The Journey Magazine - Fall 2022

President

Lisa Freedman

Vice Presidents

Micah Goldstein

Jeff Hopkins

Brian Mand

Secretary

Stanley Sonenshine

Treasurer

Kevin Levingston

Immediate Past President

Evan Toporek

Trustees

Abby Bechler-Karsch

Mara Berman

Dana Bernath

Barbie Bregen

Steven Cohen

Ann Davis

Elizabeth Davis

Mark Edelstein

Russell Falkenstein

Julia Galanti

David Goldberg

Murray Goldman

Billie Greenberg

Lisa Haynor

Bennett Kaplan

Debbie Kurzweil

Meryl Macune

Rob Perkins

Bobbi Perlstein

Josh Perlstein

Amy Robinson

Michelle Rosenberg

Stacy Rothberg

Carol Rubin

Linda Selig

Emily Silberman

Jason Tessler

Beth Warner

Trustees for Life

William Breman (z"l)

Dulcy Davis Rosenberg

Jay Davis

Sidney Kirschner

Past Presidents

(in order of service)

Jan Epstein (1990-1992)

Carol Nemo (1990-1996)

Dean Benamy (1996-1999)

Harriet Zoller (1999-2000)

Bryan Fields (2000-2003)

Ben Sillins (2003-2005)

Billie Greenberg (2005-2007)

Tonia Sellers (2007-2011)

Sam Tuck (2011-2014)

Debbie Kurzweil (2014-2016)

Jon Leven (2016-2018)

Evan Toporek (2018-2020)

Dear Davis Academy Families,

This school year marks the 30th anniversary of The Davis Academy!

In 1992, The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy opened its doors to 20 fresh-faced Kindergarten and First Grade students, just a few passionate and dedicated teachers, and a handful of pioneering parents who took a chance on a brand-new school. It was a small school with big dreams and a huge heart. Classes were held in rented space in the basement of a Junior Achievement Building on Abernathy Road, and just four years later, the school completed construction on its first phase of a permanent building on Roberts Drive. Over the years that followed, multiple expansions on multiple campuses and expansive programs and activities have served on the forefront of the growth and diversity of Atlanta’s population and the pace and innovation of trends in education.

Thirty years later, The Davis Academy:

• Is the largest Reform Jewish Day School in the country

• Occupies 160,000 square feet of educational facilities across two state-of-theart campuses in the heart of Sandy Springs, including its most recent additions of the Rosenberg Performing Arts Theatre, Kaufman Chapel, two full-service dining halls and kitchen, music and recording suites and innovative learning and design spaces

• Welcomes students from 31 different zip codes across metro Atlanta, with families who chose Atlanta from all over the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, Israel, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Singapore, Taiwan to name a few

• Prides itself with an annual average student retention rate of 97%, far surpassing the national average (90%) for independent schools

• Benefits from an outstanding professional faculty, with an average of 15 years of teaching experience, and over 70% of which have advanced degrees

• Is recognized both locally and nationally as a leader in educational innovation, with over 75% of our middle school students scoring at or above 95% percentile on standardized testing and receiving student recognition in the Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP), national math competitions, GA State Technology competition, International C-Span documentary contest, and more

• Engages hundreds of students and alumni in our annual All-School Musical, and competes in the Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference with 17 different middle school athletic teams in 11 sports

• Continues to develop mensches in the greater community through our Tzedek/ social action programs, many in collaboration with a wide array of Jewish and secular organizations

• Proudly tells the stories of almost 1500 graduates through their accomplishments in high schools throughout Atlanta and colleges and universities across the country, their civic and Jewish communal leadership roles, and in the careers they are developing and the young families that they are now building

This issue of The Journey Magazine celebrates 30 years of innovation in education, building community and creating lasting impact. We have much to celebrate throughout the school year and look forward to being with our entire extended Davis Academy family on March 18, 2023, at our Community Celebration!

Amy Shafron

Lisa Freedman Head of School President, Board of Trustees

Amy Shafron Head of School

Lisa

Freedman President, Board of Trustees

The Davis Academy celebrates 30 years of innovation in education, building community and creating lasting impact.”

Living Our Values

Thirty plus years ago, local Atlanta activists Jan Epstein and Carol Nemo, were empowered by the enthusiasm of other leaders in the Atlanta Jewish community to pioneer a vision for a Reform Jewish day school in Atlanta. As the Reform movement was beginning to revisit tradition and explore the need for deeper engagement and Jewish education, Atlanta’s Rabbinical leadership across the movements, the Union for Reform Judaism headquartered in New York City, and leaders throughout the greater Atlanta, embraced the vision for an independent school that would ensure academics on par with the many well respected private schools in the area, infused with Jewish values and Reform philosophy. Jan and Carol pushed forward with the help of many others, to make this dream a reality, including the Davis and Rosenberg families who endowed the school in honor of their parents. The doors to The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy opened in August of 1992, becoming a pillar within the Atlanta area independent school community as well as the Jewish community nationwide.

Davis Academy

While so much has evolved over our 30 years, including teaching methods and the expanse of resources that support each student’s individual learning experience, some things haven’t changed at all since our founding: our purpose, our priorities, our values, understanding who we are, that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, and the importance of making a positive difference in the world around us. Today, The Davis Academy, a multicultural and vibrant community, celebrates 30 years of living our values. Community, Respect, Spirit, Wisdom and Righteousness guide our daily lives, as students come to understand who they are and how to engage, succeed, and make a difference in the greater world around us. We celebrate the values that are at heart of the school and that inspire us to be the very best version of ourselves.

Storyy My Davis

Many voices in our community tell the collective story of The Davis Academy over our 30 years. In celebration of the 30th anniversary, parents, teachers, alumni, alumni-parents, students and friends are sharing their personal stories about their experiences and how The Davis Academy has made an impact on their lives. We invite all who are interested to join this tapestry of voices with your own Davis story and help amplify the excitement of this milestone: davisacademy.org/stories.

What story have I seen unfold at Davis over the years? A place where nurturing abounds, where academic excellence is the norm, where traditions are fostered, where teachers spend each day sharing their passions with great passion. A place where all of these characteristics are bound together by the common thread of love of Torah. A place where each child becomes the responsibility of the collective whole, and where pride is reflected as each student moves into high school and beyond into the community, with a sense of self-worth, fostered while at Davis.”

– Billie Greenberg, Past President 2005-2007

Now as I enter my junior year at the University of Chicago, I remember the values I learned during my time at Davis and am reminded again of just how huge of an impact they have had on me. While I am part of a new kehillah now, I still have not left the kehillot from my past, and I know that the values and experiences I’ve gained from these previous kehillot will continue to help me grow as a person and shape who I am.”

– Jonah Medoff, Class of 2016

Everyone tells you that it takes a village to raise a child and The Davis Academy was part of our village. Thank you, Davis Academy, for helping me to be a better parent, thank you for instilling confidence and pride in my girls, thank you for teaching them to care for others and the world, thank you for infusing them with a love for Judaism and thank you for being there whenever we needed you.”

– Miriam Haviv, Alumni Parent

Davis! Happy Birthday

School pride is stronger than ever as we have celebrated many exciting milestone moments during the first half of a spectacular 30th year!

Faculty & Staff Kick Off

Davis faculty and staff officially kicked off the 30th year during pre-planning and set the tone for a year full of spirit, learning, and so much joy.

All School Kabbalat Shabbat 30th Year Kickoff

The All-School Welcome Back Shabbat, with special musical guest Billy Jonas, was an exciting way to celebrate being back together. The gym overflowed with almost 900 members of the Davis kehillah (community) and tons of Davis ruach (spirit).

Back to School Carnival

The PTO’s Back-to-School Carnival was a tremendous success. Children had a great time playing, dancing, painting, and enjoying delicious ice cream. Thanks to Davis parent volunteers who created such a spirited celebration to start our year.

30th Day of School

During our 30th Year

We kicked off 5783 with an amazing celebration of the 30th day of our 30th year of school. Mechina through 8th grade students, faculty, and staff came together, clad in our special spirit wear, to sing and celebrate. The Lower School Theatre was “a-rockin” to put it mildly.

around campus

Tinkering Tuesday

Tinkering Tuesday is a highly anticipated day for many students in Mechina through 5th grade. Through do-it-yourself projects in the Innovation and Design Studio, students understand how things are made, explore, test ideas, fail, try again, and create. As an example, students made circuit powered school buses. In October we learned about Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead with students creating 3D calavera masks using gel paper to design the anaglyph 3D effect. Tinkering is beneficial for the holistic growth of a child and it is the foundation to more complex making, technology, and engineering.

“Kehillah and Tefillah” Outdoors

Throughout the fall, Mechina through 2nd grade students and their families experienced class level Tefillah (prayer) together as a kehillah (community) in the intimate setting of our beautiful Nature Sanctuary. Through song, prayer, and reflection, families enjoyed beginning their day by awakening our gratitude for our many blessings in the context of discussions around our Davis values. Fostering an “attitude of gratitude” not only is essential to feeling happier and to seeing positive change in society, it is also the preface to anything truly “tefillah”, and anything we want to do or experience fully.

Book Buddies

Book Buddies continues to be an all-time favorite for Mechina and 5th graders, a shared reading experience that enables mutual teaching and learning both formally and informally. Mechina students bond with the older students in their Davis kehillah and see what being a good reader looks like. Fifth graders love the opportunity to be models to their younger peers, demonstrating kindness and friendship as well as how to read fluently, with expression and confidence.

Visiting Authors

We are thrilled to welcome many well known authors to The Davis Academy with recent visits from Amy Sarig King and Marilyn A. Price. King empowered students to use their voice and their critical thinking skills as she shared insights about her new novel Attack of the Black Rectangles, where she shows the ways truth can be hard but still worth fighting for. Marilyn A. Price, a nationally known puppeteer/ storyteller and educator, visited as well, sharing insights about her writing journey and showing students how to create puppets with wood spoons and pipe cleaners. Select students interviewed both authors and published a podcast on The Davis Academy Author Podcast Channel (scan the QR code to listen).

Tashlich Ritual

Fourth grade students visited the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to participate in the High Holy Day ritual of Tashlich. They had an opportunity to think about the things they have done wrong in the past year and to “throw them away” with real intention of improvement and renewal. Awakening a sense of renewal helps students understand who they are and what they need to change to become the best version of themselves.

8th Grade Leadership Retreat

Eighth graders participated in an annual leadership retreat at Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, GA. Students strengthened individual leadership skills, built community, and deepened their grade-level connections with activities ranging from tzedek-focused and tikkun olam study sessions, to team building challenges and campfire ruach. As students left the retreat, they felt encouraged to think about their passions, how they can fulfill them and ultimately, how they can increase their impact of action during their final year at The Davis Academy and post graduation.

ShinShinim

Meet our Shinshinim, Lia Zakai and Naama Raz!

Visual Arts in Middle School

Eighth grade visual arts students learned about the Futurism art movement from the early 1900's and some futurist artists like Umberto Boccioni, an influential Italian painter and sculptor who helped shape the revolutionary aesthetic of this movement.

Inspired by Boccioni’s sculpture, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space, students used nontraditional materials to create beautiful abstract sculptures showing movement and balance.

The Davis Academy | davisacademy.org

The Shinshinim are recent Israeli high school graduates taking a gap year in the United States before their military service. Lia and Naama are on campus at The Davis Academy to infuse their love of Israel into our community through art, song, dance, and holiday celebrations. Year after year, Davis continues to be a coveted placement for visiting Shinshinim because of our dynamic and energetic student body, our unique and refreshing approach to Jewish practice and our school's deep love of Israel.

Trip to Charleston

Sixth Grade students had a great four-day experience in Charleston, South Carolina. Students connected to the rich history of the South and learned about environmentalism with bodies of fresh and saltwater, all while exploring what it means to be a leader, and to live our Davis values in different settings.

Highlights of the trip included a trip to Fort Sumter, time at Folly Beach, kayaking alongside dolphins, a guided tour of Boone Hall Plantation and a catamaran ride.

Tech-Connect with Georgia Tech

Middle School Tech Pioneers were excited to visit the Georgia Tech Invention Studio, a student-run makerspace where students, staff, and faculty build projects for research, personal or academic usage. The innovative facility is run by Prototype Instructors, which is a role that several of our Davis alumni currently hold. Davis Tech Pioneers toured the space and saw live demonstrations of their cutting-edge equipment as they gained knowledge about how the tools are used to generate solutions with a do-it-yourself mentality. Students walked away empowered to continue exploring their ideas and finding new ways to build, tinker and innovate.

Ukulele & Keyboard Concerts

Parents and friends enjoyed keyboard and ukulele concerts recently at the Rosenberg Performing Arts Theatre. Through both instruments, children learn about beat, harmony, melody, rhythm, and tempo as well as eye-hand coordination and independent movement of fingers. In just a few weeks, students learned a variety of songs of their choice that they were proud to perform during the concerts.

Congratulations to our talented students, Mrs. Gimpelevich, and Mr. Michek for excellent and enjoyable showcases.

Simchat Torah Celebration

Our entire community came together to celebrate Simchat Torah, one of the special highlights of the year at The Davis Academy. After three years, all Mechina - 8th grade students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents and friends were finally together again for this holiday, wrapped in the words of Torah. Students waved flags, danced and cheered with ruach, while the Middle School students unscrolled the Torah around the Lower School gym and read the very first and very last verses.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

Cross Country Champions

Congratulations to the Davis cross country boys team who won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Cross Country Championship. They defeated seven other teams and were led by 8th grader Dillon Pinsker, who placed 2nd place overall out of 57 runners; 6th grader Nate Richmond, and 8th grader Jared Katz also finished in the top ten. The girls team had an outstanding performance as well, finishing in 3rd place, with 8th grader Marisa Ragghianti finishing second overall. This season changed the Davis cross country record books as both Dillon and Marisa broke school records, becoming the most decorated cross country runners in Davis history. Congratulations to the entire cross country team, as well as Coaches Matt Barry and Sean Coffey, for an incredible season. Go Lions!

VideoGame Design

Davis faculty continuously strive to foster new ways of thinking and doing. Fifth graders were challenged to use a hands-on platform to create their own video game. Students went from content consumers into confident digital creators by applying design thinking skills (empathy, define, ideate, prototype, test) and using Bloxels, a combination of software and physical resources, to create characters, art, stories, and games to share with the world. They crafted their own pixel art tiles and animated a cast of characters to make a game that is uniquely theirs, all while practicing the “4’Cs” of communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

Save the Date: The Spongebob Musical

The Davis Academy performing arts team is gearing up for an all-school production of the Spongebob Musical, youth edition, with performances planned for March 26 & 27 of 2023. This show is not the cartoon series but the youth edition of the Broadway show, which is family friendly and full of heart, laughter, and songs by today’s most celebrated pop and rock artists. The show thematically highlights the theme of community, optimism, inclusion, and perseverance and is certain to be an adventurous, delightful, and exciting musical extravaganza!

of Service A

Incelebration of the 30th anniversary of The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy, special initiatives and programming have been incorporated throughout the school year, offering opportunities for the entire community to celebrate in heartfelt and meaningful ways. In this spirit, the Lower School campus opened its doors to welcome over 300 people of all ages to participate in a Davis Day of Service, designed to recognize the importance of giving back, which has been an integral component of The Davis Academy’s mission since its doors opened 30 years ago.

Students, parents, grandparents, alumni, and Davis friends worked hand in hand with multiple community partners in the Atlanta area. In just a few hours, the grateful and enthusiastic attendees delivered impressive results:

• Created over 200 custom made cards for elderly residents at The Jewish Home

• Rescued and packed 200 bagels in support of Bagel Rescue

• Put together about 200 snack bags in conjunction with The Sandwich Project

• Made over 500 bags of food items for children in need as part of Backpack Buddies

• Socialized foster dogs from Angels Among Us with a ton of licks and petting

• Filled many boxes with winter coats collected for the Atlanta Mission through Homeless at Heart

• Created hundreds of thank you cards for soldiers who serve to protect our country as well as those who serve in the Israel Defense Forces

• Painted hundreds of rocks for the Davis Nature Sanctuary

“Giving back as a family is a tangible way to ensure that social responsibility is a priority for the next generation. Not only do kids learn to see the world through kindness, but they are both capable and proud to participate in addressing essential and immediate needs in the community around them. Since the school’s inception thirty years ago, we have been committed to teaching children that they are responsible for helping to make the world a better place,” shared Amy Shafron, Head of School.

“At Davis we believe that every person has the power to create positive change in their community and our world. We give back because we know that instilling the value of Tzedek is one of the most important lessons that we can teach our students and families. And the lesson of Tzedek, a value at the heart of The Davis Academy, can only be taught by doing,” said Rabbi Micah Lapidus, Director of Jewish and Hebrew Studies.

As Tzedek is such an important dimension of a Davis Academy education, Mechina through 5th grade students participate on interdisciplinary and project based learning opportunities around specific Tzedek themes: Taking Care of the Earth (Mechina); Caring for Animals and Respect for Creation (Kindergarten); Water Conservation, Caring for Elderly (First Grade); Nourishing the Body & Soul and Improving Food

Scarcity (2nd Grade); Taking Responsibility for the Needs of the Community (3rd Grade); Embracing Diversity (4th Grade); Participating in Acts of Justice to Improve the Future for Marginalized Populations (5th Grade). In Middle School, special initiatives are driven by students in our Middle School Leadership Training Institute (MSLTI), through spotlights on individual Bar and Bat Mitzvah service projects, Project Impact, and service-themed field trips, as students are encouraged to embrace a life of giving.

It is our goal and deepest affirmation of our values when we see our Davis alumni carry our values out into the world beyond graduation. Through The Davis Academy Alumni Tzedek Grant program, the school recognizes and supports charitable initiatives led by Davis alumni in high school or college. Founded in 2016, this grant has been awarded to 14 exemplary alumni working on extraordinary Tzedek projects.

Steeped in Reform Jewish values and a commitment to social justice, the school has the honor and responsibility of ensuring that our children “pay it forward,” making a difference in our Atlanta Jewish community, our country, and the world. The Davis Academy continues to be a proud, valued, and reliable partner with many organizations in Atlanta and around the world, as our student mensches engage and make an impact.

A Package from Home Africa Aids Action

Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Alyn Hospital Israel

The Avalon

The Alzheimer Association

American Cancer Society

American Friends of the IDF American Heart Association

American Jewish Committee Angels Among Us

American Red Cross

Amy’s Holiday Party

Atlanta Community Food Bank

Atlanta Humane Society Atlanta Mission

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House

Backpack Buddies

Bagel Rescue Black Jewish Seder Bayit L’Kol Yeled, Israel

Ben Massell Dental Clinic Berman Commons

Bert’s Big Adventure Books for Africa

Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta

BRACA Café Europa Camp Jenny Camp Twin Lakes Canine Assistants

Center for Civil and Human Rights Chai Lifeline

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Children’s Museum of Atlanta City of Dunwoody City of Sandy Springs

The Cohen Home

Community Assistance Center

Crohns & Colitis Foundation

Cradle of Love Georgia Adoption Services Cure Autism Now

The Drake House Dunwoody Nature Center

Emily's Trick or Treat to Cure Crohn's & Colitis

For-A-Day Foundation

Foster Kids Foundation

The Genesis Shelter Georgia Transplant Foundation Habima Theater Heifer International Help Center for Law H.E.R.O for Children Homeless at Heart Hope Lodge

IndependenceWORKS of JF&CS

Inner Harbour Youth Village Intrepid Fallen Hero Islamic Speakers Bureau

The Israeli Sports Center for Disabled

The Jerusalem Foundation

The Jewish Home Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS)

Jewish National Fund

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Leket (National Food Bank of Israel)

Lev Lalev Girls Orphanage Love 146

Mogen David Adom

The Margot Flamini Memorial Fund

Mary Hall Freedom House Medshare Must Ministries

National Brain Tumor Society

National Multiple Sclerosis Society NECHAMA

New Orleans Habitat for Humanity

One Family Fund

The Package Good Paws Atlanta Project Open Hand

Punch Out Breast Cancer

The Sandwich Project Sheltering Arms

Solidarity Sandy Springs

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

The Will to Live Foundation

The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

William Breman Jewish Home World Wildlife Foundation Elachee Nature Center Yad LaKashish

The Zaban Night Shelter Zoo Atlanta

In the spirit of amplifying the greater good in the community and in honor of our 30th anniversary, The Davis Academy launched a new initiative called Nurture. Based on the belief that “it takes a village to raise a parent,” Nurture offers special programming and professional resources to support families with young children throughout greater Atlanta, to help guide them through the complex journey of raising a child. To learn more visit nurtureatlanta.org

The Davis Academy is proud to make a difference in Atlanta and around the world through partnerships with the following organizations:

School founders, Jan Epstein and Carol Nemo, take their vision of a Reform Jewish Day School in Atlanta to UAHC officials in New York.

1989

1992

The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy opens with 20 students in Kindergarten & First Grade in the basement of the Junior Achievement Building on Abernathy Road. Mollie Aczel was named the first Head of School

The school completes its first year and receives the GAC (Georgia Accrediting Commission) accreditation after only one year.

1993

Phase 1 of Roberts Drive Facility opens with 180 students in grades K-5. 1996

The newly completed Davis Academy Middle School campus opens down the street from the Lower School Campus.

The Davis Academy achieves accreditation from SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). Phase II additions, including the Leffler Middle School and Selig Family Gymnasium are completed and Rabbi Steven Ballaban becomes the second Head of School.

1999

of Milestones

2000

20 Students graduate in The Davis Academy’s first 8th grade graduation.

1995

Groundbreaking takes place on the first permanent site on Roberts Drive following a successful capital campaign.

2001

$10 million Capital Campaign, “Building for Success” is launched for the new Middle School Campus.

2002

The Davis Academy celebrates the completion of its 10th year with continued growth in students in kindergarten through 8th grade.

The Davis Academy celebrates its 20th year.

2012

The Rosenberg Performing Arts Theatre, Kaufman Chapel, new dining hall & kitchen, and innovative learning spaces open with the completion of the Next Stage expansion.

Sidney Kirschner becomes The Davis Academy’s third Head of School.

2006

2005

The Davis Academy achieves triple accreditation by SACS, SAIS and GAC.

2010

Amy Shafron is appointed Head of School.

School ensures a continuous learning experience in innovative ways through a global Covid-19 pandemic.

2020-2022

The Davis Academy celebrates its 25th school year and surpasses 1000 graduates.

2017

2015

The $7.5 million Next Stage Capital Campaign launches to create new performance, learning, and gathering spaces for students. The Mechina:Kindergarten Prep program expands to include multiple classrooms of eligible four and young five year olds.

2022

The Davis Academy community celebrates 30th Year milestone.

2020

The Davis Academy officially launches its own record label, Davis Love Records, with the goal of uniting the community through original music composed by Rabbi Micah Lapidus, adding to the songbook of the Jewish people, and recording new versions of traditional songs and prayers.

Journey

We are proud and grateful for what we have accomplished over the course of our incredible 30-year history.

Learning C mmunity

Grandparents

Lunch & Learn

In October, Grandparents enjoyed a Lunch & Learn experience together on the topic of brain health and memory, featuring Dr. Monica Parker, Professor of Neurology at Emory University, and one of the nation’s leading neuroscientists, Dr. Stuart Zola. Each of the experts on the panel shared their professional knowledge and perspectives and answered a wide array of questions from guests.

Renowned Parenting Expert Visits Davis— Dr. Becky Kennedy

Over 500 hundred community members filled the Rosenberg Performing Arts Theatre to learn from nationally renowned parenting guru, Dr. Becky Kennedy. Over the past several years, Dr. Becky Kennedy, known to her followers as “Dr. Becky,” has been sparking a parenting revolution and was recently named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine, as someone who’s rethinking the way we raise our children. The audience included parents of all ages, including some Davis alumni who are now starting families of their own. This parenting event was sponsored by Nurture, an initiative of The Davis Academy, in partnership with the MJCCA.

Teachers Teach and Learn; Students Do the Same

Middle School faculty member Matt Barry, was a presenter at the Georgia Social Studies Conference in Athens. Mr Barry shared seven different projects relating to World History and US History, used in our Middle School classes, that can be adopted for high school learners, with focus on developing critical thinking skills, organizational and timeline skills, as well as artistic creativity. Davis faculty members in attendance at the full day Conference were: Michelle Mittleman, Sharone Bolnick, Megan Sullivan, Valerie Webber, Stacy Brown, and Drew Frank.

Teachers Daniel Jones and Noah Warshauer, as well as our Middle School students who serve as Tech Pioneers, attended the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC), to learn from and share experiences with educators from around the globe about technology integration strategies.

Davis Tech Pioneers presented the project Davis Drawbot, a device that draws vector shapes on a mobile whiteboard. Students demonstrated how they created the device by using arduino, 3D printed parts, motors, and special software to render the images drawn on the board. The Davis Drawbot was a “showstopper” that wowed many educators attending the conference. Follow the QR link to see the Davis Drawbot in action.

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