How CIS changed the picture of education in 2014

This is the time of year when many organizations take a look back at their performance over the previous 12 months. According to the national CIS blog, pictured above, CIS accomplishments this year included "a new branding campaign that featured the stories of our students who, with our help, overcame significant obstacles to stay in school and succeed in life." Some students simply needed a caring adult in their life, while for others it was a practical need such as a trip to the eye doctor or dentist.

Even the White House took note of CIS efforts, not once but twice. CIS students joined President Obama to launch the My Brother's Keeper Initiative, and later in the year other CIS students were invited to an event with Vice President Biden.

"Beyond the individual success stories from CIS students and site coordinators, the media also gave increased attention to our broader policy message this year," according to the national CIS blog. "The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, MSNBC, National Journal and NBC News all ran stories making the point that when you surround children with a community of support you can get kids to class, give them the tools they need, help them achieve, protect them from harsh discipline policies, help them after school, ensure they have a safe place to stay and improve their communities." To learn more about the 2014 results CIS experienced all across the country, click here.

Electronic games, apps can help kids learn

You know all those computers, tablets and electronic games the kids got for Christmas? According to CIS of Georgia, game-based learning is a growing trend in education circles, and a number of free online games are available which will allow students to have fun while also increasing their technology skills. 

Companies such as GameDesk provide free educational games for students, games that let them apply concepts learned in the classroom and further develop their understanding of a subject.

There are also many mobile applications (or apps) that can help students, parents and educators stay organized, informed and on-task. Some of these free apps include Remind, which allows teachers, students and parents to safely text one another with homework and test reminders; Evernote, a note-taking app which is perfect for research projects; and StudyBlue, an app which lets students create flashcards to help them study. To learn more about the computer games and apps that can help students succeed, visit CIS of Georgia's Parent Resource Center by clicking here.

CIS Board Chairman Elaine Wynn featured in Forbes

Forbes magazine has released its third annual Forbes Philanthropy issue, and among the philanthropists recognized is national CIS Board Chair Elaine Wynn, director of Wynn Resorts, pictured above fourth from right.

Wynn, one of America’s six top education philanthropists featured in the issue, was asked to share her thoughts on education success. Wynn writes, “Unfortunately we have an education system that sustains poverty. Children who come from well-to-do families have many more advantages when it comes to education. They can opt out to go to private schools, or if they’re in public schools, they’re in neighborhoods where parents demand better-quality facilities and better teachers. There’s a huge discrepancy between haves and have-nots and the correct distribution of resources. We tend to perpetuate poverty because we can’t seem to have an impact on changing that distribution.”

To read more about the special Philanthropy issue of Forbes and what these leaders have to say about education, click here.

CIS receives Christmas donation from Keller Williams

This Christmas will be much brighter for the families of four CIS of Coweta County students thanks to a generous gift from Keller Williams Realty. The four students were selected to receive $75 gift cards as part of The Keller Williams Kares 4 Kids program, which since 2005 has donated over $525,000 directly to children in need and to children’s charity organizations, social services organizations and health care facilities in communities served by Keller Williams.

Mary Ann Dossett Shelton, Team Leader of Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners Newnan, said, “This is our last program of the year and we thought it would be a great idea to help some of our deserving children have a Merry Christmas.”

As part of its local Christmas effort, Keller Williams donated 40 gift cards in the amount of $75 to be given to students selected by Coweta County Schools officials.

Communities In Schools of Coweta County was one of the organizations selected. Denise Buchanan, the CIS Site Coordinator at East Coweta High School, has already identified four students to receive the gift cards. Above, Denise, third from right, accepts the donation from Keller Williams at their Newnan Crossing Bypass office.

“This will really make a big difference to these students and their families,” Buchanan said. “We are grateful to Keller Williams for their support."

“We are glad we could help,” Mary Ann Shelton said. “This is our community and these are our students and we hope we have done a small part to make their Christmas a little better.”

What is "The CIS Model"?

Anyone who decides to get involved with CIS will soon come across the term "The CIS Model." So just what is the CIS Model? According to the national CIS organization, our unique model is an evidence-based approach, adapted to meet each community's unique needs, and it's the basis for the success of CIS.

Important features of our model include:

• The site coordinator, who fills a pivotal role as the point of contact inside the school. The site coordinator connects students and families with community partners and resources. Both academic and nonacademic needs may be addressed.

• A collaborative effort, which involves relationships with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers and volunteers.

• Integrated services, which means the site coordinator works with volunteers, partners and the community to provide students with the tools they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

• Proven success is also important to the CIS model. Each year, CIS affiliates report outcomes so they can monitor and adjust services to effectively deliver the human, financial and community resources to help children succeed.

To learn more about the CIS model, click here for a tour.

Five-year study shows positive results for CIS schools

Communities In Schools takes pride in achieving results with its efforts to lower the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate. A five-year national evaluation of CIS was conducted to determine whether CIS actually has an impact on student-level and school-level outcomes. Among the findings:

• CIS schools demonstrated positive effects on both dropout and graduation relative to their non-CIS comparison schools.

• CIS schools experienced small but consistent improvements in performance on state-mandated assessments for math compared to non-CIS schools. Schools that fully implemented the CIS model experienced greater improvements in both math and reading.

• CIS schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels consistently reported positive improvements in attendance.

The study also found that "Communities In Schools is unique in its ability to lower dropout rates and increase on-time graduation compared to other dropout prevention programs." If you'd like to download a PDF copy of the full report and learn more about how CIS is making a difference, click here.

CIS leadership giving back to community

You may be aware that our CIS leadership does a great job of partnering with the community to help students succeed in school. What you may not be aware of is that they are also great at giving back to the community! Last week, East Coweta High School Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan and CIS of Coweta County Executive Director Gina Weathersby volunteered to sing Christmas carols at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber's Winter Wonderland Big Expo, a business exposition, at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. From left are Denise, Monica Millians of The Southern Credit Union, Gina, and Joy Barnes of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

Also, on Wednesday, Gina was called upon to introduce speaker Anne Meisner, president and CEO of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (Southeastern) in Newnan, at the Chamber's Women of Prosperity Luncheon.

We're so pleased Gina and Denise know the value of giving back to the community that gives so much to CIS!

ECHS site coordinator attends training in Washington, D.C.

CIS of Coweta County’s East Coweta High School Site Coordinator, Denise Buchanan, recently attended CIS site coordinator training in Washington, D.C. Here Denise, at right, visits with CIS of Coweta County Executive Director Gina Weathersby during a recent meeting at ECHS.

According to CIS, "A site coordinator is a paid staff member positioned inside a Communities In Schools partner school. He or she fills a pivotal role as the single point of contact working within a school to provide integrated student supports. Site coordinators connect students and families with community resources that address both academic and nonacademic needs. They act as positive role models, mentors and friends to students supported by Communities In Schools and do everything within their power to help students succeed."

Denise is working toward her site coordinator certification, and the training program covers such topics as building community partnerships, assessing needs of students and families, and data collection and reporting. We congratulate Denise on expanding her skills as a CIS site coordinator!

CIS of Georgia Fall Report now available online

Communities In Schools of Georgia now has its Fall 2014 Impact Report available online. Carol Lewis, president and CEO of CIS of Georgia, says, "Communities In Schools Site Coordinators go above and beyond and will do whatever it takes with a child to make sure that they're safe and able to concentrate in school. We go to great lengths because if you can save the children, you can make a difference in the economics and quality of life in your community."

Among the achievements in growth, the report notes this: "In the last 3 years, we have increased the number of districts served in the Metro Atlanta region from 8 to 13, adding Fulton County Schools (CIS of Atlanta), Carrollton City Schools and Carroll County Schools (CIS of Carrollton/Carroll County), Henry County Schools, and Coweta County (CIS of Coweta County).

We are pleased our program at East Coweta High School has added to the growth experienced by CIS of Georgia this year. If you'd like to read the full report yourself, click here.

LensCrafters becomes new partner of CIS of Coweta County

We are grateful to LensCrafters in Peachtree City for becoming a new partner with us and for supplying an eye examination and free eyeglasses to one of our CIS students, India Anderson, shown here with Site Director Denise Buchanan at East Coweta High School.

The LensCrafters contribution is already resulting in improved school performance for our CIS student, and this is just the sort of community partnership CIS is designed to foster.

For more than 30 years, Communities In Schools has been helping students achieve in school, graduate and go on to bright futures. Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

CoBank, Coweta-Fayette EMC make donations to CIS of Coweta County

Kurt Morris of CoBank, at left, presents a check to ECHS Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan, and Chris Stephens of Coweta-Fayette EMC, at right, presents a check to CIS of Coweta County Executive Director Gina Weathersby during a recent visit to East Coweta High School.

Both made generous donations to CIS of Coweta County. We are so grateful for our new supporter, CoBank, and we appreciate the continuing support of longtime community supporter Coweta-Fayette EMC.

Georgia Power Foundation makes donation to CIS of Coweta County

With CIS of Coweta County Executive Director Gina Weathersby, at left, and East Coweta High School Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan, center, is Tony Ferguson of Georgia Power, who recently made a contribution to CIS of Coweta County from the Georgia Power Foundation.

Ferguson talked about Georgia Power’s commitment to the communities it serves and also mentioned that Georgia Power President and CEO Paul Bowers is “dedicated to education" and committed to continuing Georgia Power’s partnerships with local school systems and educational support organizations like CIS.

Crain Oil Co. supports CIS of Coweta County

Crain Oil Company in Newnan has long been known as a great community partner here in Coweta County. What you may not know is that Crain Oil is also a partner of CIS of Coweta County, even going so far as to generously provide our office space on First Avenue in Newnan. Here, Executive Director Gina Weathersby enjoys a visit with Joe Crain Jr., at left, and Joe Crain Sr.

Crain Oil Company, Inc. is a full service petroleum marketer located in Newnan since 1954. This family owned and operated business takes pride in offering a full range of products and services related to the petroleum business. We are so thankful to have Crain Oil as one of the partners of CIS of Coweta County. To learn more about our community sponsors, visit the “Our Partners” link on our website by clicking here.

It's Parent Engagement Month at CIS

It's Parent Engagement Month, and Communities In Schools has lots of free resources available in our Parent Resource Center. The tip sheet shown here offers Test Day Tips that parents can use to help prepare students to succeed on tests.

The Parent Resource Center also includes tips for how to transition your child in and throughout school and stay connected with your child and their education, as well as learning activities, games, bullying prevention tips, testing information and more.

Click here to visit the resource center and learn how you can help your child succeed and achieve even more.

CIS named to NonProfit Times Top 100 Charities

For the first time, Communities In Schools has been named to the NonProfit Times Top 100, an annual survey of the country’s largest nonprofits by The NonProfit Times, the leading business publication for nonprofit management.

According to the CIS national office, the annual study is “a snapshot of organizations based primarily on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 filings for the Fiscal Year Ending 2013. It is widely seen as a barometer for the financial health of the nation’s nonprofits.”

Communities In Schools is #93 on the list, and CIS reported total revenue of $204,096,527 for 2013. To see all 100 non-profits on the list, click here.

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland learns about CIS of Coweta County

On Wednesday, October 29, 2014, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland visited East Coweta High School and learned about the difference CIS is making at ECHS. Those on hand for the visit included, from left, Dr. Steve Barker, superintendent of the Coweta County School System; Donna Brooks, community volunteer and incoming board chair of CIS of Coweta County; Congressman Westmoreland; CIS Board Member Gerald Kemp of Fidelity Bank; ECHS Principal Evan Horton; CIS of Coweta County Board Chair Dennis McEntire of Newnan Utilities; CIS Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan; Rich Johnson of AT&T, a Sustaining Partner of CIS; Dean Jackson, public information officer for the Coweta County School System; and Executive Director of CIS of Coweta County Gina Weathersby.

Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan talks with the congressman and ECHS Principal Evan Horton.

Congressman Westmoreland took time to meet with CIS staff, board members, and Coweta County School System officials. Also on hand was Mark Whitlock, CEO of Central Educational Center in Newnan, at right.

Enjoying a tour of ECHS are, from left, CIS Board Member Gerald Kemp of Fidelity Bank, Congressman Westmoreland and Dr. Steve Barker of the Coweta County School System.

CIS is growing all over the country!

Communities In Schools has just released this Fall 2014 infographic showing some of the growth in CIS across the country. The projected network growth includes 80,700 students, 28 communities, 31 school districts and 137 schools, including our new program at East Coweta High School.

According to the national CIS office, "The expansion comes as school districts across the country are seeking out community partners to help provide critical services to meet the needs of kids most at risk of dropping out."

CIS is the nation’s largest and most effective organization dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed in life by partnering with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers and volunteers. Whether it’s food, school supplies, health care, counseling, academic assistance or a positive role model, Communities In Schools is there to help.

CIS represented at Nonprofit Board Training

Executive Director Gina Weathersby of CIS of Coweta County was among those attending yesterday's Nonprofit Board Training at the Newnan Centre. The event was hosted by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, the Coweta Community Foundation and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Here, Gina visits with a friend and fellow attendee, Linda Kirkpatrick of Family Patterns Matter. Leading the Nonprofit Board Training was Robert Harris, a nationally recognized speaker and an expert on boards of directors and association management. Harris talked about the importance of serving on a board as well as the duties and leadership roles of board members.

All across the country, CIS is changing lives

CIS programs around the country regularly report their success stories on the national CIS website, and we enjoy learning about these accomplishments while we continue to grow our own program here in Coweta. This week, a Kansas student named Tres’Rionna Whitlock shared her story.

When she was 14, Tres’Rionna was diagnosed with a genetic eye disease that progressed to the point where she was considered legally blind by age 16.

"It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I met Mrs. Ahmad, a site coordinator from Communities In Schools of Wichita,” Tres’Rionna told CIS. "Mrs. Ahmad, along with my school nurse, administrators, social worker, counselor and my mom set up a plan for my teachers so that they could accommodate me. My teachers were to print out my notes, assignments, and tests in large font, give me extra time to complete homework and tests, limited computer work, assistance while doing computer work, and shorten my math assignments.”

Mrs. Ahmad also helped Tres’Rionna and her mother get health insurance, and this past summer Tres'Rionna was able to get a corneal transplant that has made her vision much better. Now her grades have improved and she’s on the path to graduation in 2015. If you’d like to read more about this terrific young lady and how she was helped by CIS, go here.

CIS on National Bullying Prevention Month

Communities In Schools' national president, Dan Cardinali, recently interviewed Julie Hertzog, founder of National Bullying Prevention Month. Here are some things we learned from that interview:

• National Bullying Prevention Month is held in October because organizers wanted it to occur early in the school year but after things settled down from the beginning of the new school year.

• From its beginnings in 2006, National Bullying Prevention Month has had national partners including the National PTA and the National Education Association.

• The number one question the group gets is “How can I help?” Hertzog said volunteers can do anything from signing a digital petition to joining one of the bullying prevention events around the country. To read the entire interview with Hertzog, click here.

Our Executive Director featured at Chamber event!

You may be aware that CIS of Coweta County's Executive Director, Gina Weathersby, is a great leader, but did you know she sings as well? On Thursday, October 16, 2014, Gina sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and led the crowd in singing "America" at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber's Political HobNob.

The 2014 Political HobNob, held at the Newnan Centre, was an opportunity for businesses, citizens, and the candidates to mix and mingle and discuss the issues prior to the November 4 election.

Introducing Gina, and pictured at left above, was Dennis McEntire, General Manager of Newnan Utilities and CIS of Coweta County Board Chairman.

How to tell if your child is being bullied

CIS of Georgia has published a new fact sheet listing the signs that a child is being bullied. Some of these signs include:

• Unexplained injuries
• Changes in eating habits, such as suddenly skipping meals or binge eating
• Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
• Declining grades
• Loss of friends

To learn more about the signs of bullying, including signs that a child is bullying others, click here.

How to stop cyberbullying

You’ve probably heard of cyberbullying by now. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using technology such as cellphones, computers and tablets, often over social media sites, text messages, chat sites and websites.

According to stopbullying.gov, a resource recommended by Communities In Schools, kids who are victims of cyberbullying are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, skip school, experience in-person bullying, be unwilling to attend school, receive poor grades, have low self-esteem and have more health problems.

How can parents and kids prevent cyberbullying? Here are some tips:

• Know the sites your kids visit and what they are doing online. 

• Tell your kids that you may review their online activities if you have a reason for concern.

• Learn about the sites they visit and the devices they are using.

For more information on cyberbullying, including what it is, how to prevent it, and how to report it, visit stopbullying.gov.

Hispanic and black dropout rates at record lows

Have you heard the good news? According to the Pew Research Center, more of our high school students here in the U.S. are staying in school! New information from the Census Bureau shows that in 2013, just 7 percent of those 18-24 had dropped out of high school, compared to 2000 when 12 percent of this group were dropouts.

According to Pew, "The decline in the national dropout rate has been driven, in part, by substantially fewer Hispanic and black youth dropping out of school (the non-Hispanic white dropout rate has not fallen as sharply)."

Pew reported the dropout rate for Hispanics was a record low of 14 percent in 2013, and the dropout rate for black youth was at a record low of 8 percent. The dropout rate for non-Hispanic whites was 5 percent, and for Asian youth it was 4 percent.

To read more of the Pew Research Center's findings, click here.

The Impact of Absenteeism

CIS National President Dan Cardinali recently sat down with Hedy Chang of Attendance Works, a national and state initiative that promotes better policy and practice regarding school attendance. 

When Cardinali asked Chang what message she would convey to CIS' 2,000-plus Site Coordinators, she said, "When I reflect upon everything I know about reducing chronic absence, I think the two most essential ingredients for improving attendance are data and caring relationships. This understanding, drawn from what we see working across the country, is reflected in our newest toolkit, The Power of Positive Connections. It shares how schools and community partners can use absenteeism records from past years and from the first month of school to connect the most at-risk students to personal relationships and positive supports that motivate them to show up to class every day. It is a step-by-step guide to what we know works—reducing chronic absence through PEOPLE (Priority Early Outreach through Positive Linkages and Engagement). I hope all site coordinators will leverage this resource. I am thrilled by the growing partnership with Communities In Schools and the potential it offers for us to combine our respective assets, resources and knowledge to ensure children throughout the United States are in school."

Here are some of the findings from the group's key research:

• Nationally, an estimated 1 in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.

• Results from a sample of states suggest that an estimated 10-15 percent of students in the U.S. are chronically absent each year.

• A 2011 study of elementary school absenteeism found that schools may fail to detect high chronic absences because they are masked by average daily attendance, a common attendance measure.

A number of studies and resources on absenteeism are available on the Attendance Works website. To check them out for yourself, click here.

CIS of Georgia recommends new Parent Toolkit App

Communities In Schools of Georgia has just recommended the Parent Toolkit App, a new mobile app designed to help parents navigate their child's growth and development from grades Pre-K through 12.

For each grade the app lists benchmarks of what the child will be learning in school, as well as recommendations for diet, sleep and physical activity. According to Parenttoolkit.com, "The academic information will help you ensure your child is on the path to success. It also provides helpful advice on homework, parent-teacher conferences and supporting learning at home."

To download the app, parents may simply text TOOLKIT to 33733 to get the app on their mobile device, and it may also be downloaded through the App Store. For more information and to see some of the app's features, click here.

Radio program features CIS National President

Daniel Cardinali, National President of Communities In Schools, was recently interviewed for WNYC's Radio Rookies program, and here's some of what he had to say:

"When you think about kids who are living in extremely difficult situations that poverty imposes on young people, one of the most important things is that there's an adult who is able to kind of manage not just their academic needs but their whole story. What's going on in their family? What's going on in their neighborhood? Does this kid have an adult who thinks only about them and not managing the other effects of poverty that many of these kids' parents are trying to deal with? And so once that adult is in their lives, and they can build a trusting relationship, kids open up. They begin to believe that there are possibilities. And when you provide sets of resources that enable them to really focus in on learning, their horizons open up. And they begin to really see a possibility of going on to post-secondary attainment and really being able to get a job that will break the cycle of poverty and enable them to be self-sufficient as well as support their family and their kids."

If you'd like to hear the interview yourself, just click on the audio link below.

 

Middle School Matters!

Communities In Schools empowers students of all ages to stay in school and achieve in life. For the student transitioning from elementary school to middle school, this is an important time of change which can help them succeed in school. Five areas are especially important to the middle school student, and these are:

• Social and emotional changes

• Organizational and environmental factors

• Academics

• Developmental growth

• College and career readiness

There are a number of things families can do to make sure students are prepared for these changes. For instance, teaching the child to plan for each day and keep up with homework will motivate the child to be more accountable and self-reliant. For more ideas on ways to help middle school students succeed in school, download this free brochure from the Communities In Schools of Georgia website!

Cargill named "Founding Partner" of CIS of Coweta County

Communities In Schools of Coweta County has received a generous financial gift thanks to a partnership between Cargill Meat Solutions and United Way of Metro Atlanta. Celebrating the donation are Ryan Brooks, United Way in Coweta County Advisory Board member; Tim Glenn, Cargill; Bradley Down, Cargill; Dennis McEntire, Newnan Utilities; Jennifer L. Young, United Way, Regional Director; Gina Weathersby, Executive Director of CIS of Coweta County; Paula Hasburger: United Way in Coweta County Advisory Board member, Andy Dunn: United Way in Coweta County Advisory Board member; Sheryl Singletary: United Way, County Engagement Director; Zack Wood, Cargill; Jill Webb, Cargill; and Travis Boyd, Cargill.

“We can’t say how proud and thankful we are for the tremendous support we received from both Cargill and the United Way,” said CIS Executive Director Gina Weathersby. “Both organizations have always been supportive of CIS, and this recent contribution will enable us to do so much more in our efforts to keep local high school students in school until they graduate and move on to higher education or well-paying jobs.”

“Helping this community is a big part of what we do,” said Bradley Down, of Cargill. “Communities In Schools has a great track record of helping our Coweta County students and that made it a natural for us. We support causes that support the community, and CIS is one of the best.” For its support, Cargill has been named a “Founding Partner” of CIS of Coweta County. Cargill employees have the opportunity each year to pledge donations to the United Way, and the Cargill home office then matches a percentage of the Newnan employees’ contributions and sends that matching money to United Way with the stipulation that the funds be directed to a particular charity or non-profit supported by United Way. This year, CIS of Coweta County was one of the organizations designated by Cargill as the recipient of their corporate contributions. “It’s a great program,” Down said. “It really amplifies our local United Way contributions and makes it possible for us to do more than we could by ourselves here in Newnan.”

Students start school with supplies from CIS

At the beginning of the school year, CIS of Coweta County received donations of school supplies from Walmart as well as individuals, and the donations have already made a difference for some students.

East Coweta Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan has helped several students with supplies, and she was able to fill a backpack for one student whose parent had just changed jobs and didn't yet have the funds for basic school supplies. Thanks to CIS, the student received a backpack filled with everything needed for a successful start to school.

"Things like that remind you that even here in Coweta County, some people struggle with poverty," Buchanan said.

How to help parents get involved in education

Communities In Schools of Georgia suggests several ways to help a reluctant parent get more involved in their child's education:

 -- Read one chapter of a book to your child.

 -- Play a board game as a family.

 -- Help your child write a letter to a family member or friend.

 For more simple ideas to help encourage parent involvement, check out this tip sheet from CIS of Georgia here!

CIS of Georgia releases Spring 2014 report

If you want to know what Communities In Schools of Georgia is accomplishing, be sure to check out the Communities In Schools Spring 2014 report. This report shares the accomplishments of CIS of Georgia during the 2012-2013 school year and includes data on promotions, graduations, improved performance and how the success stories happened. Some of the findings:

 • Communities In Schools of Georgia is serving more than 135,710 students at 227 school and community-based sites.

 • 77 elementary schools, 67 middle schools and 69 high schools were served.

 • 97 percent of the students in grades K-11 who received targeted and sustained services (and for whom data were available) were promoted to the next grade.

 • Communities In Schools is the only dropout prevention organization proven to both lower dropout rates and increase graduation rates. To read the full report and learn more, click here.

Buddy Curry visits East Coweta to support CIS

Former college football All American and Atlanta Falcons All Pro linebacker Buddy Curry spoke to the ninth grade class at East Coweta High on Aug. 28, 2014. Curry appeared in support of CIS of Coweta County and is shown here with East Coweta Site Coordinator Denise Buchanan, at left, and Executive Director Gina Weathersby, right.

Curry is one of the founders of Kids & Pros, a non-profit character-based youth sports organization that engages retired NFL Players to teach football fundamental skills and character lessons to young people. Curry was introduced by Steve Allen, EC Vice-Principal for the 9th grade, shown here. Addressing close to 900 members of the EC class of 2018, Curry told of his troubled beginning in sports, and how he achieved athletic stardom through hard work and by learning the value of listening to good teachers, coaches and role models.

He said he considered giving up sports when times were tough, but stuck it out because “I wanted to have options. I knew if I stuck it out football was still an option. And we all want to have options.” Curry said the best lesson he learned in sports — and in life — is “don’t quit. Whether it’s your marriage, your family or your career, anything worth having requires a struggle.”

Curry told the students to figure out what they needed to do to be successful, and do it. He reminded the students that they would wind up being like the people they associated with and said, “Don’t hang around people who can’t help you be a success.”