Roswell Elementary School Honored By National PTA

ROSWELL, GA — Hembree Springs Elementary School in Roswell has been honored by the National PTA for excellence.

The school is a winner of the National PTA School of Excellence award, a two-year title that recognizes outstanding partnerships between local PTAs and schools "to build an inclusive and welcoming school-community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students." To be considered for this honor, a school and its PTA unit must commit to working together to set and meet goals for improving family engagement.

Additionally, Hembree Springs Elementary PTA was chosen as one of the three winners of the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Awards.

“We are thrilled to honor the accomplishments of Hembree Springs Elementary and its PTA," President of National PTA Anna King said in a statement. “Their efforts have made a positive impact for all students, families and their school, which has been and continues to be more important than ever, especially given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

National PTA’s School of Excellence program is a year-long commitment to improving family school partnerships. Throughout the year, PTAs and schools collect feedback from their school communities to create and implement plans of action to make a difference for every child. Through the School of Excellence program, PTAs and families become key partners in decision-making and school improvement efforts. The program opens the lines of communication and critical thinking within school communities to make data-drive decisions that yield positive, long-term results. Hembree Springs Elementary School and its PTA are one of 351 PTAs and schools nationwide to be designated a 2020-2022 School of Excellence.

The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award of Merit is presented to the top three PTAs that have earned the School of Excellence designation. With COVID-19 as the backdrop for the 2020-2021 school year, the Hembree Springs Elementary School PTA and school team worked together to bring parents and school leaders together through a monthly, virtual program. Program topics included literacy, student transitions, assessments, and principal updates. Additionally, the PTA and school team worked together to promote advocacy through the year-long theme, “Your Voice Matters.” The school also partnered with local non-profits and community leaders to provide families with needed resources, inclusive of grocery distributions, books clothing and more.

“The Hembree Springs community - the administration, staff and PTA - have done so much to provide support for our families and staff members over the years, and especially during the last most difficult 18 months," Fulton County School Board member Katha Stuart said. "You all have truly lived the'Your Voice Matters' theme through your advocacy and partnership efforts.”

To celebrate their achievements, National PTA will present Hembree Springs Elementary School PTA with a certificate and a National PTA School of Excellence banner to hang in their school. For more information about the National PTA School of Excellence program, visit online. For more information about the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award, visit the website.