Sandy Springs Education Force runs 17 targeted programs in 11 public schools in Sandy Springs to fulfill our mission to educate, inspire and prepare public school students in Sandy Springs for a competitive world. Learn more about these programs via the links and descriptions below.
Note that the number of students impacted is for the 2023-24 school year.
Educate
Reinforce Fulton County Schools’ academic standards to help students excel in school through free programs with measurable results.
- After-School All-Stars (63 students) Sandy Springs Charter Middle
- Aspire After-School Program (70 students) North Springs High
- Math Madness Tournament (25 students) Woodland Elementary
- STEAM Grants (260 students) Dunwoody Springs Elementary, Heards Ferry Elementary, High Point Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Spalding Drive Elementary, Woodland Elementary, Ridgeview Middle, Sandy Springs Charter Middle, North Springs High, Riverwood International Charter
- Summer Book Club (48 students) Dunwoody Springs Elementary, High Point Elementary, Ison Springs Elementary
- Tutor Teams (39 students) Ison Springs Elementary
Inspire
Encourage students to embrace lifelong learning by showcasing careers and post-secondary opportunities.
- Author Connection (237 students) Lake Forest Elementary, Spalding Drive Elementary, Sandy Springs Charter Middle, Ridgeview Middle
- Business Bridge (599 students) High Point Elementary, Ison Springs Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Ridgeview Middle, Sandy Springs Charter Middle, North Springs High, Riverwood International Charter
- Cradle to College/Rising Panthers (329 students) Dunwoody Springs Elementary, Sandy Springs Charter Middle
- High Demand Career Fair (192 students) North Springs High, Riverwood International Charter
- Link with a Leader (245 students) Ridgeview Middle, Sandy Springs Charter Middle, North Springs High, Riverwood International Charter
- Reading Buddies (83 students) Dunwoody Springs Elementary, Ison Springs Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Spalding Drive Elementary
- STEAM Showcase (1,700 students) All Schools
- VOX (18 students) North Springs High
Prepare
Provide students with resources that enrich their learning both in the classroom and at home and guide soon-to-be high school graduates toward post-secondary opportunities.
- Mini Libraries (7,000 students) All Schools
- SAIL and Senior Push (41 students) North Springs High, Riverwood International Charter
- Teacher’s Supply Closet (6,151 students) All Schools
Annual Events
These fundraising events double as vibrant community gatherings and bring people together for a great cause.
- STEAM Showcase (Over 1,700 during the day/900 at night) The public evening event will be on March 5, 2025, from 6-8 pm at North Springs High School. Participants enjoy an exciting, interactive, hands-on opportunity to learn how companies and educational institutions are leveraging science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics to create programs and services.
- Lightning Run (400+ runners) An impactful community event that attracts serious runners as well as community members who attend to walk and enjoy the high-voltage party atmosphere.
SSEF programs strive to be:
- Inclusive: serving diverse populations equally results in an improved quality of education and life experience for everyone
- Results driven: providing oversight and evaluation of programs maintains the highest standards for program recipients, funders and for our community
Learn more about each program listed by following the hyperlinks to more information about each one. For a summary of programs by category (STEAM, Literacy, After-School and Mentoring), see below.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH: STEAM
Each year, SSEF presents our STEAM Showcase for the 11 Sandy Springs public schools and the community. This annual event provides students insights and exposure to exciting workforce opportunities in highly sought-after fields. SSEF uses sponsorships from the event to fund STEAM outreach events, field trips and after-school programs in all 11 public schools in Sandy Springs. These STEAM Grant programs extend the learning and help inspire students to explore fields of study they may not otherwise have considered.
Sandy Springs Education Force hosts a Math Madness Tournament. In 2024, it was the only tournament in Georgia, for the International Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools.
LITERACY
Via many literacy-related programs, we provide students with resources to help improve their reading skills. Mini Libraries offers immediate, home-based access to high-quality books that they can read and keep and distributes about 12,000 books a year for students to bring home. Reading Buddies matches students with caring adult volunteers to read with children weekly. This program helps children foster positive feelings about reading, improves their self-confidence and compels them to set new academic goals. Our Summer Book Club invites students from Dunwoody Springs, High Point and Ison Springs Elementary schools to work virtually for six weeks with teachers to discuss the book of the week and participate in related activities that positively impact reading scores. Our Author Connection program brings authors into schools to speak with students about their work. VOX ATL is a teen-driven, nonprofit organization committed to uplifting the voices of youth from diverse backgrounds across metro Atlanta. SSEF manages this podcast program at North Springs High School.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS: ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND TUTORING
Academic support and tutoring programs target homework support and study skills training to help students succeed academically and increase graduation rates. The After-School All-Stars program at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School is a comprehensive after-school program implemented in collaboration with the Georgia State University Research Foundation and After-School All-Stars Atlanta. Participating students consistently show an increase in test scores and grades, a decrease in disciplinary infractions and an increase in attendance as a result of participation in this program. Aspire, the after-school program at North Springs, offers academic support followed by enrichment activities, field trips, exposure to college and vocational schools and career opportunities. Tutor Teams is a weekly virtual program that pairs high schoolers and elementary students to help with homework, math and reading skills.
MENTORING
Mentors from the business community share information about real-world experiences that prepare youth to meet the challenges of life, career and citizenship in the 21st century. Programs, such as Link With a Leader help empower students and increases their self-esteem. SAIL and Senior Push are programs at the two high schools. Trained volunteers suggest options and assist students who need help identifying plans for post-secondary options. SSEF provides funds for application fees as well as SAT/ACT fees for students needing financial assistance. SAIL and Senior Push connect economically disadvantaged high school students who are on target to graduate, but do not have any post-secondary plans with trained volunteers who present options and assist students with post-secondary applications.
Our Cradle to College/Rising Pathers program brings 5th graders from Dunwoody Springs Elementary School to Georgia State University's Perimeter campus. We expanded this program to bring students back to Georgia State when they are in middle school to experience another college experience. Students from Sandy Springs Charter Middle School participate in this program. Students participate in interactive learning, such as in a chemistry lab, the Nursing Simulation Lab as well as other college-like classes.
Business Bridge is a program with the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee to engage members of the business community in our Sandy Springs public schools.
The High Demand Career Fair introduces Riverwood and North Springs High School students to careers that hire students right out of high school, pay well, have many job opportunities, provide on-the-job training and opportunities for advancement, and/or allow the student to work and gain experience to help pay for college.
FOR TEACHERS
The Teacher's Supply Closet, a collaboration of the Sandy Springs Education Force (SSEF) and the Community Assistance Center (CAC), is available for teachers to request required classroom supplies for their economically disadvantaged students.
