MENTORING / TUTORING / ROLE MODELS / SPEAKERS

Junior Achievement at North Springs Charter High School, Riverwood International Charter School, Ridgeview Charter Middle School, Ison Springs Elementary School, & Lake Forest Elementary School

Sandy Springs Education Force is partnering with the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce to deliver the Junior Achievement programs to Sandy Springs students. There is a demonstrated need to educate our students in the basics of financial literacy, success skills and general business management. Recognizing the need for these skills, SSEF helps Junior Achievement offer their programs at varied intervals throughout the year. Courses offered include the JA Financial Literacy program, Success Skills program and the Be Entrepreneurial program.

Utilizing the volunteers from the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, with hands-on business experience, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students by bridging the business and education communities. Junior Achievement provides the volunteers with turnkey materials necessary to teach the class including a comprehensive lesson plan guide, engaging activity materials and posters. The program introduces students to the importance of making wise financial decisions including the importance of planning, goal setting, and thoughtful decision making.

  volunteer to teach financial literacy with SSEF and JA

Lunch with a Leader at Ridgeview Charter Middle School and Riverwood International Charter High School

SSEF works with Hispanic organizations throughout Atlanta to identify volunteers who can serve as role models for Latino students at Ridgeview Charter Middle School and Riverwood International Charter High School. The program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the world from members of the community. Mentors are asked to share their stories and help relate the importance of getting an education to these middle school students who might not otherwise hear this message.

The program is an informal, discussion type event during the students’ lunch periods which takes place on a monthly basis.   For each lunch period, the graduation coach at the school identifies about 10 to 15 students who would most benefit from this experience. Topics for discussion would include the importance of post-secondary education, setting goals to impact future success, choosing a career and other thought provoking topics

Programa “Lunch with a Leader”
watch this video at Univision Atlanta
(in Spanish)

Lunch and Learn at Riverwood International Charter High School

Senior Push at North Springs Charter High School

SAIL at Riverwood International Charter School

SSEF sponsors the Senior Push and SAIL programs to assist seniors in creating post-high school plans. A number of seniors each year, for various reasons, have not created post-high school plans and it is our goal to ensure every student has a plan upon graduation. These seniors are identified and invited to participate in this program. Participating students are walked through the college application process with trained parent volunteers. As a result, most students who participate attend a two-year or four-year school the following Fall. SSEF picks up the cost of application fees and mailing, and Board members volunteer with the program. Not only does this program significantly increase NSCHS and RICS college enrollment rates, the parent volunteers who guide these students through the process make an indelible difference in their lives and futures.

  see our 2011 results report

Business Bridge Program at Riverwood International Charter High School

SSEF partners with the Sandy Springs-Perimeter Chamber of Commerce and Riverwood International Charter High School to support Business Bridge, a program designed to provide business students with an opportunity to meet and learn about the world of business outside of their classroom. Local businesses within the community share examples of a real-life challenges their business faces. Students then consult as five-ten member teams and apply the business theories and analytical tools being learned in the classroom. Students are given three weeks to create a plan of action and a proposal for the local business. Local businesses are then invited to hear the recommendations made by the participating business students.

Life Toolbox

Life Toolbox initiatives allow students to learn, be inspired and be motivated to pursue their career dreams through real-life examples and hands-on experiences. This program provides leaders from all walks of life - professional, arts and sciences, business, and technical - to present our students with work -life information and career options. Community members are also invited into our schools to talk with our students about work force readiness skills (such as interviewing and resume writing), and the educational requirements for particular fields. In addition, Life Toolbox initiatives assist our schools with career and college fairs, career workshops, and internship opportunities.