Parents, teachers and staff urge Clayton County board to keep student engagement specialists and consider inclusive charter school

Speakers at the Clayton County Board of Education March meeting urged the district to preserve student engagement specialist positions and to consider a replication or partnership with Tapestry Public Charter School, an inclusive charter in DeKalb County.

Roger Collum, who identified himself as a student engagement specialist at Perry Career Academy, told the board that student engagement specialists help students facing credit deficits, housing insecurity and mental-health struggles. “If student engagement specialists are eliminated, students across Clayton County will lose a vital resource that directly supports their ability to succeed,” Collum said. He asked the board to keep the positions that provide advocacy and connection for at‑risk students.

Several speakers urged the board to explore bringing a Tapestry-style inclusive charter to Clayton County. Ophelia Norum, a resident of Board District 3, said her son, who was diagnosed with autism while attending Clayton County schools, lacked an appropriate school placement in the district and that a Tapestry model would meet families’ needs. “A school like Tapestry in Clayton County would not only provide essential support for students with unique learning needs, but also enhance the overall educational landscape of our district,” Norum said.

Nicole Allen, assistant principal at Tapestry Public Charter School in DeKalb County, described Tapestry’s inclusive model and requested opportunities to collaborate with Clayton County to replicate that approach. “We are committed to replicating our inclusive charter school model right here in Clayton County,” Allen said, describing project‑based instruction, partnerships with local businesses and training in trauma‑informed practices.

Cetera Hayes, a Tapestry teacher and parent, said the school’s approach benefits both students on the autism spectrum and their peers. “Tapestry has exposed him to many, many things,” Hayes said of her child. “Bringing Tapestry to Clayton County will be a big bonus for Clayton County.”

Also during public participation, Raynard Burrell, executive director of the Federation of Public Service Employees, described newly offered employee benefits for Clayton County school employees, including guaranteed-issue life insurance and long-term disability options; his remarks were informational and not a request for board action.

Speakers asked the board to consider concrete next steps: preserve student engagement roles in budget planning and open dialogue with Tapestry or similar providers about pathways to bring inclusive programming into the district. The board did not take formal action on those public requests during the meeting.