Press release [Sept. 26, 2014]

Superintendent Barge Announces 2014-2015 Parent Advisory Council
MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 6517358, mcardoza@gadoe.org;
Interested Parents: Michelle Sandrock, Parent Engagement Program Manager, (404) 232-1148, msandrock@doe.k12.ga.us
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September 26, 2014 -- State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge today named 36 parents from all over Georgia to serve on his 2014-15 Parent Advisory Council (PAC).
As members of the council, these parents will meet three times this year with the Superintendent to discuss education issues in Georgia. Their primary focus will be increasing parent and family engagement to ensure student success, particularly in Georgia's Title I schools.
"I am looking forward to getting to know these parent advisors and discussing how our policies affect their children on a daily basis," Superintendent Barge said. "Increasing parent engagement is critical to ensuring student success, and hearing directly from parents is the best way to ensure their children get what they need to be successful after high school."

The meetings will allow parents to provide feedback and input on new policies, projects, and materials that influence students and their families. The Superintendent's PAC will share the information they learn with community members, other families and schools. They will also serve as advisors and ambassadors in their respective communities.

Parents are nominated to serve on the PAC by their local school districts at the beginning of each school year. Members are chosen by a committee of Georgia Department of Education representatives based on the applicant's response to questions. Each member serves a two-year term on the council.

Six members of the council are winners of Georgia Parent Leadership Awards, and all winners of that award are honorary members of the Parent Advisory Council. The council also includes six members from educational organizations in the state, including Georgia PTA, Communities in Schools of Georgia, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Parent to Parent of Georgia, United Way of Greater Atlanta and Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
The first meeting, on October 20th, will have the PAC members joining the State School Superintendent, First Lady Sandra Deal and other state organizational leaders for a Parent Engagement Month Kick-Off Celebration at the State Capitol.

2015 Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council Members

Title First Name Ms. Loli Ms. Terrilyn Ms. Amy Ms. Patricia Ms. Shikera

Last Name Anderson Ball Barrington Bryant Chisholm Cook

School District Burke County Schools Valdosta City Schools Crisp County Schools Savannah-Chatham County Schools Marietta City Schools

Ms. LaTonja Ms. Allyson

Dotson Dozier

Terrell County Schools Fulton County Schools

Ms. Amber

Gibson

Stewart County Schools

Ms. Kelly

Golden

Tift County Schools

Ms. Cassandra Leah

Hazlewood

Cherokee County Schools

Mr. Joseph

Hennesy, III

Coffee County Schools

Ms. Theresa

Holzknecht

Miller County Schools

Ms. Susie

Howard

Randolph County Schools

Mr. Rafael

Huerta

Dalton City Schools

Ms. Muna

Jama

DeKalb County Schools

Ms. Ann Ms. Katie Ms. Kathy

Malkoc Olson Peaden

Gwinnett County Schools Bulloch County Schools Griffin-Spaulding County Schools

Ms. Jenny

Poitevint

Pelham City Schools

Ms. Janet Ms. Deborah Ms. Tynesha Ms. Leah

Porter Rogers Rowland Smith

Atlanta Area School for the Deaf Coweta County Schools Greene County Schools Thomas County Schools

Mr. B. J.

Starling

Floyd County Schools

Ms. Kelly

Strickland Raney Butts County Schools

Ms. Sheila R.

Thomas

Dougherty County Schools

Ms. Jeneverlyn

Tookes

Macon County Schools

Ms. Wendy

Underwood

Liberty County Schools

Ms. Brigitte Y.

Willis

Columbia County Schools

Ms. Nancy

Zetmeir

Charlton County Schools

Georgia Parent Leadership Award Winners

Ms. Gail Ms. Kimberly

Bouie Fisher

Decatur County Schools Cherokee County Schools

Ms. Mariana

Hernandez -Goodwin Gwinnett County Schools

Ms. Karen

Preble

Camden County Schools

Mr. Edward

Richardson

Cobb County Schools

Ms. Laura

Shyman

Cobb County Schools

State Organizational Members

Ms. Michelle

Gearhart

Parent to Parent of Georgia

Ms. Carol

Lewis

Communities in Schools of Georgia

Ms. Angel

Little

Georgia PTA

Ms. Laura Ms. Rachael

Miller Oliver

United Way of Greater Atlanta Georgia Family Connection Partnership

Ms. Stacey

Schaff

-------------------------------------------Matt Cardoza Director of Communications Georgia Department of Education 2062 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 651-7358 mcardoza@doe.k12.ga.us http://www.gadoe.org

Bright From the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning