About Us

The International Community School (ICS) is a public charter school in DeKalb County, Georgia serving students in grades K-5. ICS was strategically designed in 2002 to bring together refugee, immigrant and local children in an academically challenging and nurturing environment. Today, the school serves more than 400 students annually representing more than 30 nationalities and speaking 25 languages.

Mission

The International Community School is an International Baccalaureate World School that educates refugees, immigrants and local children, and provides a rigorous and holistic education in an intentionally diverse community of mutual learners.

The International Community School seeks staff and families who are committed to our vision of creating a supportive community of students, staff and parents, learning from each other and celebrating diversity among us.

We understand that each member of our community (staff, family, and student) is unique and essential to our life together.

  • We believe that everyone is inherently able to learn and it is our collective responsibility to nurture the unique genius of every person.
  • We believe in educating the whole child – their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, cultural and creative selves. Teaching in a culturally responsive lens, we view socio-emotional development as important as promoting academic excellence.
  • We encourage expression through maintaining home languages, fostering fluency in Standard English and offering opportunities to learn other languages.
  • We welcome and engage with people of various identity differences including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, faith and political affiliation.
  • We are preparing children to be global citizens who take action and work toward social justice in their communities.
  • As a beloved community, we approach complex issues with strong communication, collaboration, perspective, respect and active listening.

I contribute to a legacy and my voice and actions matter.

OUR HISTORY

ICS opened in 2002 as one of Georgia’s earliest start-up public charter schools; to address the educational circumstances of the thousands of refugees from all over the world who relocated to DeKalb County.

The first year in operation, the school served 125 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students and operated on the campus of Avondale Patillo United Methodist Church. One grade level was added annually as the children progressed, and in 2006 a second campus opened for 5th and 6th grade students at St Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church. The two-campus solution was taxing on logistical, financial and human resources, and was not a permanent solution to accommodate the growth.The school consolidated operations and moved into the Medlock Elementary facility in August 2012.

Today, ICS serves 475 children annually in grades K-5 representing over 30 countries and speaking 25 languages. Students at ICS represent an economic mix seldom seen in U.S. public schools. Forty-nine percent are child refugees or immigrants, and nearly 70% are eligible for free or reduced lunch. What brings these diverse communities together is a powerful vision of public education. The ICS curriculum follows the Georgia Standards of Excellence taught within the framework of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, enabling students to employ an investigative, inquiry-based approach to learning. ICS operates school-wide under the guiding principles of global citizenship.

The ICS curriculum, distinctive instructional methods, and educational programs are based on one crucial concept and unifying principle: ICS is not a school for refugees or a school for American children. Instead, it is a school where community is built around both groups under the powerful pedagogical idea that neither group can properly learn without the other, both academically and socially. ICS improves student learning for refugee, immigrant and local children through its special education services, enhanced language instruction, and a variety of community building activities designed to offer exposure to other cultures and perspectives.

STAFF DIRECTORY

ADMINISTRATION

Fran Carroll
Executive Director

Diamond Jefferies
Principal

Dione Smith
Assistant Principal

Charlotte Flores
Director of Community & Culture

Sharonda Frazier
Director of Special Projects & Academic Support

Alex Bermudez
IB Coordinator

LaPorcha Marbury
Student Services Coordinator (Registrar & Health Services)

Chinar Hasan
Front Office Coordinator

Htwe Htwe 
Family Engagement Coordinator

Georgette Bell
Business Manager: Nutrition & Facilities

Lane Elder
Business Manager: Communications & Marketing

Sharene Smith
Business Manager: Human Resources & Finance

Rob Prince
Technology Support Specialist

Debra Bryant
Federal Programs Compliance Manager

Scorch
School Mascot

TEACHERS & TEACHER'S ASSISTANTS

KINDERGARTEN

Rachel Bielenberg

Taylor Thomas

Mary Martinez

Eboni Crosby

Sima Niroula 
Kindergarten TA

Saadiyah Alani 
Kindergarten TA

Shakila Aimaq
Kindergarten TA

Som Gurung 
Kindergarten TA

1ST GRADE

Menna Admasu 

Charlotte Cloyd

Aliya Shecter

Morris Mapp

2ND GRADE

Suzanne Balint 

Fatuma Atik

Hana Abdullahi

Alison Brown 

3RD GRADE

Sandra Lira-Santiago

Laurie Rohm

Gladys Guzman Gomez

4TH GRADE

Olivia Drumgoole

Kristen Janssen

Tynisha Brown

5TH GRADE

Meah Hill 

Courtney Erickson

Kiandra Brown

SPECIALS TEACHERS

Dawn Jones 
Physical Education

Mary Romano 
Art

David Bellamy
Media Center Coordinator (AmeriCorps)

Julie Ogle 
Music

ESOL, Gifted, & Academic Coaches

Tung Hoang 
ESOL Teacher

Alice Gertsel 
ESOL Teacher

Alyson Barrera
ESOL Teacher

Sabah Kunle-Muhammad
ESOL Teacher

Felicite Acho 
ESOL TA/French Teacher

Fahima Ibrahim 
ESOL TA

Julia Eisler 
French Teacher

Gilles Konan Kouadio 
Tier III Interventionist/French Teacher

Jacquelyn Webb
Gifted and Talent Development Instructor, The Wonder Lab

Amy Stoelinga
EIP Reading

Joseph Aczel
EIP Math

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Nikkiah Williams-Settles
SPED Program Coordinator

Barbra Morgan
SPED Resource

Tyeisha Andre
SPED Co-Teacher

Mya Alston
SPED Co-Teacher

Julia Johnson
SPED Co-Teacher

Dilbar Hajiessa
SPED Teaching Assistant

Jairus Long
SPED Teaching Assistant

Tam Nguyen
SPED Teaching Assistant

Karsyn Young
SPED Teaching Assistant

Campus Support Staff

Shawnta Tiller
Cafeteria Manager

Cliff Burrell
Facilites Maintenance

Lonnie Smith
Janitorial Services

Selwyn Harry
Gardener

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As a 501c3 non-profit organization, ICS is governed by a Board of Directors made up of community volunteers with various areas of expertise. These individuals provide governance and fiduciary oversight while maintaining an effective long-term vision for the school.

The 2024 Board Recruitment Campaign is accepting new Board Member applications until March 31, 2024. Learn more about joining our Board of Directors.

CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Chanika Perry

 Chair – [email protected] (Oct ’20-June ’24)
Hands on Atlanta

Bailey Maxwell

           Vice Chair – [email protected] (March ’22-March ’25) 
Bennett Thrasher

Natalie Olubuyide

SecretaryNatalie.Olubuyide@icsgeorgia.org (May ’21-June ’24)

Chervickia Roberts

Treasurer– [email protected] (Sep ’22-Sep ’25) 

Adrienne Avery

[email protected] (Oct’23-Oct’26)  

Kim Farr

[email protected] (Oct’23-Oct’26)       Aspen Leadership Group

KYRA M. CALDWELL TEMPLETON, PH.D.

[email protected]  (June’22-June’25)
Atlanta Public Schools

Brittany Cunningham

 b[email protected]              (July ’21-Oct ’24)
DeKalb County Schools

Xavier Flores

[email protected] (Jan’23-Jan’26)
Homestar Financial Corporation

Melissa Cantrell

melissa.cantrell@icsgeorgia.org  (Aug’22-Aug’25)
CDH Partners

Lexie Linger

lexie.linger@icsgeorgia.org  (Sep’22-Sep’25) 
Successful Nonprofits

Julie Mcfaddin

[email protected] (June ’22-June ’25)
City Schools of Decatur

Jonah Bushell

[email protected]  (June’23-June’26)
University of Georgia and C5 Georgia Youth Foundation 

Joshua Mayes

[email protected] (June’23-June’26)
Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield LLC

Fran Carroll

Ex-officio member –   [email protected]
ICS Executive Director

OTHER BOARD DOCUMENTS

Note: Clicking on each link will redirect you or begin download.

ICS-Form-990

Non-Profit Status Certificate -501 (c)3

Whistleblower Policy

Asbestos Annual Notice

Open Records Requests: 
To make a request under the Georgia Open Records Act, contact Claudia Rule with your specific request for documents, preferably via e-mail, at:

2418 Wood Trail Lane, Decatur, GA 30033. Tel 404-499-8969. 
[email protected]

Please note that ICS charges reasonable fees for the production of records, in accordance with the laws of the state of Georgia.

STRATEGIC PLAN

2022-2023 Annual Report

TRANSLATE

Severe Weather Advisory

ICS Closed 1/16/24