helpers our partners They re so impactful so central to all of us commented Irene Schweiger SSEF executive director Their help is the reason SSEF can impact more than students every year The programs it runs in masses schools in Sandy Springs include after-school programs tutoring STEAM grants and showcase a High Demand Career Fair for both high schools and mentoring at those schools Nicole Hudson a trainer at Spalding Drive Elementary School declared her career and her experience with SSEF began almost years ago at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School Though her time at Spalding Drive Elementary is coming to an end with the closing of the school she plans to continue volunteering for the SSEF STEAM Showcase Aiden Hudson her son reported he joined the STEAM Science Equipment Engineering Arts and Mathematics club to try something new He liked coding to undertaking a robot s movements and enjoyed other science experiments The STEAM Showcase was a highlight and he wants to take part next year For three years Sandy Springs Charter Middle School eighth grader Cameron Taylor has been part of the After-School All Stars activity supported by SSEF All Stars has helped me because it s given me the ability to get help from teachers when I don t understand my work And because of that I ve been able to help other students as well Taylor explained Vanesa Hernandez a junior at Riverwood shared her story of growing up with asthma having to get physiological restoration at a young age When I was barely a kindergartner my mother would take me to my pediatrician I had to translate between her Spanish and myself with English Hernandez mentioned I had to learn healthcare terms and learn to understand beyond my years That fueled her desire to become a pediatrician and open a clinic where children and parents can come into a friendly atmosphere and be supported including translation services SSEF helped introduce her to Love Nursing and Health Training in Sandy Springs Its hybrid healthcare courses enabled her to attend weekend hybrid courses online with skills training on the weekends She passed the state certification test and works as a certified nursing assistant on the weekends as she attends high school during weekdays Harrison Crawford a senior at North Springs High noted the High Demand Career Fairs helped him learn about different jobs and programs within companies Various of them offer apprenticeships which he inferred would be perfect for him Lee Smith left received the Carolyn Axt Volunteer of the Year Award from SSEF Executive Director Irene Schweiger Photo by Bob Pepalis Schweiger handed out awards to supporters and supporters The Sustaining Scholar Award went to the RangeWater Impact Foundation It has been the top sponsor for SSEF s STEAM Showcase for three years Lee Smith was named the Carolyn Axt Volunteer of the Year Her involvement with SSEF began when Schweiger urged her how to set up her Woodland Elementary School Partners in Literacy plan at other schools Sarahi Salazar was named the School Project Champion of the Year for her work coordinating helpers who reach out to help Lake Forest Elementary School students The Nonprofit Partner of the Year award went to the Building Talent Foundation which looks to address labor shortages and skills traits Derrick Henderson the foundation s engagement manager in the Atlanta domain has made presentations and trained students on how to prepare for interviews Kristen Daddow-Rodriguez was named the Dr Ava Wilensky Board Member of the Year for her work as co-chair of the STEAM Showcase and with Riverwood s SAIL activity that helps students who are prepared to graduate but lack solid plans for their future The post Sandy Springs Schooling Force honors helpers supporters appeared first on 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