Fear says the

school's CARE team enjoys success because it acts like a family with everyone

bringing their individual talents to the table and sharing them with others.

She also says support from local and county administrators plays a major

role in the team's accomplishments.

"Special

thanks goes out to Karen Spangler [school system social worker and county

coordinator for CARE] and Faith Hardnett [school principal] for their

support of the many programs that we offer. Without them none of this

would be possible," added Fear.

Fear points

out that East Fayette realizes that helping to meet the social and emotional

needs of students is not separate from academic achievement. She says

the two must be incorporated together to help the whole child be successful

and well rounded.

"Our school

has made the paradigm shift from the belief that prevention, philosophy,

strategies and activities run a separate course from academic curriculum.

We are making this a reality by providing developmentally appropriate,

effective curriculum which is designed to meet the needs of students,"

she explained.

"We at

East Fayette strive to reach out to all children and help them understand

that they are a member of the East Fayette family. We want each of them

to understand that someone will always be there for them."

East Fayette's

CARE team will be recognized at the SAPA conference Feb. 26 at the Sheraton

Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta.

Previous CARE

team winners of the SAPA award are Hood Avenue Elementary (1999), chaired

and Rising Starr Middle (2001), chaired by Kim Daniel.