Graduation Coach

Email:  Pat_Marr@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

         General Information

                     Mrs. Pat Marr is the Graduation Coach at Jones Middle School for 2008-2009. She has 36 years of experience in education predominantly in school counseling in middle schools. Mrs. Marr is a state licensed, nationally certified counselor who is best known for her knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for working with middle school students.

     The Graduation Coach is a program initiated by Governor Purdue. The first year of this program began last school year at the high school level.  Realizing students needed to be identified and provided interventions earlier; the position was created for all middle schools in the state of Georgia.

     The trend of students dropping out of school is a process that begins way before high school. Some students may drop out physically and others drop out emotionally. The role of the Middle School Graduation Coach is to identify students who are at risk of dropping out and connecting them to needed services to prevent that from happening. These identified students will receive resources and services needed to guide them on the path to graduation.  Some of the factors used in identifying students at risk include:

History of school failure, retention and/or overage for grade

Low CRCT test scores, reading and/or math achievement

Attendance problems/truancy

Behavioral problems, history of suspension

Disengagement from school, low expectations, lack of extra curricular involvement

Family extras or risk factors: economically disadvantaged and/or high mobility.

 

     The graduation Coach will primarily focus on 6^th and 8^th grade retainees and 8thgrade transition students at Jones Middle. She will assess barriers to student success based on data and personal information and collaborate with teachers, parents and leadership to remove those barriers. The Graduation Coach will develop transition programs and vertical teams with elementary and high schools. The Graduation Coach will also develop relationships with parents/guardians, community organizations and other resources.

      For additional information, please call Mrs. Marr at 770-904-5465.

             Mrs. Pat Marr

                 Graduation Coach