By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

After the school closure last week due to the coronavirus scare, DeKalb County Superintendent of Education, Dr. Jason Barnett sprang into action to help students who might not otherwise have food to eat.

Several volunteers begin to package a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack to be distributed at sites across the county. 

On Monday, over 18,800 meals were distributed to cover five days.   These meals in coordination with Backpack of Blessings should supply the children’s needs for a healthy meal. 

Dr. Jason Barnett has set a lofty goal for next week to supply 24,000 meals for the next week.

DeKalb County administrators and teachers have worked endless hours to provide for all the students’ needs.  In this time of uncertainty, many teachers have reached out to their students.

Two of our very own DeKalb County teachers, both previous Southern Torch Teachers of the Week, have stepped up to connect with their students during this difficult time.

Jan Renfroe Faulkner, a first-grade teacher at Geraldine visited some of her students.  She talked to them from her Jeep and held a sign up saying that she missed them. 

“This is a hard time for all teachers. We care about our kids and worry about them even if school is closed,” said Faulkner. “I have FaceTimed with my students, sent text messages and also went to their homes, honked and yelled for them to come outside. I made a sign that said ‘I Miss You’ on it and gave out blow pops as a surprise.”

Shea King Bruce used the Zoom app to reach out to her students. She spoke to each student and then read them a bedtime story.  

“It was such a blessing to have the ability to use Zoom where I was able to see and have a conversation with the students in my class!” stated Bruce. “We all miss each other in this time away and it is awesome that we have the technology to be able to interact with each other.” 

“I enjoyed this experience and I know the kids did as well. Their parents messaged me about how some cried when we all said goodbye and many wanted to call back,” Bruce concluded. “We look forward to doing this again soon!”