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 […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
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 […]
Several metro area school districts close early due to Hurricane Helene
Due to the potential for significant flooding and Georgia being in the path of Hurricane Helene, several school districts have adjusted their plans for classes, athletic events, and after-school activities. Hurricane Helene has intensified into a Category 1 storm with winds reaching 80 mph as of Wednesday morning. The storm is expected to move through […]
Father of Alleged Barrow County shooter arrested and charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children
Tonight, the father of Colt Gray, Colin Gray, the suspect in the Apalachee High School mass shooting, was arrested and charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children. In coordination with District Attorney Brad Smith, the GBI has arrested Colin Gray, age 54, in connection to the shooting at Apalachee High School. Colin is […]
Shooter identified; 2 students and 2 teachers dead at shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County
Education in Atlanta has confirmed that a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County on Wednesday morning resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and sent nine others to the hospital. The deceased include two students and two teachers. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has identified the shooter as 14-year-old Cold […]
A Timeline of Cobb County’s canceled multi-purpose facility plans
In March of last year, the Cobb County Board of Education approved a proposal from Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to build a $50 million multi-purpose facility. During the work session where the board approved the proposal, Ragsdale said the facility would mostly be used for academic purpouses. Still, he later cited graduations as “the most important […]
State Superintendent clarifies implementation, adds AP African American Studies to course catalog
Georgia’s state school superintendent has reversed his course and announced that Advanced Placement courses, including the AP African American Studies course, will be exempt from the state’s divisive concepts law. State School Superintendent Richard Woods said Wednesday that AP, International Baccalaureate, and dual enrollment courses will not be restricted by O.C.G.A. § 20-1-11, which prohibits […]
Morehouse College Receives Historic $20 Million Gift for Faculty Expansion
Morehouse College, the nation’s only liberal arts institution dedicated to educating Black men, has received a $20 million anonymous donation to bolster its academic programs and faculty roster. The gift, announced Aug. 6, marks the largest contribution ever designated for faculty positions at the college. The funds will establish six endowed professorships across various academic […]
Atlanta Public Schools Welcomes New Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson
Atlanta Public Schools welcomed its new superintendent, Dr. Bryan Johnson this morning, as he was sworn in to serve as the district’s 3rd superintendent in 11 years. Johnson’s arrival coincides with the start of the 2024-2025 school year, as 50,000 students return to classrooms across the city on Aug. 1 . “The Atlanta Board of […]
Governor Kemp questions decision to reject AP African American History Course
Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp is questioning State Superintendent Richard Woods’ decision not to approve AP African American History for the 2024-2025 school year. In an open letter dated today, Kemp acknowledges that his office doesn’t have a role in the decision. However, he says his office has fielded calls from stakeholders seeking information about […]
State Superintendent Richard Woods does not approve course focused on African American history
In a unilateral move, State School Superintendent Richard Woods decided not to recommend adding Advanced Placement African American History to the state catalog for the 2024-2025 school year. Richard Woods, Georgia School Superintendent This change comes after the state approved several school districts to offer a pilot in the 2023-2024 school year, and students were […]