On Thursday, DeKalb County School District announced that an elementary school is closing temporarily after a group of students tested positive for the coronavirus. “We feel this is the best decision for this school community at this time.” Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris said at a news conference this afternoon. In the statement, the district said 18 students at […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
Posted inFayette County Schools
Fayette County High School Looking for Alumni
On Friday, October 15, the Fayette County High School Marching Band will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the marching band as an alumni band performs before the Tigers’ varsity football game against Riverdale. Any and all marching band alumni are asked to participate in the pre-game performance to celebrate the monumental milestone. The participation fee […]
Posted inFulton County Schools
Fulton County Schools Pulls Plug on Mask Optional School
After the lack of interest from parents, Fulton County Schools pulled the plug on a plan to open a mask-optional campus at the old Crabapple Middle School located in Roswell. This learning hub was proposed at the August 12th work session by Fulton County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Looney as a response to meet the demands […]
Posted inFayette County Schools
Fayette County School Board member chips in as classroom sub
Fayette County Board of Education member Leonard Presberg is among the many stepping up and stepping in as a substitute teacher. Presberg recently filled in as a sub for a Pre-K class at Robert J. Burch Elementary. Presberg has represented Post 4 on the Fayette County School Board since being appointed in December. 2011. Recently, […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools to Mandate Testing for Staff After Labor Day
Starting after Labor Day, Atlanta Public School employees will be required to be tested twice weekly in an attempt to curb the rising COVID-19 numbers in the district. ”Surveillance testing will allow us to keep up our momentum of quality, in-person learning and minimize the risk for everyone. Even if you are fully vaccinated, or […]
Posted inMarietta City Schools
NewsBrief: Alan Levine Resigns from Marietta City Schools Board
On Wednesday, Marietta City Schools Board Member, Alan Levine, resigned after moving out of his school zone in Marietta. Currently, there are three candidates for the Ward 1 Zone: Lisa Lindsay, Jeff DeJarnett, and Alex Castro for the November election. The board is currently weighing their options on replacing Levine for the remaining four months […]
Posted inDecatur City Schools
City of Decatur City Schools to Require Vaccinations for Students and Staff
In an unprecedented move, the City of Decatur City Schools will require all students and staff to be vaccinated from COVID-19. This idea was presented at the August 24th work session and will be voted on at their September regular board meeting. If passed, Decatur City Schools will be the first K-12 school district in […]
Posted inFayette County Schools
Fayette County Schools to Pivot to Mandatory Masks on Tuesday, August 24
In a letter to parents on Monday, Fayette County Schools will require masks in all schools and office buildings starting Tuesday, August 24 through September 17, 2021, with the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community. Currently, 16 of their 24 schools have face-covering requirements after one percent of their staff and student population […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Superintendent Woods: Some Issues Divide Us, There Is More That Unites Us
In a statement released today, Georgia State Superintendent, Richard Woods, released a statement of him contracting and recovering from COVID-19. The letter released encouraged districts and schools to continue efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus.Woods tested positive for COVID several weeks prior to the start of the school year and after endorsing Governor […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Booker T. Washington High School Coach Named High School Coach of the Year
The NFL has named Booker T. Washington High School Coach Derrick Avery as the recipient of the 2020 NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year, the league announced today. The honor is given to the high school football coach that best represents character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player protection, […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia PTA Issues Statement on Culturally Responsive Curricula
In the aftermath of concerned parents storming school board meetings throughout the metro Atlanta area, Georgia PTA has issued a statement on the need for culturally responsive curricula in schools. The statement comes after the State Board of Education passed a resolution essentally the ‘banning’ of critical race theory being taught in K-12 despite dozens […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Board of Education Incumbents and Newcomers Vying For 9 Seats
Jordan Wilson This upcoming November 2nd, nine seats are available for the general election on the Atlanta Board of Education. The board is an independent system neither affiliated to the City of Atlanta’s Mayor or the City Council but holds the responsibility for creating approved policies that govern the Atlanta Public School districts. It consists […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
In Cobb County, Politics to Play as Argument Over COVID Not on Board Agenda
Despite COVID cases soaring in Cobb County, the Cobb County Board an item was absent from the agenda on Thursday’s meeting- the handling of COVID by the district. This comes after a parent rally advocating for a mask mandate and Board Vice-President, David Banks, making the news for responding to constituent’s concerns with conspiracy theories. […]
Posted inMarietta City Schools
Marietta City Schools to Require Masks Starting Monday, August 23
Starting Monday, August 23 all students, visitors, and staff in Marrietta City Schools and buses will require masks, according to Marietta Superintendent Grant Rivera’s announcement to families on Thursday. In addition to the mask mandate, Rivera introduced quarantine protocols and renewed COVID vaccination clinics. MCS Data In his announcement, Rivera reported 38 positive student cases […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
President of Spelman College, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. Announces Her Retirement
In a message to the University today, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., announced that she will retire as president of Spelman College at the end of this academic year, effective as of June 30, 2022. This announcement came after Campbell exceeded the $250 million fundraising goal. Since Dr. Campbell joined the Spelman community in 2015, there have been […]
Posted inMarietta City Schools
Marietta City Schools Superintendent, Grant Rivera Cites Polarization and Politicization as Realities of COVID Pandemic
In a letter to Marietta City Schools Families, Superintendent Grant Rivera outlined what he described as… “the walls of the classroom, the polarization and politicization that come from the realities of a pandemic feel crushing. The opinions around masks, quarantine protocols, and virtual learning have sowed deep-seeded divisions in our community.” The letter in whole […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia Milestones Scores Come In; Indicate Importance of In-Person Learning
Today scores from the 2020-2021 administration of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System were released throughout Georgia today. The scores compared to 2018-2019 show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated learning disruptions, along with low levels in participation. The state has specifically asked districts, news media, parents, and community members to use caution in […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County School Board Vice Chairman David Banks Disseminates Misinformation About COVID-19
In a series of emails Cobb County School Board Vice Chairman, David Banks, shocked parents by sending out the controversial video of Dr. Dan Stock addressing the Mt. Vernon School Board in Indiana. The video which has drawn ire from the community focused on masks not being worthwhile and drew a rebuttal from the Indiana […]
Posted inFayette County Schools
Sandy Creek High School Alumni, Calvin Johnson, Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Former Sandy Creek High School standout, Calvin Johnson is now officially a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his induction on Sunday, August 8. A former three-year starter and almost State Player of the year in 2003, Johnson went on to Georgia Tech where he finished his college career, second in catches, first […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
State Representative Penns Letter to Cobb County Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale
In a letter to Cobb County School Superintendent, Chris Ragsdale, State Representative Teri Anulewicz from Georgia House District 42, penned a letter imploring him to prioritize students and staff safety and mandate masks. The letter was penned after Cobb County Schools has had over 822 COVID cases since July 1st- with only two weeks of […]
Posted inFulton County Schools
Fulton County Schools Announces Mask Optional K-8 School and New K-2 Virtual School for some students
In a regularly scheduled work session Thursday, Fulton County Schools announced plans for a K-2 remote learning option and a K-8 mask optional hub. This comes after the district announced last week that due to rising COVID-19 numbers, masks are required to be worn inside buildings. These new options will start September 7 and go […]
Posted inHenry County Schools
Henry County Schools Will Now Require Masks
In a message to parents late Monday afternoon, Henry County Schools moved from a level 1 to level 4 of the COVID-19 Management Plan that now requires all students to wear a mask for all indoor spacing along with a reduction in seating capacity for indoor extracurricular events and public meetings. In addition, all large […]
Posted inFulton County Schools
Fulton County School Implements Mask Mandate
In a communication to families, Fulton County Schools implemented a mask mandate in 13 out of the 14 FCS Cities. Using the local data taken from the Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) Epidemiology Reports Fulton County Schools determined schools and facilities located in municipalities where the rate of infection exceeds 100 per 100,000 residents will require […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools Updated COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
In communication with families late Wednesday, Atlanta Public Schools issued updated guidance for families and staff in the fight to combat COVID-19. This comes as other districts are under fire for not requiring masks to be worn in schools after parent outcry. While APS was one of the first districts to implement a mask mandate, […]