Jimmy's Commitment to Improving Schools

When I first ran for office four years ago, one of the questions I was asked was, “How can we improve our schools in Chamblee?” At the time, I’ll be honest, I didn’t have a strong answer beyond encouraging community involvement. I knew I needed to do better.

As a councilmember, I don’t have direct authority over our schools, but I do believe we have a responsibility to influence, support, and partner wherever possible to make them stronger. That’s why I joined the board of the Dresden Elementary School Education Foundation (DESEF).

DESEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the educational experience at Dresden Elementary. The foundation provides resources that go beyond what the school district funds, supporting teacher grants, academic programs, arts and STEM initiatives, campus improvements, and community engagement. Their work helps ensure that every child in Dresden has access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

Beyond my work with DESEF, we’ve also been building partnerships with Chamblee High School to support their arts programs. We recently displayed student portraits in City Hall and have been working together to identify locations where students can paint murals. It’s a win for the students, who get to showcase their talents, and for the city, which gains vibrant public art that brings our community to life.

In addition, I’ve worked to build relationships with members of the DeKalb County School Board so we can have ongoing conversations about how to strengthen our school system-wide.

With that commitment to education in mind, I’m proud to share that I’ve received the endorsement of Andrew Ziffer, a leader who understands the importance of collaboration between city government, schools, and the community.

Thank you for the support, Andrew!

As always, I would love to hear from you on schools or any topic. My cell is 770-901-1121.

-Jimmy