ABOUT
MISSION AND HISTORY
Established in 2010, I'm A Star Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides an outlet for students (ages 12-18) to develop solutions to help their peers overcome negative statistics.
An acronym for “Smart, Talented And Resilient” students, the Foundation draws 35 student servant leaders from middle and high schools across Duval County each year. The teens volunteer their weekends to come together and strategize to improve their communities.
I'm A Star Foundation trains teens to embrace the notion that the essence of leadership is service. Students engage in service learning projects focused on improving three core issues: childhood obesity, food deserts, and student homelessness.
FOUNDER
I’m A Star Foundation Executive Director Betty Seabrook Burney is a former Duval County School Board member who joined the board in November 2004 and held the distinction of serving as a two time Board Chairman (2006 and 2011) and a two-time Vice Chairman (2005 and 2010). At the end of her term as School Board Chairman, Duval County achieved the distinction of having all chronically low performing schools exit the state of Florida’s intervene list.
Burney serves as a consultant for the Center for Reform of School Systems where she works with School Boards and Superintendents to provide technical assistance on governance strategies and practices designed to impact student achievement and to narrow the academic achievement gap. Her expertise has been shared with the following school districts:
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Houston Independent School District
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Corsicana Independent School District (Corsicana, TX)
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Tyler Independent School District (Tyler, TX)
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Prince Georges County School District (Prince Georges, MD)
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Richmond School District (Richmond, VA)
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Syracuse County School District (Syracuse, NY)
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Memphis School District (Memphis, TN)
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District (Charlotte, NC)
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New Orleans Parish School District (New Orleans, LA)
PARTNERS
