50 Years of Educating Past, Present, and Future Leaders in DeKalb County and Beyond

As the sun rose on a beautiful Spring morning on April 28, the halls of Kingsley Elementary School were filled with excitement. For 50 years, the school has served as a respected mainstay in the Dunwoody and DeKalb County School District (DCSD) communities, and that was the day everyone was on-hand to celebrate the occasion.

Without question, Kingsley Elementary has held a special place in the hearts of the community since its founding in 1973. Many former alums joined current students, families, teachers, faculty, and staff to officially mark the grand occasion and bask in the nostalgia, fun, and appreciation for what the school has meant to them.

This year’s special birthday bash featured fun activities, including a bouncy slide, field games, local food trucks, and area vendors providing entertainment. A few Dunwoody High School students who attended Kingsley Elementary volunteered and even provided face paintings.

Kingsley Elementary Principal, Dr. Tyra Harris-Thompson, said she, her staff, parents, and the community worked to create a commemorative birthday celebration worthy of the school’s legacy.

“This is an amazing event,” said Dr. Harris-Thompson. “Kingsley has always been known as the hidden gem, but we have been here serving the community, and the community is constantly giving back to the school.”

Interim Superintendent Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley, DeKalb County School Board Member Anna Hill, and Dunwoody city officials also came by to celebrate. Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch presented the school with a proclamation to honor the school’s 50 years of service.

The celebration also featured every school yearbook dating back to the first yearbook (scrapbook) in 1971. Lauren Goodelman-Malloney, a student at Kingsley from 1989 to 1996 and now a Kingsley parent, assisted with finding all of the yearbooks.

admin staff

elder and child

face painting

people in park

“I went and looked through different areas of the school,” she said. “We had some people bring in some, but many old scrapbooks from the ’70s are stored here at the school.”

Mrs. Goodelman-Malloney’s son, Jackson, is a kindergarten student at Kingsley. She said it was amazing to celebrate the school’s 50th as a former student and now parent.

“It’s so nice to see the school so vibrant and active. It’s nice to be back,” said Mrs. Goodelman-Malloney. “My son loves it here. He has the time of his life and is learning so much. His teachers are amazing. I never thought I would be a Kingsley parent.”