Fouse graduates from Education Policy Fellowship program

Amy Fouse, coordinator of English language arts, world languages and Title III/ESOL, was one of 20 graduates of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). The Fellows Class of 2014-2015 graduated May 21 at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce headquarters. Classmates selected Fouse to give the traditional closing address.

During the ceremony Fouse said, “What you think you can’t change, you just can’t change – yet. Change your perspective by continuing to lead and connect with those around you who may not seem so similar to you. Learn to listen and seek commonalities, learn the nuance art of compromise, learn to allow your opinions to evolve as you take into consideration the perspective of others, learn to shift the focus to the students in Georgia, our most priceless natural resource. You are the one who can change the conversation about policies that shape public education in Georgia.”

She closed her comments with a favorite quote. “As Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ Students in Georgia deserve and will benefit from your advocacy.”

EPFP is a national professional development program sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership that provides knowledge and networks to advance the core issues of education policy. The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) offers this professional development program to education, business, civic and government representatives. EPFP provides potential leaders with the knowledge and networks to advance the core issues of education policy, ultimately seeking to improve the chances of children and youth to succeed.

Georgia is one of 12 states and the District of Columbia to offer this unique program, which is sponsored locally by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and Wells Fargo.

Fouse commented about the value of the program to Georgia, saying, “The program equips leaders from all facets of Georgia industry to understand the state’s paramount responsibility to provide a quality education to all students and to understand how the decisions of our elected officials impact the ability of school systems to ensure the success of our students.”

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