Your nominations have been heard and it's time to announce the lucky schools who will receive a School Crashers makeover this summer. For the 11th year in a row, Georgia United Foundation is teaming up with Georgia United Credit Union to transform accredited K-12 schools in our state. With over $2.1 million invested and 70 schools impacted over the last decade, it's safe to say that learning environments have been greatly enhanced for students, educators and communities. And the best part? We're just getting started.
Every year, School Crashers accepts nominations and chooses schools in the early spring to undergo summer transformations. To learn more, please review the Official Rules.
The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD) is a dynamic day school in metro Atlanta, that serves over 130 deaf and hard-of-hearing children, aged three to twenty-one from more than 27 surrounding school districts. This school integrates American Sign Language and English in an inclusive and nurturing educational space, promoting effective communication, self-expression and meaningful engagement within the deaf community and beyond. AASD has requested a media center makeover to provide more collaborative seating and new flooring, but most importantly, to incorporate the addition of a deaf history museum and resource center. This resource center will include archival materials from AASD's history; space for donated historical artifacts showing progression in deaf technology; a timeline of deaf history and De'Via art (Deaf View/Image Art) displays and exhibits. Thanks to our longtime partners at Mohawk Flooring, this space will receive brand new flooring.
Kristi Roop, the newly appointed principal of Barksdale Elementary, has been actively involved in supporting teachers in catering to the needs of students with complex requirements. The school has three self-contained autism rooms serving students from K-5, along with a Ready PreK room. Their School Crashers grant will be utilized to construct a sensory classroom to enhance the learning experience and behavior management of all students. This specially equipped room will feature calming corners, unique seating arrangements and sensory elements such as lighting and textures to create a safe and accepting environment where students can deescalate, refocus and improve their interactions with each other. By providing this space, the school will cater to a diverse range of social and physical needs, allowing teachers to redirect students to the sensory classroom when in need of a calm environment to refocus, thereby improving their academic performance.
Pooler Elementary is the one of the oldest schools in the Savannah-Chatham County School System and prides itself on being "the little school that could." Special Ed Teacher Sarah Clarke shared in her grant request that the entire school is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. "We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in a space that meets their unique needs." Their School Crashers grant will be used to create a sensory classroom that will provide a safe and calming space for students with sensory processing challenges. This classroom will be equipped with a range of sensory tools and equipment, including weighted blankets, noise-cancelling headphones and sensory bins. Our goal is to create a space where students can feel comfortable and supported, and where they can develop the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
