Memorandum of Understanding MOU between DCSD and Georgia Aquarium Inc.

                    Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
                                             between
                              DeKalb County School District
                                                and
                                   Georgia Aquarium Inc.
                                July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025


This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets forth the terms and understanding between DeKalb
County School District and Georgia Aquarium, Inc who are providing services and/or in-kind
support to DeKalb County School District.

DeKalb County School District
DeKalb County School District representative: Dr. Devon Q. Horton
Position: Superintendent
Address: 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Telephone: 678-676-1200
E-mail: devon_horton@dekalbschoolsga.org


Georgia Aquarium Inc.
Georgia Aquarium representative: Travis Burke
Position: Executive Vice President
Address: 225 Baker St., Atlanta, GA 30313
Telephone: 404-581-4199
E-mail: tburke@georgiaaquarium.org

Purpose
This document outlines the newly created partnership between Georgia Aquarium, Inc and DeKalb
County School District. This MOU is to establish an agreement among the above-mentioned parties
about their roles and responsibilities for the partnership's implementation. This agreement is to
establish and coordinate joint processes and procedures for the provision of the partnership
(including summer, before and after school, weekends, evenings, in-service days, vacation breaks,
etc.) for students, family engagement activities, staff development, leadership development, and
program evaluation.

Georgia Aquarium Partnership Vision and Overview
DeKalb County School District will collaborate with Georgia Aquarium, Incorporated to address
inequities in science education and promote increasing career and post-secondary opportunities
in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Students in grades K-12 will gain access to opportunities that explore careers in Marine Science
and empower them with the knowledge to address socio-environmental issues that impact their
community. This agreement will also provide Georgia Aquarium, Inc. the opportunity to
strategically achieve goals of being a school and community partner while assisting in the
process of addressing workforce development in the future of Ocean Sciences and Marine
Biology.
GOALS

    1. To develop K-12 career exploration opportunities in Marine Biology and Ocean Science
       to increase minority representation in the field.
    2. To accelerate learning and bridge gaps in knowledge and understanding through real
       world enrichment opportunities as it relates to science and other core content areas.
    3. To support improving student outcomes as it pertains to standards-based local, state and
       national summative assessments.
    4. To increase teacher’s professional knowledge as it relates to Marine, Ocean, and
       Environmental Sciences to support integration and application of the core content areas.
    5. To increase Georgia Aquarium’s program accessibility and outreach for DeKalb County
       School District parents and students in grades K-12.
    6. To increase student’s knowledge of aquaculture to raise awareness in local and global
       environmental sustainability efforts.
    7. To develop a more cohesive path for K-12 students to engage in meaningful instruction,
       using sustained multipoint contacts to create a continuous path into STEM/Marine
       Science careers.
    8. To instill an understanding of and passion for aquatic animals and their habitats by
       increasing awareness and abilities for diverse populations to pursue careers in aquatic
       fields.




Duties of Parties

For DeKalb County School District, the responsibilities and agreements include:

Provide classroom space and all other appropriate space to accommodate the Georgia Aquarium
partnership.

Be responsible for allocating funds for identified programs and personnel that support the goals of the
partnership as predetermined by the DeKalb County School District approved budget.

Provide DeKalb County School District teachers to participate in professional development opportunities
that support the partnership's goals.

Recruit and refer students and teachers to participate in meaningful instruction through multipoint
contacts and experiences to create a continuous path into STEM/Marine Science careers.




For Georgia Aquarium, Inc., the following will apply:
Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will facilitate teacher professional development in K-12 Marine Biology,
Ocean Science, and Environmental Science to prepare DCSD teachers to support and implement the
learning process with students.

Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will provide/develop STEM-based educational programming that will engage
students in authentic marine and science-driven research.

Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will provide access to their staff, curriculum, onsite classrooms/learning
environments and resources for student engagement experiences available through their education
programs (Outreach, Instructor-Led Programs, Virtual Programs, etc.) and any future programs that are
relevant to the identified goals and objectives of the partnership.

Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will communicate and collaborate with DeKalb County School District about
curriculum and instruction as it relates to Marine, Ocean, and Environmental Science

Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will be responsible for providing necessary materials/supplies/equipment for
designated components in accordance with their budget

Activities and Funding

DeKalb County School District will support the curriculum development, transportation, personnel,
Georgia Aquarium, Inc experiences, teacher professional development and provide
resources/supplies/equipment to support the implementation of the partnership.

The Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will provide the staff and resources related to the instructional and learning
opportunities that are provided and developed by the Georgia Aquarium. Programs that will aid in the
completion of program objectio are listed below:

    •   Georgia Aquarium Field Trips (Includes but not limited to General Admission through
        SEA/Instructor-Led Field Trips)
    •   Individual Classroom Outreach
    •   Virtual Field Trips (Live Sessions)
    •   Virtual Field Trips (Pre-recorded session/pre and post lessons/assessments)
    •   Teacher PD: Project Based Learning/STEM in Marine Science (Aquarium), Aquaponics and
        Aquaculture, Content Knowledge for Marine Science, Oceanography, and Environmental Science
    •   Mobile Classroom Outreach Programs
    •   Aquaponics System/Edible Gardens
    •   Ocean Guardian Schools Program

Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will provide the staff and resources needed to implement the above identified
programs.

The Georgia Aquarium, Inc. will give priority considerations to DeKalb County School District as it
pertains to program and staff scheduling, time allocations, and funding to fully support the objectives and
goals of the partnership.



Duration
The agreement is for a period of one year and may be renewed annually contingent on funding
availability.
Procedures for Modification and Termination
• The MOU may be modified, revised, extended, or renewed by mutual written consent of all parties, by
the issuance of a written amendment, signed and dated by all parties.
• Any party of the MOU may terminate their participation in this MOU by giving written notice of intent
to terminate to each of the partners. In such case of the need of a 3rd party agreement to carry out the
objections stated above, termination by one or more of those parties to this MOU does not alter the terms
or obligations of DeKalb County School District and Georgia Aquarium, Inc to this MOU.

Signatures
All partners in this agreement sign to confirm their acceptance of its terms by their signature.


_________________________________________                    _______________________________
DeKalb County School District Representative                 Georgia Aquarium Representative


_________________________________________                    ________________________________
DeKalb County School District Printed Name/Title             Georgia Aquarium Printed Name/Title