by Michelle Wirth
Ivy Preparatory Academies started a special tradition to honor the school’s new recruits and returning teachers. On Thursday, May 8, Ivy Prep held an NFL draft-inspired “Signing Day” celebration.
The semi-formal event held at Clark Atlanta University included cheerleaders, a red carpet and a drum cadence. Administrators created the celebration as a way to applaud the hard work and commitment of Ivy Prep Faculty. As their names were called to sign onto Team Ivy for the upcoming school year, Ivy Prep educators cheered for their fellow colleagues.
“We are committed to quality of life for our teachers when it comes to job satisfaction and retention,” IPA Superintendent Alisha T. Morgan said. “We want our team members to feel appreciated and supported. Just as we celebrate athletes for their achievements and for joining a winning team, we celebrated our teachers for their commitment and for joining the Ivy team.”
The teachers and staff who attended received a catered meal at the Thomas W. Cole Jr. 
Research Center for Science and Technology. Service excellence awards were also presented to outstanding staff members. Those honored included Julie Carroll, a founding teacher who is leaving Ivy Prep after nine years of service.
More than 60 educators and support staff from IPA Gwinnett and IPA Kirkwood School for Girls attended Ivy Prep’s inaugural Signing Day. Superintendent Morgan and her leadership team of administrators said Signing Day was so successful that they plan to hold the event again next year. This year, teachers who took part in Signing Day received a stipend to help cover the cost of school supplies and outside professional development.
Michelle Wirth
Michelle, GCSA's Director of Communications, is an award-winning journalist with a background in strategic communications. She has a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Denver.
