Schools

Fulton Superintendent Invites Faith Community to Schools

Faith Summit will teach houses of worship how their members can volunteer, tutor, mentor and advocate for public education.

Fulton County School leaders are going to church on Wednesday–or rather, they are inviting the faith community into the school system.

From 10 a.m.-noon, leaders of houses of worship in all of the communites the school system serves will attend a collaborative discussion with Superintendent Robert Avossa, principals and district leaders. It's a Faith Summit, a first for the school system, and another practice Avossa brought with him from his time at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina.

The summit aims to forge partnerships between schools and the faith community. It will provide information and resources that encourage creation of partnerships that improve student achievement and increase community support of schools.

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“Churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship have a tremendous impact on our families’ lives and the success of their community,” said Superintendent Avossa. “The faith community is one of the most valuable resources we have to get people involved, improve education, and help students succeed.”

In addition to starting a critical conversation about how houses of worship can be supporters for community schools, faith leaders will learn how their congregations can volunteer, start tutoring and mentoring programs, and advocate for public education. Breakout sessions also are offered on various curriculum topics, discipline and intervention programs, and support for homeless students and families with special needs.

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“In Charlotte, our faith leaders and houses of worship wanted to help our schools. They wanted to be involved. They were just waiting for someone to open the doors and tell them what they needed,” he said.

“I see this in Fulton as well. Our schools have many needs and there are opportunities to involve our faith community,” Avossa continued. “Faith leaders help shape community conversation, and we want them to help our communities talk about ways to help students and families and be involved in our schools.”

The Faith Summit will be held at the Holiday Inn – Atlanta Capitol Conference Center, located at 450 Capitol Avenue SW in Atlanta. While the event is free, registrants should be prepared to pay $5 for hotel parking fees.


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