We will never

forget where we were Sept. 11, 2001, when we heard the news of the attack

on America.

The shock and

magnitude of the event forever will remain in our hearts.

The Fulton

County School System's response was immediate. Within minutes, all 75

schools had been put on full safety alert. Staff members, many of whom

had family and friends in New York and Washington, put aside their personal

fears and concerns and concentrated on the safety of our students.

Counselors,

psychologists and social workers were on call to help students and staff

cope with the enormity of events.

Since the attack,

the response has been even more overwhelming.

School staffs

still follow tough safety procedures, but the reaction has now shifted

to one of help for the victims and their families. Local schools are sponsoring

fund-raisers, employees donated more than $20,000 to relief efforts, and

messages of support continue to go out to the survivors and our leaders.

Educators talk

of "teachable moments" those activities that offer the opportunity

to teach far more than the originally scheduled lesson plan.

There have

been many teachable moments over the past few weeks and our teachers have

risen to the occasion, always considering the sensitivity of the issue

and the needs of the students. These are trying times, but our staff continues

to prove their professionalism.

We hear much

talk of heroes, and students have had an opportunity to learn just what

the term really means. On Sept. 21, we celebrated a different type of

hero.

In an event

that had been planned long before the terrorist attacks, the Fulton County

School System honored our outstanding employees and partners of the year.

The 2001 Recognition Luncheon was timely because it gave us a chance to

say thank you to those who often are unsung heroes the people who teach

valuable lessons, who model the way, and encourage the hearts of our youth.

They are true heroes who never fail to inspire, to dream big, to reach

high and to endure.

As I looked

across the room during that event, I was impressed with what I saw. We

do not know what will happen in our country during the next few months

and years, but we do know that the education of our students will be in

good hands.

With this group

of educators, today's students will be prepared to serve as tomorrow's

leaders. I hope you join me in thanking them and all 9,000 Fulton County

employees for their heroism. They are helping to educate and to raise

up the next generation of heroes our firemen, our police officers, our

business leaders, our senators and representatives, and yes, our teachers.

If you have

any questions about the Fulton County School System, please contact our

Community Relations Department at 404-763-6830, or visit our Web site

at www.fulton.k12.ga.us .

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