Ga. Appleseed's Rob Rhodes and Sharon Hill present at the truancy conference.

Ga. School Discipline Report Findings Shared At Statewide Truancy Prevention Conference

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The clock is ticking for the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. Administrators for the Atlanta-based public interest law non-profit are hoping to wrap up the second phase of its Effective School Discipline: Keeping Kids in Class report by Dec. 15. 

Despite the looming deadline pressure, the report’s primary author, Rob Rhodes, took time out Thursday to share  phase one of the study results with community stakeholders attending the 2010 Georgia Truancy and Delinquency Prevention Conference. The three-day event hosted by the Truancy Intervention Project (TIP) wrapping up today in Marietta, is the non-profit truancy prevention agency’s first-ever statewide conference. Presenters at the Governor’s Office for Children and Families funded conference have included TIP co-founder and former Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Glenda Hatchett and Judge Michael Key, president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Truancy Intervention Project: "Why Don’t They Go To School?"

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Seven years ago, South Atlanta High School student Faydren Battle had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Problems at home and problems with her boyfriend kept her on edge and out of school. She says her life turned around when truancy charges landed her in court and introduced her to the Truancy Intervention Project, co-founded by former Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Glenda Hatchett and Terry Walsh, then President of the Atlanta Bar Association. The non-profit works closely with children who skip school (and their families) to address the underlying problems that keep them out of the classroom. Battle, now 25, is one of thousands of success stories the organization has celebrated over its 19-year history.

Judge Hatchett Brings Juvenile Justice Message To Atlanta Twice This Month

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Judge Glenda Hatchet is most widely known for her nationally-syndicated television show, but many people don’t know that before she claimed fame on the tube, she served as Chief Presiding Judge of Atlanta’s Fulton County Juvenile Court. Over the years the former senior attorney for Delta Air Lines and Emory University School of Law alumna, has built up quite a reputation as a passionate advocate for parents, children and families.  The author and in-demand speaker is scheduled to take her expertise and no-nonsense commentary to metro Atlanta  audiences twice this month during addresses October 16 and October 28.  It's no surprise that  Hatchett has a lot to say about the juvenile justice system. She spoke to JJIE.org’s Chandra Thomas about an array of issues, including her concerns about Georgia’s system, why fighting truancy matters and the focus of her new book. What do you consider the number one juvenile justice issue in Georgia? Hands down it would be the lack of resources.

Judge Hatchett’s Self-Help Tips

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Former Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Glenda Hatchett of the Judge Hatchett Show has released a new self-help book, Dare to Take Charge: How to Live Your Life On Purpose. She’ll have a virtual book tour through Pump Up Your Book, a PR firm for authors, starting September 15 and ending October 29. Her book tells personal stories that encourage people to challenge themselves and face obstacles to reach their true potential, according to Pump Up Your Book. As we reported earlier this month, Hatchett will be in Atlanta keynoting the Truancy Intervention conference from October 27 to October 29.  The conference is entitled “Charting the Course:  Reinvesting In and Reengaging Georgia’s Youth” and will hold workshops with topics like “understanding why truancy exists” and “the connection between delinquency and juvenile offenses”.  Attendance is free, but space is limited.  Sign up here.

Judge Hatchett Keynotes Conference

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The Truancy Intervention Project will host a conference sponsored by the Governor’s Office for Children and Families. The event has a long name: Charting the Course: Reinvesting In and Reengaging Georgia’s Youth. The conference runs Oct. 27-29 and features a keynote speech from former Fulton County Juvenile Chief Judge Glenda Hatchett, now star of the “Judge Hatchett Show.” Registration is free, but limited to 200 people. The event is almost half full so sign up here.