Hooper Renick School, once the only school for Blacks in Gwinnett County, is now a library and living archive, thanks to an intergovernmental agreement between Gwinnett County and the city of Lawrenceville. The ribbon-cutting ceremony today was full of energy and history for those familiar with segregation in the second most populous city in the […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
Opening of new Forest Park Middle School delayed
The new Forest Park Middle School will not open on the same time due to “unforseen global supply chain disruptions,” said district spokespersons on Friday. The new middle school, located in Clayton County, was set to open in August 2025 with a $75 million price tag and is being constructed by MEJA Construction. Due to […]
GHSA Updates Transfer Rules for Student-Athletes Ahead of 2025–2026 Season
As of Tuesday morning, the Georgia High School Association is revising its rules on student-athlete transfers, particularly those who transfer more than twice after the 9th-grade year. At the latest GHSA Board of Trustees meeting, updates were made to Bylaw 1.60, which governs school service areas, student transfers, migrant students, and migratory waivers. What’s also […]
Mercer unveils state’s first diagnostic center for adults with developmental disabilities
Mercer University School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and River Edge Behavioral Health, introduced a pioneering new health care facility on June 9 that aims to transform how Georgia cares for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The 34,000-square-foot Mercer Center for IDD Care, located […]
Rachel Kinsaul named 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year
Rachel Kinsaul, an agricultural science teacher at Morgan County High School, is the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year. State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced the selection at a banquet held tonight at Lanier Islands to celebrate all District Teachers of the Year. “Rachel Kinsaul opens up possibilities for her students every day – in […]
Christy Todd named as Chief of Staff to Richard Woods
State School Superintendent Richard Woods has named Christy Todd, the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, as the Georgia Department of Education’s next Chief of Staff. Todd, the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, went on to lead teacher recruitment and retention projects at the Georgia Department of Education after her tenure. Previously, she spent […]
Atlanta Board of Education to cut 135 jobs with 2026 $1.3 billion budget
Over 130 jobs will be cut with the Atlanta Public School’s Board of Education approval of a $1.3 billion budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The approval of the budget was backed by the school board official’s emphasis that the elimination of these positions was an “emphasis on a back to basics approach”. “Atlanta Public […]
Clayton County Public Schools offer a three tier raise proposal for staff
After public outcry over Clayton County Public Schools not offering a raise for the 2025-2026 school year, Superintendent Dr. Anthony W. Smith has proposed three potential compensation packages aimed at rewarding the district’s more than 7,000 employees. “This tiered approach ensures the most meaningful increases reach those earning the least,” said Dr. Smith. “These options […]
Georgia lawmakers propose Pay Cuts for Gwinnett School Board over superintendent firings
A group of Georgia legislators has introduced a bipartisan bill that would significantly reduce the pay of Gwinnett County school board members if they terminate another superintendent without cause. House Bill 767 proposes cutting board members’ compensation to $50 per meeting until any resulting superintendent buyout is fully paid. “We’re paying someone $1.3 million not […]
Rockdale County Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts Announces Retirement
Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts has announced his retirement, effective February 14, 2025, after the board went into an executive session on Thursday night (Feb. 13 to discuss land, legal, and human resource matters. The Rockdale County Board of Education has accepted Dr. Oatts’ retirement and appointed Chief Academic Officer Shirley Chesser […]
Georgia lawmakers push education bills on sports, charter schools, and cellphones
This week at the Georgia Legislature, lawmakers tackled a range of education-related issues, from transgender students in athletics and school choice to classroom technology policies. Female, Male, Coed Spaces Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), introduced by Senator Greg Dolezal of Cumming, aims to ensure fair and safe participation in middle school, high school, and college […]
Georgia Tech directive orders removal of DEI-related content from websites
Atlanta, GA– A new directive from the Georgia Institute of Technology, following guidance from the University System of Georgia, has led to the removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)-related content from all Georgia Tech-affiliated websites. The directive has been communicated to faculty and staff, leading to concerns about transparency and academic freedom. In a […]
Gwinnett County School Board Votes to End Superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts’ Contract
The Gwinnett County Public Schools Board of Education has voted to terminate the contract of Superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts. In a special called executive session held Friday morning, the board for Georgia’s largest school district decided in a 3-2 vote. Watts’ contract, initially set to expire in July 2026, will now end in April 2025. […]
Gwinnett County Board of Education Announces Special Meeting
The Gwinnett County Board of Education will convene for a Special Called Meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Executive Board Room of the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, Georgia 30024. This meeting aims to […]
Thousands of Henry County School employees are without pay
Thousands of Henry County School employees are panicking after they were informed that their pay would be delayed five days due to the recent winter weather. On Thursday, the district informed the more than 6,000 employees that payroll would be adjusted from Friday Jan. 24 to Wednesday, Jan. 29. Henry County is one of a […]
Governor Kemp and State Leaders Announces Investments in Education and School Safety
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, House Speaker Jon Burns, and key Republican members of the General Assembly, held a press conference to unveil significant budget and safety priorities for education in Georgia. These measures aim to address critical needs in K-12 education and enhance […]
Tolton Pace sworn in as District 6 Seat for Atlanta Board of Education
In a special called meeting, the Atlanta Board of Education swore in Tolton Pace as the appointed board member for District 6 today at 1:00 pm. The District 6 area includes the following schools: Elementary: Cascade, Cleveland Avenue, Continental Colony, Deerwood Academy, Fickett, Heritage Academy, Humphries, Hutchinson, Kimberly, Kindezi at Gideons, Perkerson Middle Schools:Bunche, Forrest […]
Three Finalists Emerge for District 6 Vacancy
Atlanta, GA — Last night the final three candidates were introduced to the community for the community candidate community at the Villages at Carver Family YMCA. The final three candidates for the vacant District 6 position are: Tolton Pace, Wayne Martin Jr., and Nate Jester. This seat was vacated in December 2024, as Eshe Collins […]
Georgia Schools Show Academic Gains in 2024 CCRPI Report
The 2024 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores were released today and reveal how students performed across Georgia’s elementary, middle, and high schools. Some elementary schools excelled in “Closing Gaps,” while middle schools led in “Readiness,” and high schools showed strong performance in the “Graduation Rate” category. “This year’s College and Career Ready […]
Eshé Collins Wins Runoff for Atlanta City Council Post 3 At-Large Seat
Eshé Collins has emerged as the projected winner in the Dec. 3 runoff election for the Post 3 At-Large seat on the Atlanta City Council, defeating Nicole “Nikki” Evans Jones. Unofficial results from DeKalb and Fulton counties show Collins secured approximately 8,800 votes (60%), compared to Evans’ nearly 5,900 votes (40%). Collins’ victory follows a […]
Georgia Introduces School Voucher Program for Students in Low-Performing Schools
The Georgia Office of Student Achievement has identified hundreds of elementary, middle, and high schools across the state as low-performing. In response, the state is rolling out the Georgia Promise Scholarship, a school voucher program designed to provide new educational opportunities for affected families. The Georgia Promise Scholarship offers eligible students a $6,500 voucher that […]
Trump selects Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly selected Linda McMahon as the next U.S. Secretary of Education, which could significantly shift the nation’s education policy. During his campaign, Trump has signaled plans to eliminate the Department of Education, making McMahon potentially its last leader. “For the past four years, as the Chair of the Board at the […]
GHSA adjusts football playoff schedule due to Hurricane Helene
The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has adjusted the football playoff schedule due to significant damage caused by Hurricane Helene in parts of the state. The regular season, initially set to end on November 1st, will now conclude on November 8th, allowing schools impacted by the hurricane to make up missed games. The opening round […]
Rockdale Counties closed due to BioLab Fire
Rockdale County Public Schools has announced its closure for all year-round staff starting today and through Friday, October 4, due to the environmental emergency caused by the BioLab fire on Sunday, September 29, 2024. This announcement comes after a chemical fire broke out at BioLab in Conyers, causing 90,000 + residents in much of the […]