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Fulton County Schools Reaches Out To Local Realtors
Annual breakfast brings realtors and educators together in South Fulton and Sandy Springs
Fulton County Schools’ (FCS) third annual Realtor Breakfasts were held recently for the South Fulton and Sandy Springs communities at A. Philip Randolph Elementary School and Sandy Springs Charter Middle School. The event brought realtors and educators together to network and hear why it is advantageous to attend Fulton County schools.
Director of Community Relations Samantha Maxey, who coordinated the events, said that one of the benefits of the strategic gatherings is that it affords area realtors an opportunity to learn about the schools so they are informed when selling homes to potential clients.
“Realtors are often the first people homebuyers meet in local communities, and these breakfasts allow FCS leaders to extend a welcoming hand several times throughout the school year to keep the realtor community up-to-date on current information about their schools,” Maxey said.
At each breakfast, Area Superintendents Dr. Gyimah Whitaker of the South Learning Community and Dr. Nathalie Henderson of the Central Learning Community (of which Sandy Springs is a part) led panel discussions that featured various groupings of students, community partners, parents and educators. Following the presentations, the realtors had an opportunity to ask questions and take tours of the schools.
Principals from each area of the district were also on hand to share achievements and information about their schools. In South Fulton, Dr. Jason Stamper, principal of Woodland Middle School, talked about making the school feel safe, like an embassy, for students to excel. Kiana Pinckney, Fulton’s Overall Teacher of the Year and a Palmetto Elementary School teacher, enthusiastically shared that schools want students to believe in themselves, adding that after researching FCS, she knew she wanted to teach at Palmetto Elementary.
Tri-Cities High School’s Magnet Director Dr. Tiffany Mingo said that having a Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) magnet program attracts professional talent like actor and choreographer Debbie Allen, who presents a yearly workshop and is one of the school’s most dedicated volunteers. Adding his experience as a Tri-Cities High School senior, Aaron Guy told realtors, “We have people who come in and show us what it’s like to be in the career we want to be in.”
Likewise, at the Sandy Springs realtor breakfast, principals talked about growing vital, innovative programs such as design thinking, biliteracy, International Baccalaureate, project-based learning and numerous academic and career pathways that students can take.
“We focus on the whole child, not only their academic abilities, but the social and emotional aspects so the child can develop their character holistically,” said Carrie Pitchford, High Point Elementary principal. “We want our students to be problem-solvers, risk-takers, caring, open-minded citizens of the world. They are our future and having a strong character matters.”
North Springs Charter High School Principal Scott Hanson discussed the various offerings as the only Dual Arts and Sciences Magnet school in Georgia. As a participant of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at Sandy Springs Middle, eighth grader and panelist Nyaraje Lindo-Holdipp expressed how AVID has helped him set goals and raise his achievement level.
Dr. Henderson and Dr. Whitaker both feel the breakfasts were a success and have helped bring business leaders closer with the school community.
“Attendees from the Sandy Springs Realtor Breakfast have already contacted me about how great the event was and how much they learned and look forward to engaging our schools in the future,” said Dr. Henderson.
Dr. Whitaker concurred. “We want residents of Fulton County to say our school district is their district of choice.”
A similar breakfast event was held for North Fulton realtors earlier this school year.
Tri-Cities senior Aaron Guy gives testimony of his positive school experience at the South Fulton Realtor Breakfast while Woodland Middle School Principal Jason Stamper, FCS Teacher of the Year Kiana Pinckney, Community Partner Danielle Hunter of Communities in Schools and Tri-Cities VPA Magnet Director Dr. Tiffany Mingo listen. FCS South Learning Community Area Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker moderates at the podium.
FCS Board Members of districts in Central Learning Community (CLC) Gail Dean and Vice President Julia Bernath address the realtors as CLC Area Superintendent Dr. Nathalie Henderson looks on.
Sandy Springs realtors network and enjoy breakfast before the panel discussion.
South Fulton school leaders get ready to share information about their schools at the realtors breakfast.