Education
Greater Atlanta Christian School’s Dr. Crystal Downs Receives Society of Excellence Award from Johns Hopkins University
NORCROSS, Ga. – June 7, 2023
Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) is proud to announce that Dr. Crystal Downs has been honored with the prestigious Society of Excellence Award from Johns Hopkins University. Downs received her Ed.D. in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins.
The award “recognizes a graduating candidate in each program who has shown academic excellence, leadership, collaboration with peers, and superior competency in an internship.”
Downs embodies the qualities and aspirations that Johns Hopkins seeks in its doctoral students and graduates.
As a scholar-practitioner, Downs’ research knowledge is put into practice as a GAC school leader. Throughout her doctoral studies and research, she uncovered that teachers nationwide lacked confidence in implementing culturally responsive teaching strategies. She shared these findings and has mobilized a community of professional educators eager to support all learners. At GAC, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Her contributions have profoundly impacted GAC and other independent schools, including Ethos School, GAC’s online school.
This next school year, Downs will lead in a new way as our Ethos Academic Dean while continuing her leadership as one of our Instructional Lead Teachers, training GAC teachers with the most recent research-based learning.
Downs has served as the GAC High School Academic Dean for the past six years and will step into the role of Ethos Academic Dean this fall.
“In her new role, students and faculty will come to love and appreciate Downs for her kind spirit and eagerness to continue the excellent work of Ethos,” Dr. Betty Morris, GAC Director of Academics and Teacher Growth said. “Downs will be instrumental in expanding course offerings and teacher training, and creating and implementing Professional Development for Ethos teachers as well as in other schools that partner with Ethos.”
Ethos School (Ethos) was established by Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) in 2017. Ethos School was founded to cultivate an engaging, relational, and high-quality online learning experience for faith-based schools and homeschool families within a faith-filled context. Ethos now serves nearly 600 students from across the globe with over 100 courses available for grades 4-12. The faculty of Ethos School believe that a student’s engagement with their teacher and peers is key for sound learning. Ethos courses are designed using the most current technology to ensure a virtual environment filled with rich, inquisitive dialogue. In addition, 100% of Ethos faculty have or are pursuing a graduate degree, and Ethos teachers currently maintain an 80% AP test pass rate, compared to 60% nationally.
We’re pleased that Downs will lead in the growth of Ethos as we continue to provide the best faith-infused academics in the Christian education market.
Downs joined GAC in 2015 as an Academic Support Teacher and then a K12 Learning Advocate. She expressed that what initially caught her attention was “the authentic presentation of Christian perspective as well as the diversity in the student body.” Her love of learning and the desire to help others learn has blessed GAC students of all levels.
About Greater Atlanta Christian School:
Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) is one of Atlanta’s largest Christian schools, serving over 1,800 PK-12th grade students. The walkable 90-acre campus is located in Norcross, Georgia, ½ mile off I-85 and Indian Trail Road. GAC provides an array of in-person, online, and hybrid options with over 65 STEM courses, 29 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual college credit courses, and personalized and project-based learning. In addition to forward-thinking innovation, GAC students benefit from caring, responsive teaching and small class sizes. The 2022 graduates earned nearly $23M in collegiate scholarships with acceptances to top universities throughout the country. GAC is a faith-infused, academically rich community, ranking at the top of the state for teaching quality, arts, and athletics.
For more information, please contact:
Margie Asef. Director of Community Relations
masef@GAC.org | 770-243-2258
Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett (Good Samaritan Gwinnett) has received state authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) to officially launch Access Academy, a private, certificate-granting, low-cost postsecondary education program targeting students of low-income and/or minority households who aspire to pursue careers in healthcare but may lack the financial means to attend traditional college programs.
Access Academy is designed to meet the needs of students from underserved communities, providing healthcare-specific training at a fraction of the cost, thanks to charitable donations and volunteer-based faculty support.
Access Academy will initially offer a five-month medical assistant certification program. Graduates of the program will be able to enter the workforce without the burden of student loans, directly benefiting their household income and financial well-being.
“We are thrilled to launch Access Academy and open the doors of opportunity for those who need it most,” said Shameka Allen, CEO of Good Samaritan Gwinnett. “Our mission has always been to support underserved communities, and now, with Access Academy, we can extend that impact by helping students earn their medical assistant certificates and get their start in healthcare.”
A history of mentoring and education
Good Samaritan Gwinnett has a rich history of educating undergraduate and graduate students in health sciences. Since 2012, the organization has mentored nearly 450 graduate students pursuing medical and dental professional degrees. The cost of precepting just one midlevel student for an average of 168 hours amounts to $10,038, reflecting the organization’s dedication to training and education.
Greg Lang, chief financial officer of Good Samaritan Gwinnett, spearheaded the efforts to secure state authorization and launch Access Academy.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see Access Academy come to life after months of planning and preparation,” Lang said. “Access Academy is not just providing training — it’s offering hope, opportunity and the support needed to turn dreams into reality.”
An ongoing mission
The launch of Access Academy is part of Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s ongoing mission to expand its reach and make healthcare more accessible, both by providing direct patient care and by equipping future healthcare professionals with the skills they need to succeed. Since Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s inception in 2005, more than 52,300 patients have entered the clinic more than 300,000 times.
For more information about Access Academy, visit them at goodsamgwinnett.org/access-academy or email Greg Lang at Greg.Lang@goodsamgwinnett.org.
Pinecrest Academy, a private preK3–12 Catholic school serving north metro Atlanta, has once again been named to the College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction.
The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while also broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximizing college readiness.
“We are so honored to have received this AP Honor Roll Award, as we strive each year to provide every student with a college preparatory experience, which includes the successful completion of challenging AP courses,” commented Amy Bowman, Pinecrest Academy high school principal. “The Platinum designation from AP speaks to the excellence that our faculty strives for in delivering challenging content that prepares our students for college.”
The numbers
During the 2023-2024 school year, Pinecrest had 89% of seniors taking at least one AP exam during high school, 82% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam and 58% who took five or more AP exams. Twenty-one AP courses were offered, representing 30 sections taught by 12 high school teachers at the school.
“Our Class of 2024 earned a 100% acceptance into the college/university of their choice,” Bowman said. “Since the school’s first graduating class of 2007, Pinecrest’s high school has maintained a 100% graduation rate every year.”
AP Access Award
Pinecrest Academy was also awarded the AP Access Award this year. Schools on the AP School Honor Roll may earn the AP Access Award, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework.
“AP represents an opportunity for students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement and potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “The schools have shown that they can expand access to these college-level courses and still drive high performance — they represent the best of our AP program.”
For more information, visit pinecrestacademy.org.
For more about the Advanced Placement® Program, visit ap.collegeboard.org.
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