- Clarke County School District │ Athens, GA
- Department Overview
Welcome to OCESP!
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Welcome to the Office of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships
Our team is dedicated to creating and supporting partnerships among schools, families, and the Athens-Clarke County community.
As a central resource for family engagement, our staff strives to engage with our essential partners (parents/guardians, the ACC community) to help our students achieve academic goals. We are responsible for communicating the goals, objectives, and priorities of the Clarke County School District and strive to provide our families and community with accurate and timely information.
When our community partners with CCSD, we can achieve goals that benefit our most important asset: OUR STUDENTS. Thank you for your interest in making a difference for the Clarke County School District students through community partnership!
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Chief of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships
Lawrence Harris
harrislaw@clarke.k12.ga.us
706-546-7721, ext. 20600
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Chief of Community Engagement - Lawrence Harris
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Communications & Partnerships Manager - Beth Moore
A graduate of Emory University, Beth has extensive experience in corporate/community communications and marketing, project/product management, event management, and sales support – all designed to help a company tell a story and encourage action.
As the district’s spokesperson, Beth’s role is to communicate the district’s goals, objectives, and priorities to all stakeholders (internal and external). Beth manages crisis communications, supports community outreach, and provides marketing/communications guidance to individual schools and departments. She loves taking pictures of smiling students but hates being photographed (hence, the avatar)!
A mom to students at UGA (Go Dawgs!) and Cedar Shoals High (Go Jags!), Beth and her family are relatively new Athens residents. (Though she did spend a great deal of time at the 40 Watt club during college.) Born and raised in another college town (Go Gators!), her family appreciates the arts, culture, and community of Athens.
Contact:
Beth Moore
beth.moore@clarke.k12.ga.us
706-546-7721, Ext. 20703 -
Community Engagement Specialist - Erin Thompson Podvin
Erin Thompson Podvin is the Community Engagement Specialist overseeing the Department of Family & Community Engagement (FACE). In this capacity, she coordinates a variety of family and community engagement initiatives across the district.
Erin brings nearly 20 years of experience in the K-12 and higher education settings, including previous service in the Clarke County School District from 2003-2007. She spent the past 13 years working to increase college readiness, access, persistence, and retention among Latin@ students and support first-generation college students and other vulnerable student populations in their transition into and journey through higher education.
Erin’s role is to support learning and be a bridge between school, home, and the community. She looks forward to serving as a resource and collaborating to support CCSD students and families on their unique journeys.
Erin is a product of the CCSD, a proud first-generation college graduate of Boston University, mother of two, and active in many community organizations in the Athens area.
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Erin Thompson Podvin es la Especialista en Participación Comunitaria que supervisa el Departamento de Participación Familiar y Comunitaria (abreviado como FACE en inglés). En esta capacidad, coordina una variedad de iniciativas de participación familiar y comunitaria en todo el distrito.
Erin trae consigo casi 20 años de experiencia en los entornos de educación K-12 y superior, incluido servicio anterior en el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Clarke de 2003-2007. Pasó los últimos 13 años trabajando para aumentar la preparación universitaria, el acceso, la persistencia y la retención entre los estudiantes latinos, así como también para apoyar a los estudiantes universitarios de primera generación y otras poblaciones de estudiantes vulnerables en su transición hacia la educación superior.
Erin está aquí para apoyar el aprendizaje y para ser un puente entre la escuela, el hogar y la comunidad. Ella espera servir como un recurso y colaborar para apoyar a los estudiantes y familias de CCSD en sus viajes únicos.
Erin es producto del CCSD, orgullosa graduada universitaria de primera generación de Boston University, madre de dos hijos y activa en varias organizaciones comunitarias en el área de Atenas.
Contact:
Erin Thompson Podvin / Community Engagement Specialist
podvine@clarke.k12.ga.us
706-546-7721, Ext. 20741 -
Director of PR & Communications - Donald Porter
Contact:
Donald Porter, Ed.D.
PorterDo@clarke.k12.ga.us
Office: 706-546-7721 Ex. 20704
Mobile:706-340-2782 -
District Interpreter - Alex Borges
Alex Borges is a community activist who works with the Clarke County School District community to provide outreach and communications in Spanish to the Latinx community. Alex believes in engaging with communities in meaningful and impactful ways.
Alex has worked with Clarke County schools since 2009, first as a Migrant Education Specialist, later as the District’s Translator and Interpreter. Alex also served the Latinx community as Executive Director of a local non-profit organization that provided social services and professional development opportunities for low-income families. A social entrepreneur, Alex co-founded a volunteer abroad program servicing Latin America.
Alex serves as a member of the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA), the CCSD CTAE Advisory Committee, the K12 Committee for the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition, and a mentor two CCSD students through the Clarke County Mentor Program.
Alex holds a master’s degree in Business and Technology from the University of Georgia.
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Alex Borges es un activista comunitario que trabaja con la Comunidad del Distrito Escolar del Condado Clarke para brindar alcance y comunicaciones en español a la comunidad Latinx. Alex cree en relacionarse con las comunidades de manera significativa e impactante.
Alex ha trabajado con las escuelas del condado Clarke desde el 2009, primero como Especialista en Educación Migrante, luego como Traductor e Intérprete del Distrito. Alex también sirvió a la comunidad de Latinx como Director Ejecutivo de una organización local sin fines de lucro que brinda servicios sociales y oportunidades de desarrollo profesional para familias de bajos ingresos. Como emprendedor social, Alex cofundó un programa de voluntariado en el extranjero para América Latina.
Alex sirve como miembro de la Asociación de Profesionales Latinos para América (ALPFA), el Comité Asesor CTAE de CCSD, el Comité K12 para la Coalición de Derechos de Inmigrantes de Athens y como mentor para dos estudiantes de CCSD a través del Programa de Mentores del Condado Clarke.
Alex tiene una maestría en Negocios y Tecnología de la Universidad de Georgia.
Contact:
Alex Borges
borgesa@clarke.k12.ga.us
706-546-7721, ext. 20728 -
Executive Administrative Assistant - Angelia Tillman
Contact:
Angelia Tillman
tillmana@clarke.k12.ga.us
706-546-7721, Ext 20771 -
Multimedia Specialist - Harold Faison
Harold is passionate about working for children and with children. As a former Special Education paraprofessional and Family Engagement Specialist at Whitehead Road Elementary, Harold hopes the work he does will positively impact the Athens community. Harold is passionate about photography and media and aims to keep positive ties within the community as a Multimedia Specialist.
Contact:
Harold Faison
faisonh@clarke.k12.ga.us
P: 706-654-7721, Ext 20784
Better Together Newsletter
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Welcome to "Better Together" - a brand new monthly newsletter containing important and useful information about the Clarke County School District and our schools. "Better Together" is designed for our community, and so we welcome your feedback on any ideas and suggestions for future editions.
- Better Together - Special Edition - Young Black Poets - ENG
- Better Together - Vol 2, Issue 2 - February 2021 - ENG / SPAN
- Better Together - Vol 2, Issue 1 - January 2021 - ENG / SPAN
- Better Together - Vol 1, Issue 4 - December 2020 - ENG / SPAN
- Better Together - Vol 1, Issue 3 - November 2020 - ENG / SPAN
- Better Together, Edición Especial - ¡Celebrando el Mes de la Hispanidad!
- Better Together, Special Edition - Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
- Better Together - Vol 1, Issue 2 - October 2020 - ENG / SPAN
- Better Together - Vol 1, Issue 1 - September 2020 - ENG / SPAN