Announcing the winners of the Georgia Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award

Governor Brian P. Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced the winners of the third annual Georgia Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award, which honors those who provide exemplary service in public education. Mrs. Marissa Ramos-Santana, a bilingual parent liaison for Carrollton City Schools, and Sergeant Jacob Wise, a school resource officer for Lumpkin County Schools, are this year’s winners. They were also submitted as Georgia’s nominees for the national RISE Award, which asks each state’s governor to nominate up to two classified school employees.

“I am pleased to recognize these two hard-working Georgians who dedicate their service to educating and protecting our state’s children,” Governor Brian Kemp said. “Mrs. Ramos-Santana and Sergeant Wise are two of the unsung heroes of K-12 schools in Georgia, and I appreciate everything they do to influence the students they interact with for the better.”

All schools and districts were invited to submit a nominee for the Georgia RISE Award. The nomination forms were reviewed by a jury composed of representatives from the Ministry of Education of Georgia and numerous educational organizations. The highest-scoring applications were presented to Governor Kemp, who made the final selection of two nominees.

“Education support professionals work every day to support the education of Georgia’s students,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Their work often takes place behind the scenes, which is why it is such a pleasure for us to honor these two outstanding members of our educational family, Mrs. Ramos-Santana and Sergeant Wise. I offer them all my sincere thanks and congratulations.”

Employees in the following job categories may be considered for the Georgia RISE Award. These categories are established by law for national awards: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, janitorial and maintenance services, health and student services, technical services, and trades.

Marissa Ramos-Santana is the district-wide bilingual parent liaison for Carrollton City Schools. In this role, she meets individually with families of non-native English speakers to provide guidance to their children as they transition into the school system.

To connect families, schools, and communities, Ms. Ramos-Santana hosts parent meetings to encourage family and school engagement, develops informative newsletters, highlights information on social media, makes home visits, and participates in school and community events . She sponsors a family resource center with educational materials and technology available for loan and works to identify additional resources available within the school and community for families.

To build connections with students and teachers, Ms. Ramos-Santana also volunteers in classrooms, conducts activities with students, and participates in extracurricular activities.

“Marissa reaches out to people and they immediately trust her and know they can count on her,” Gyla Gonzáles, executive director of Carroll County Family Connection, wrote in a letter of recommendation. “She’s exceptional at what she does and [it is] really inspiring how she approaches people and connects with them in a special way.”

Jacob Wise is the Lead School Resource Officer (SRO) for Lumpkin County Schools. He oversees five other SROs and works closely with the local sheriff to train officers and ensure the Lumpkin County campus is safe and secure.

In addition to keeping students safe throughout the school day, Sergeant Wise is an integral part of the Lumpkin County community and works to build relationships with students. He serves as a mentor to several students across the district, can be found at many afternoons and evenings at after-school events and school board meetings, and is one of the last to leave campus after a home football game.

Sergeant Wise is also a member of the Drug Free Lumpkin 365 Community Committee to combat underage alcohol and nicotine use. He also chairs the community’s Junior Law Enforcement Academy during the summer.

“As the new principal, Jacob’s calm demeanor and helpful spirit were a blessing,” wrote Nathan Gerrells, principal of Lumpkin County Middle School, in a letter of recommendation. “Officer Wise is working hard to make the SRO’s role a positive force in our building and district. He is an asset to our building and I’m glad I had the opportunity to work with him.”