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April News
- CIS Marketing
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
April Showers Bring May Graduates!
Early Admissions
We want to take this time to congratulate some seniors from Decatur High School on their college admissions. We know that as they graduate that their hard work they have done, we know that our Decatur High School Site Coordinator Valia Spencer-Phillips has played an integral part in helping Marquavious and Ramah to get on the right path to achieve greatness!
Marquavious, a senior at Decatur High School, was accepted into North Carolina A&T State University, Fort Valley State University, Albany State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Western Kentucky University, Wofford College, and Jacksonville State University. Marquavious has chosen to attend Jacksonville State this fall to study exercise science. For him, having this opportunity to go to college will be life changing. He knows that this opportunity will not only let him make his own dreams come true but change the lives of his family.
Ramah another senior at Decatur High School was accepted into Clark Atlanta University, Bethune Cookman University, Georgia State University, Culver-Stockton College, Alabama A&M University, and Sonoma State University.
Ramah has decided to attend Culver-Stockton College and will play on the school’s football team and will study sports management. For Ramah, not only will attending Culver-Stockton College this fall give him to opportunity to continue playing the sport that he loves, but he also knows that getting an education will put himself in a better position to support both himself and his family.
We are so proud of these students and their tremendous accomplishments! With CIS of Atlanta Alumni program, we will be able to follow Marquavious and Ramah, ensuring that they still get the assistance they need to get their college diplomas.
Choose Success 2025- "Being Present Matters"
We held our annual Choose Success Awards Dinner and Celebration this March, and it was a great success! Each year, we rely on our supporters to ensure that our students have the opportunities they deserve to succeed in school and life. This year, we raised over $370,000 at the Choose Success Awards & Celebration Dinner. These funds provide critical support for our mission: to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Congratulations to our award winners:
Kyaire, from Stone Mountain Elementary School
Jayden, from Forest Park Middle School
A’monii, from Fredrick Douglass STEM Academy
MAAC: Gerkari, from Clarkston High School
Hispanic Student Success Initiative: Alicia, from Cross Keys High School
J’Mia Byrd, Site Coordinator at Clarkston High School
Principal Tonetta Green, Principal at Herman J. Russell West End Academy
Jessica Martinez, Alumna
We would also like to recognize one of our honorees, Georgia-Pacific, for their tremendous impact on the lives of our students. They exemplify the concept of "being present" by going beyond financial support. Not only did they award Communities In Schools of Atlanta a generous financial sponsorship, but they also gifted one of our 2025 Choose Success winners, Gerkari Stegal, with a basketball signed by the Atlanta Hawks!
CIS of Atlanta is proud to have partnered with Georgia-Pacific for several years, and their generous support helps us fulfill our mission at Booker T. Washington High School, Michael Hollis Innovation Academy, and Herman J. Russell West End Academy.
Gerkari is a 10th grader at Clarkston High School who has faced significant challenges, including time in the foster care system and experiencing homelessness. As a result, Gerkari missed two years of school. Despite these obstacles, he is a passionate basketball player who dreams of joining his school’s basketball team. However, due to missing so much school, he lacked enough credits to be eligible to play. Nevertheless, he continues to practice with the team weekly. Gerkari also plays basketball with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and is working hard to earn the credits needed to play for his high school team with the help of his CIS of Atlanta Site Coordinator Mr. Atilius Green.
Thanks to generous donors like Georgia-Pacific, who go beyond financial contributions to offer personalized gifts, making our students feel seen and valued. These thoughtful gestures make a world of difference. We are proud to be in community with Georgia-Pacific and grateful for their ongoing support, which enables us to make a lasting impact.
Staff Highlight- J'Mia Byrd
The epitome of a team leader, Ms. J’Mia Byrd has worked for Communities In Schools of Atlanta as a Site Coordinator since 2021. With a background in sports management and higher education leadership, she has always been driven by a desire to support and uplift others. Her previous roles, including working with the Atlanta Falcons, Morehouse College’s Federal Trio Program, and as a special education paraeducator, have shaped her passion for working in education and serving the community.
In October of 2021, her return to Clarkston High School as a CIS of Atlanta Site Coordinator held a special significance for her. As an alumna of the school, Ms. Byrd brings professional expertise and a deep personal connection to the community she serves. Her intimate knowledge of Clarkston and its diverse student body allows her to offer students an authentic and empathetic presence, which she believes is vital to making a lasting impact.
Ms. Byrd reflects that being a site coordinator is a “personal pleasure and a professional privilege because of the exposure it offers students and to be a part of their journey.” Ms. Byrd was recently promoted as the College and Career Readiness Coordinator working with Junior and Senior students across the organization.
In her new role as College and Career Readiness Coordinator, Ms. Byrd works closely with our Alumni Program to develop workshop curriculum, events, and opportunities that help our students who are in their junior and senior years of high school develop the necessary life and academic skills they need to thrive post-graduation. Whether these students decide to attend post-secondary education, want to start their own businesses, enter the workforce, or plan to enlist in the military, Ms. Byrd is there to help them effectively plan for these next steps, guiding them through this large transition.
Annual Giving Societies
At Communities In Schools of Atlanta, we believe in the power of community to help students succeed. Our Communities In Schools of Atlanta Annual Giving Societies are designed to recognize and celebrate our most loyal donors, who play an essential role in driving our mission forward. This year, we’re excited to introduce multiple levels of giving, offering you exclusive opportunities to engage more closely with our work, our leadership, and the community we serve.
By becoming an inaugural member of our Annual Giving Societies, you become a vital part of our effort to surround students with a community of support helping them with their academic success. All contributions, whether through annual donations, gifts of stock or a bequest in your will directly impact students' futures.
Together, we can make a difference. Join us in our mission to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life!
Exclusive Donor Opportunities with CIS of Atlanta:
We are thrilled to offer our donors select opportunities to connect with our mission and be recognized for their generous support.
Donor Welcome Gift All donors at every level will receive a CIS of Atlanta welcome gift to thank them for their partnership and identify them as a member of the CIS of Atlanta family.
Notoriety As a valued donor, you will receive recognition on our website and be listed in our annual report, showcasing your commitment to the success of our students and community.
CIS of Atlanta Events By joining our Communities In Schools of Atlanta Annual Giving Society, you will enjoy personalized invitations to our special events, including An Afternoon of Thanks, our annual donor appreciation event, and Choose Success, our annual fundraising gala.
Involvement Your gift provides opportunities for deeper engagement with our organization, including exclusive volunteer opportunities, copies of our annual report and our Student Success Journal, which highlights the impact of your support.
Leadership Engagement We greatly value your investment in our work and offer leadership engagement opportunities in the form of quarterly updates, an annual leadership call, and a customized program engagement plan to help you stay connected with the progress of our mission.
Together, we can continue to uplift and empower the next generation. Thank you for your unwavering support of CIS of Atlanta!
Giving Levels
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