NBA-Star-Turned-Teacher To Be Honored By GA Lawmakers

As a star basketball player in the 1980s, Andrew Toney won a world championship and was named to two NBA All-Star teams.

He’s still winning recognition three decades later, but perhaps more for his impact on kids.

Toney, a lead program facilitator in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Academic Support department, is being honored for his work in the community. On Thursday, Oct. 15, Georgia Senator P.K. Martin IV of District-9 will present Toney with Senate Resolution 364, recognizing him for his exceptional citizenship and service to the students and community.

In his work with the school system, Toney works to support the Community-Based Mentoring Program and Project Reconnect. He began his education career in Gwinnett in 1994 as a physical education teacher at Peachtree Elementary School and was the health teacher at Peachtree Elementary from 2004-2008.

In 2009, Toney accepted the position of instructional coach for Gwinnett County Public Schools in the Community Based Mentoring Program, which connects caring adults in the community with middle school boys whose attendance and behavior cause an adverse impact on their grades and classroom performance.

Through his work with Project Reconnect he helps student-aged teens who did not graduate from high school to reconnect with education.

As a professional basketball player, Toney played eight years (1980-88) with the Philadelphia 76ers, which won the NBA title in 1983.

Toney will be presented with the resolution at GIVE East High School, which is located at 723 Hi-Hope Road, Lawrenceville GA 30043. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 15.

From Gwinnett County Public Schools