Agenda Item
a. Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta Level Up: In-school Mentoring Services (Not to exceed $249,995) ~ Updated 8.10.2025
Summary: Presented by: Triscilla Weaver, Ph.D., Chief of Access & Opportunity, Division of Access & Opportunity,
Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief, Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and DCSD to provide Level Up: In-School Mentoring services to 400 students at Lithonia Middle School during the 2025- 2026 school year in an amount not to exceed $249,995.
Why: Lithonia Middle School has worked in partnership with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta program for the past two years and the results show an improvement in attendance and behavior for participating students. The DCSD would like to continue to implement the Level Up: In-School Mentoring program at Lithonia Middle School to support students in developing a vision for the future, avoid risky behavior(s), and assist in their development of having a sense of belonging. Lithonia Middle School was selected based on at-risk concerns presented by students.
Details: The Level Up program utilizes 9 paid staff members, including one mentoring supervisor, and 8 lead mentors, who meet weekly with small groups of five students and host 1:1 sessions with students. They will have the capacity to serve 400 students, including group and individual sessions.
Financial impact: The cost to fund the Level Up Program shall not exceed $249,995, and will be funded utilizing funds from Purchased Professional/Technical Services: 462.1000.530000.03221.7020.1779. 8010.090.0000 under Title IV.
Contact: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief, Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, (678) 676-0485
Triscilla Weaver, Ph.D., Chief of Access & Opportunity, Division of Access & Opportunity, (678) 676-1200
Mrs. Denise Revels, Director, Wrap Around & Support Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, (678) 676-1200
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approval by the Office of Legal Affairs
May 7, 2025
Dekalb County School District
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 3083
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is to confirm that the Level Up mentoring program operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Metro Atlanta, is a sole source program. This program is the only large-scale mentoring program
embedded in middle schools which offers full-time, professional mentors serving students through 1:1
and group mentoring in metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia.
There is no other in-school mentoring program that shares the unique program design of Level Up,
which is designed to meet the needs of middle schools and tracks specific outcomes for student
attendance, discipline, mental health, planning for the future, sense of belonging and avoiding risky
behaviors. The program is designed to serve a minimum of 100 students per grade with weekly
mentoring sessions.
Level Up is so innovative and unique that we are currently training other Big Brothers Big Sisters
affiliates around the country to implement the program.
If you desire additional information, don’t hesitate to contact me at (404) 601-7000 or
kathy.wells@bbbsatl.org
Sincerely,
Kathy Wells
Chief Financial Officer