Partners in Education (PIE) provides a hands-on opportunity for local businesses and organizations to share their expertise, time, resources and ideas to enrich the academic experience for students in the Douglas County School System. In this publication, we want to thank the partners who were affiliated with our schools during the 2019-2020 school year and recognize several as Partners of Excellence (POE) for going above and beyond serving schools.

2019-2020 Partners of Excellence Legacy Winners
GreyStone Power Corporation
MembersFirst Credit Union

2019-2020 Partners of Excellence Winners
Ephesus Baptist Church ~ Elementary Schools
Ameris Bank, Fairburn Road Branch ~ Middle Schools
Andrew Jordan of Connally, Jordan & Associates ~ High Schools
GreyStone Power Corporation and MembersFirst Credit Union were nominated by several schools at different levels for a Partner of Excellence award. "Because of all these two businesses have done for years on end, and since they received several nominations, the awards committee voted to recognize them as Partners of Excellence Legacy winners," says Vonda Thorpe, PIE Board chair for 2019-2020. "They have partnered almost every year PIE has been in place and have impacted thousands of lives."
GreyStone Power Corporation
POE Legacy
Factory Shoals Middle School is one of the schools that nominated GreyStone Power Corporation for a POE award. The company has sponsored annual field trips to the Georgia Aquarium, Tellus Science Museum and World of Coca-Cola. The company also sponsors in-school STEAM Day activities and various arts and crafts projects.

"GreyStone supports education because we're invested in our community, and it is a reflection of our values," said Gary Miller, GreyStone president and CEO. "We want to continue to partner with educators to help build future community leaders and engaged citizens."

Trisha McBee, right, received the award on behalf of GreyStone from Patty Wenck, PIE Board member.
MembersFirst Credit Union
POE Legacy
One of the schools nominating  MembersFirst Credit Union  for a POE award is Alexander High School. The credit union opened a branch at the high school during the 2019-2020 school year as an extension of the Financial Literacy and Accounting pathways. Several work-based learning students work at the branch along with a full-time credit union staff member. Having a working credit union branch at a high school that employs students and is available to students and school system staff is a wonderful benefit few high schools offer.

"As a partner in Education, we measure our success by the impact we have on improving the financial literacy of our young people and giving them access to the financial tools and services they need now and in the future," said Terry Hardy, credit union president and CEO. "Through our student-run Alexander High School branch, we are able to do all this and provide students with real-life work experience. For us at MembersFirst Credit Union, that is success."

Pictured left to right are Pamela Roberson, assistant branch supervisor, Douglasville Branch; Monique Lewis, teller supervisor, Alexander High School Branch; and Amanda Chapman, branch supervisor of the Douglasville Branch.
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Ephesus Baptist Church
POE ~ Elementary Schools
Ephesus Baptist Church  (EBC) was nominated for an award by Mason Creek Elementary School. The church provided multiple lunches and dessert parties throughout the year to show appreciation to staff. The church hosted Saturday work days to complete projects around the school. EBC sponsored 14 children at the school by sending bags of food home with them weekly along with providing school supplies, clothing, haircuts and holiday presents. Additionally, EBC provided food for other students and families in need when identified by the school.

In the photograph are Barbie Castill, EBC Backpack Ministry, and Matthew Isennock, EBC Minister of Education.
Ameris Bank, Fairburn Road Branch
POE ~ Middle Schools
Ameris Bank was nominated for an award by Fairplay Middle School. The school describes the bank as "an outstanding partner to the students and staff of FMS." The bank is one of the main supporters of the counseling department and its mission to implement various student services. The bank donates school supplies to students in need, provides snacks, and supplements additional items for the backpack program.

Kara Benjamin, right, received the POE award on behalf of Ameris Bank from Donna Middlebrooks, PIE Board member.
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Andrew Jordan of Connally, Jordan & Associates
POE ~ High Schools
The College & Career Institute (CCI) nominated Andrew Jordan with  Connally, Jordan and Associates  as a POE. Mr. Jordan serves on the CCI Governing Board and is currently vice president. He works in a collaborative way with other board members to ensure the board is moving forward and making positive change for CCI students. He has sponsored a senior breakfast, purchased graduation stoles for all seniors, purchased yard signs to celebrate the class of 2020 and sponsored many other projects to ensure all students have a great experience at CCI. Mr. Jordan volunteers annually with the mock interview program and "embodies the five pillars of PIE." 

Pictured left to right are Dennis Connally and Mr. Jordan with the firm, and Gary Morris and Bakhai Litman with CCI.
"The businesses that participate in PIE make many meaningful and lasting contributions within our schools. Their time and expertise enhance and strengthen our programs. They also help us
recognize and reward both students and staff
during the school year. Thank you, partners, for helping us
build a better community.
You are making a positive and lasting difference."
Trent North, Superintendent
Thank You 2019-2020 Partners in Education!
100 Black Men of Douglasville
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Acra Printing and Signs
Alleviation Wellness Chiropractic
Allure Nails
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Sigma Omega
Omega Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Rho Pi Lambda
Chapter
America Real Estate LLC
Ameris Bank
Anchor Heating & Air Co.
Anything But Ordinary Events and More
Arbor Station Elementary School
Atlanta Revival Center
Atlanta West Pentecostal Church
AWFM LTD
B&S Pest Control Co. Inc.
Be Restored Worship Center
Believers Harvest Church
Beulah Baptist Church
Billy Jordon
Bojangles'
Brainy Bytes West Atlanta
Bright Star United Methodist Church
Carlos V. Spencer Speaks
Carson Enterprise
Central Baptist Church
Chapelhill Church
Chick-fil-A, Thornton Road
Connally, Jordan & Associates PC
Connie Garrett Your Home Sold Guaranteed
Realty
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Country Financial, Ashley Thompson
County Line Baptist Church
Delta Community Credit Union
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Douglas-
Carroll-Paulding Counties Alumnae Chapter
Design Solutions Group
DeVoe Real Estate
Distinctive Ops Services LLC
Douglas County Chamber of Commerce
Douglas County Council of PTA
Douglas County Education Foundation
Douglas County Farm Bureau, Alicia Kopp
Douglasville Books
Douglasville-Douglas County Water & Sewer
Authority
EdwardJones, Nancy Demirtas
Ephesus Baptist Church
First Baptist Church, Lithia Springs
First Presbyterian Church, Douglasville
G&H Electrical
Gable Sporting Goods
Gift of Love Services
Grand Adventures School of Excellence
Greater True Vine Church of God in Christ
GreyStone Power Corporation
H&R Block, Jason Campbell
Harmony Travel Getaways LLC
Hightower Family Funeral Homes
Inlaws BBQ
J. Sherrod Productions
JSilver Photography Art & Design
Jerry Pece, Consultant Motion Picture Industry
Junior Achievement of Georgia
Junior League of Douglas County
Katie Harris, State Farm
Keep It Moving Yoga & Barre
Keller Williams Realty, The Zachos Team Inc.
Kingdom Basketball Association
Kiwanis Club of Douglas County
Laser Dimensions Engraving Services
Lithia Springs United Methodist Church
Little Caesars
Macaroni Kid, Douglasville
Marco's Pizza, Chapel Hill
Marco's Pizza, Villa Rica
MembersFirst Credit Union
MG McKenney Inc/K-Mac Electric
Mill Town Music Hall
Minor Realty Group, Angel Turner
MoJoBaS Fun Factory
Neighborhood Auto Center Inc.
O'Charley's
Papa John's Pizza
Pioneer Residential, Chris Rentz
Rainwater Motor Company
RA-LIN
Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program
ReMax Premier, Donna Middlebrooks
Royal Accents
Sheltering Arms Child Development Center
St. James A.M.E. Church
State Farm Insurance, Katie Harris
Stevie B's Pizza
Sunset Hills Baptist Church
T. Reeves Photography LLC
The Bridge Academy @ ClubE
The C&S Allstate Agency, Christopher M.
Watkins
The Flower Cottage & Gifts LLC
The Horace Mann Companies/Jeremy S.
Madden Agency
The Lakhani Agency (AAA)
The Oaks Senior Living
The UPS Store 1690
The Vault Music and Publishing LLC
The Vine Cafe and Market
The Wright Stuff Chics LLLP
Total Life Changes
Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty
Waffle House, Dunleith Drive
Wenck Travel
Wendy's of Fairburn, Shelby Bynum
Womack Realty Group, BHGRE Metro Brokers
Wright Stuff Chics LLLC
Wyatt's Pharmacy
Yogli Mogli
Zen Massage
The businesses, churches and organizations listed above registered on the PIE website as PIE partners for the recently-completed 2019-2020 school year. There are some businesses and organizations that partnered with schools without registering with PIE. We apologize for not including those businesses and organizations here. Thank you to everyone who partners with our schools to make them even better!


"They support our scholars,
so our community needs to support them."
Principal Karna Kelly, North Douglas Elementary School