Community Interaction with Cobb Schools

The Cobb County School District is proud of the high level of involvement by its community members. From local business leaders to parents and other community leaders, the Cobb County community consistently demonstrates its commitment to promoting quality education in Cobb County. Various groups and organizations support the District’s goal of excellence in education.

Partners in Education

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, Board of Education chairman Lindsey Tippins and Chamber of Commerce chairman Fred Bentley, Jr. announced the expansion of the Project 2400 SAT preparation program in October 2007.

The District’s relationship with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce has yielded a variety of programs supporting students and teachers. The Partners in Education program pairs local businesses with schools in need of community support. As of fall 2007, more than 500 local businesses have committed to partnerships with Cobb County’s 115 schools through the Partners in Education program.

Give Our Schools A Hand is an annual, week-long celebration for Cobb County’s educators, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Teachers of the Year from each school are
recognized at a community pep rally and districtwide honorees are immortalized with handprints on the Teacher Walk of Fame at Marietta Square. The program is in its 19th year.

The Chamber also sponsors a job shadow program for students to experience real-world work environments, as well as Project 2400, a special scholarship program that helped 273
students take part in a free SAT preparation course in 2007. In October 2007, the Board of Education approved a $250,000 expansion of the program to make SAT preparation courses available to even more Cobb students in 2008.

Parent Teacher Associations & School Councils
Building relationships with the wide variety of people who are impacted by and support Cobb schools is a critical component of the District’s focus. Parental involvement is a hallmark in the District, as demonstrated through 100 percent PTA participation in most schools and the active participation of parent volunteers. Each school has its own School Council that includes the school’s principal, teachers, parents and business representatives. These councils are an integral part of the school improvement process and help bring community concerns to school leadership.

Cobb Schools Foundation
Established in 1999, the Cobb Schools Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting, rewarding and enhancing the schools, staff and students of the Cobb County School District.

Cobb Schools Foundation director Linda Hoynes and president Paul Chastain honor Robert LeCroy of Lovinggood Middle School at the Classifield Employee of the Year awards luncheon.

The Foundation awarded $30,000 in college scholarships to graduating seniors at each of Cobb’s high schools in 2007, as well as almost $40,000 in Teacher IMPACT grants, promoting teachers with creative and innovative ideas in the classroom. More than $2,500 in scholarships was awarded to students needing assistance to attend After School Programs at their schools.

These programs are funded entirely by individual and community donations. The Foundation’s ‘Gimme 5 for Education’ campaign reached the entire District, encouraging small $5 donations that collectively raised more than $25,000. In June 2007, the Foundation sponsored the first annual Cobb Leadership Summit at Kennesaw State University, which hosted 3,000 attendees for leadership training. It also backed the District’s Classified Employee of the Year program honoring support staff at each of Cobb’s schools and facilities.

The Foundation’s 3rd annual Cobb Homecoming Classic golf tournament was held in Acworth in September, raising almost $30,000 for scholarships and grants.

For more information, visit the Foundation Web site.