Frank Lebby Stanton Elementary School

Dr. Phyllis E. Earls is a native Atlantan, and former student of Atlanta Public Schools. She has served students in the elementary, middle school, and high school settings as a Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Magnet Coordinator, and an Academy Leader. Each grade band has afforded rich opportunities that prepared Dr. Earls for her current role as Culture Keeper and Principal of Frank Lebby Stanton Elementary School.

Dr. Earls was instrumental in leading a champion of educators in transforming Frank L. Stanton from a school on the state’s Falling/Opportunity Schools list and the district’s Failing School List to a Beating the Odds School during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

She attributes the uptick in moving the progression needle/academic improvement evident across all content areas as measured by The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) to the following:

1. Collective Commitments evidence in the Collective Responsibility i.e. an “all” hands-on approach of FLS Stakeholders to provide instructional support to students based on their level of readiness.
2. The Academic Ownership embraced by Tiger Scholars.
3. Transformational target professional learning provided by APS.
4. Professional Learning Community/Data-driven Coaching consistently implemented to strengthen and sustain the momentum of content -specific professional learning communities.
5. Business/Community-based Partners who provided needs-based support aligned to the school’s vision and mission, core beliefs, and strategic priorities.

Dr. Earls defines herself as a life-long learner, whose focus is on evidence-based curriculum, assessment, and instructional best practices as outlined in FLS’ Playbook, the guiding post and linchpin for instructional and improved achievement for all students.She believes her life’s purpose is to advocate for children in whatever capacity is necessary to ensure each scholar advances to middle school, high school, and beyond to ensure he or she is globally prepared for a choice-filled future.

Dr. Earls believes, she is better as a result of her faculty and staff, students, parents and community partners and grateful to serve at the beloved, “Hope of the Hill”, Frank Lebby Stanton Elementary School, a place where we believe, “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.” H.E. Luccock