On March 19, Cherokee School Board approved the appointment of CCSD’s first administrator focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Cecelia Lewis, who currently serves as a Principal in Maryland and has extensive school and district leadership experience. She was scheduled to join CCSD this summer as an administrator on special assignments for student services. […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
Posted inGeorgia Politics, Uncategorized
Georgia State School Board Passes Resolution Limiting Discussion on Race
In a shocking vote of 11-2, the Georgia Board of Education passed a five-page resolution on Thursday that focused on limiting class discussions on race in classrooms across the state. This vote came in the footsteps of state leaders such as Brian Kemp and Cobb County Superintendent and parents are in deeply divided talks with […]
Posted inUncategorized
News Brief: Starting this Fall, Atlanta University Consortium Institutions Will Require COVID-19 Vaccinations
Starting at the beginning of Fall 2021, the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) member institutions- Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library will require all students and members of their faculties and staff to be fully vaccinated. Citing safety and health concerns for their communities, […]
Posted inClayton County Schools
News Brief: Clayton County Schools to Offer Virtual Learning for the 2021-2022 School Year
Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, Clayton County Schools will implement a school-based virtual learning program to provide parents with the flexibility of a full-time at-home option for their children in grades 3-12. Students who are accepted will be enrolled at their zoned school; however, all of their instruction will be virtual. Students will engage […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
News Brief: Extended School Hours for Atlanta Public School Students
Starting August 5th, elementary students in Atlanta Public Schools will be in school 30 minutes longer to help students who are struggling with instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the district’s elementary schools start at 8 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. This extended day will allow schools to target students who may have […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools Halts Upcoming Vaccination Clinic
Atlanta Public Schools has cancelled a mass vaccination event for teachers following the pause of J&J vaccine after six cases of people who developed blood clotting issues. The original event which was an effort with Walgreens, Atlanta Public Schools was scheduled to have the clinic for their staff on April 12. However after the joint […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Board of Education Votes to School to Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy
On Monday the Atlanta Board of Education voted to change the name of Forrest Hill Academy to Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy. Forest Hills Academy is an alternative high school located off of Cleveland Avenue and was named after Nathan Before Forrest a Confederate General who was an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Gwinnett School Board Approve Superintendent Search
Dr. Samuel King presents to the Gwinnett County School Board.
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia’s Waiver of Accountability Requirements Approved
The United States Department of Education (USED) on Friday approved Georgia’s waiver of accountability requirements – including having to produce a College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) summary for the state, school districts, and schools. While USED did not approve Georgia’s request to waive state assessments altogether for the 2020-21 school year, which means […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Special Needs Vouchers Approved By Georgia Lawmakers
In a stunning move on Monday, lawmakers in Georgia approved (30-18) the expansion of the state’s private school voucher program when the State Senate expanded the program for students who have a 504 plan. This new plan would apply to students who had diagnosis of ailments including cancer to dyslexia to alcohol abuse and who […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia Public Schools Will Receive $3.8 Billion Dollars in Federal Funds
Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, public schools in Georgia will receive more than $3.8 billion in federal stimulus funds after the State Board of Education approved Superintendent Richard Woods’ recommendation to begin allocated the funds. These funds were awarded were determined by federal law and based on the share of Title I funding […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Proposed Math education standards open for a 30-day Period
The Georgia Department of Education needs the community’s feedback on the proposed the K-12 Mathematics Standards for the 2022-2024 school year. Starting today the standards are up for review for a 30-day public comment period. If approved, the standards will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year. Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, teachers will receive […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County Schools Gives Parents Choice for 2021-2022 School Year
Cobb County Schools Offers Options for families for the 2021-2022 school year.
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Starting in 2021-2022 School Year Atlanta Public Schools to Return to 5 Days Instruction
Starting in the 2021-2022 school year all Atlanta Public Schools students will return to five days of in-person instruction each week. While a virtual option will remain, teachers will no longer be expected to teach simultaneously or have asynchronous Wednesdays. According to the Superintendent’s blog, Herring continued, “We don’t intend to have asynchronous Wednesdays and […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Fulton County Schools’ Chief Operations Officer Leaves for Job With Gwinnett County Schools
On Thursday Fulton County Schools Board Members said goodbye to long-term Chief Operation Officers, Patrick Burke has he leaves for Gwinnett County Schools to be their Director of Planning. Burke who has spent more than two decades with the district, oversaw school building projects, nutrition and transportation. Citing the need to be closer to his […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
State School Board of Education Approves $1,000 Bonus for Georgia Teachers and Support Personnel
On Thursday the State Board of Education approved Governor Kemp and State Superintendent’s recommendation to provide a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to every public school teacher and support personnel. This bonus, provided by federal stimulus, is a good faith effort that helps with the ability to recruit teachers and retention of talent as educators have […]
Posted inNational News
U.S. Department of Education to Cancel $1 Billion in Student Loans for Borrowers
On Thursday, The U.S. Department of Education announced that it will streamline debt relief for millions of borrowers with claims that their secondary institution engaged in misconduct. Recalculating the formula made in the DeVos administration, Cardona and staff will rescind the formula for calculating partial relief and streamline an approach for granting full relief. This […]
Posted inAnti Racism
Opinion: Stop the Hate Against Asian Americans Forces Us to Speak Up
Caroline Diaz is the preschool director for Westminster Schools, an independent school in Atlanta. She has a strong passion for leadership and mentorship in the field of early childhood education. Caroline began her career as a lecturer for De La Salle University’s Psychology Department in Manila, Philippines. She also operated two early childhood learning centers while […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Wilbanks out as Gwinnett County Superintendent on June 30
In a surprising 3-2 vote, the Gwinnett School Board voted to end Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks’s contract a year early than his contract. With Board Chairman Everton Blair, Vice Chairwoman Karen Watkins, and board member Dr.Tarece Johnson voting in favor of the contract ending and Mary Kay Murphy and Steven Knudsen voting against the move. […]
Posted inClayton County Schools
Clayton County Set to Resume Face to Face Classes in April
In a startling move, Clayton County Superintendent Moreace Beasley announced Tuesday that students in grades K-5 starting April 12 via his YouTube Live Townhall meeting. “April 12, it is our plan if the vaccination distribution goes as planned, if we continue to see decreasing numbers, make no mistake, we will be returning our Pre-K through […]
Posted inCoranovirus
Biden Wants Every Teacher Vaccinated With One Covid 19 Shot in March
As teachers continue to push to be pushed ahead of the lines for COVID-19 vaccines, President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he wants every teacher, school staff, and child care worker in the United States to get at least one shot in March. This comes amidst more guidance that says the schools can safely reopen […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County Teacher Caught Blaming Breonna Taylor for Her Murder
Susan McCoy, a forensics science teacher at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Georgiaa was caught on camera this past week telling her class of students that Breonna Taylor was responsible for her own death. “I’m sorry she was killed but if you hang out with people with guns that shoot at cops you’re likely to […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Gwinnett County Schools Halts the Gateway Requirement for Students
In a startling move, Gwinnett County Schools has decided to waive the requirement that the Class of 2021 seniors must pass the Gateway exams in order to graduate. The Gateway exams are essay exams that requires sophomores to write about science and juniors about social studies prompts. Students who fail them can retake them but […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Kemp says Atlanta Teachers Can’t Move Up in the Vaccination Line
On Friday, Governor Kemp denied a request from the Atlanta Board of Education to move teachers in the 1A group for vaccinations against COVID-19 saying that there’s not enough of the supply and that indeed schools are safe to open. This comes after the School Board approved a resolution urging the state to begin vaccinating […]