Schools in Georgia with more than 90% of their third-grade students reading and grade level or above or with a 15% or higher increase are being recognized by the Georgia Department of Education as Literacy Leaders. A total of 155 schools across Georgia met the qualifications with seventy recognized for achievement and 85 recognized for […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
Posted inCherokee County Schools
Cherokee County Schools working with GSBA for their next superintendent
Cherokee County Schools is turning to the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) to help aid them in finding the next leader of the district after the current Superintendent, Dr. Brian V. Hightower announced his plans to retire at the end of this school year. During the September 14th meeting, Bill Sampson, the GSBA Board Development […]
Posted inMarietta City Schools
Marietta City Schools teacher gets keys to new home thanks to affordable housing program
Building is done for the City of Marietta’s first home under the city’s public service housing program to build affordable housing for employees. Methany Thornton, a Social Emotional Learning teacher at Marietta Middle School lived 35 minutes away from her job with her disabled husband, child, and two grandchildren. On Saturday, Thornton’s home was dedicated […]
Posted inDekalb County Schools
Dekalb County Schools set to audit outside athletic facilities
At the September 11 work session, Dekalb County Schools approved an item to order an audit of all high school athletic facilities. This approval comes after the Board approved CDH Partners as responsible for the audit and allowed $136,500. The scope of the work for the Audit is to evaluate the district high schools and […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent named head of app for HBCU students
The former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent, Lisa Herring, was named as the President of PROPEL according to a release by the company. Headquartered in Atlanta, PROPEL Learn is an app designed to empower Historically Black College and University students in bridging the gap between them and their professional aspirations. This past June, the Atlanta […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools denies application for a public charter focused on serving students with special needs
Atlanta Public Schools voted unanimously tonight to deny an application for a public charter school for students with special needs. The school, Tapestry Public Charter Schools Atlanta (TPCA), wanted to duplicate their model in Doraville by opening a new start-up charter school in Atlanta Public Schools for the 2024-2025 school year. According to the petition […]
Posted inUncategorized
Morehouse community mourns the loss of two students
The Morehouse College community is mourning the loss of two students, Hugh Douglas and Christion Files, Jr., from a car accident on Monday Afternoon in East Point. Both Files and Douglas were members of the Morehouse Business Association and roommates who were scheduled to graduate in 2025. “Hugh and Christion were not just friends but […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Key Changes to Senior Leadership in Atlanta Public Schools
In a surprising move, interim Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Danielle Battle shook up the senior leadership team on her first official day on the job. During the first board meeting of her tenure on Tuesday, September 5th, Dr. Battle will present the five familiar faces for appointment: Dr. Timothy Gadson, III Deputy Superintendent Erica […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Dr. Danielle S. Battle sworn in as interim superintendent of Atlanta Board of Education
Dr. Danielle S. Battle was sworn in as the interim superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools by Chief Magistrate Judge Cassandra Kirk this morning at the Center for Leadership and Learning. In the audience were Atlanta Council President Doug Shipman, Councilman Byron Amos, Councilman Matt Westmoreland as the elected officials in the audience, and former Atlanta […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Five Atlanta Board of Education Seats Up for reelection, ten residents qualified
Ten Atlanta residents qualified for the City of Atlanta Board education seats for Districts 1, 3, 5, and at-large seats 7 and 9. The 2023 election is the first staggered-term election for the Atlanta Board of Education, with only odd seats (District 1, District 3, District 5, At-Large Seat 7, and At-Large Seat 9) elected. […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County School District removes 2 “inappropriate” books from school libraries
Earlier this week, several schools in Cobb County Schools notified their school staff and parents that they removed books that, according to the communication, contained “highly inappropriate, sexually explicit content.” This announcement comes on the heels of Due West Elementary teacher Katie Rinderle, fired for reading “My Shadow is Purple” to her 5th Grade Class. […]
Posted inDecatur City Schools
Three candidates qualified for the City Schools of Decatur School Board Race
On Wednesday, Aug 23, 2023, three candidates qualified for the Nov 7 school board elections in the City Schools of Decatur. One was an incumbent (James H. Herndon), and two were new candidates (India Phipps Epps and Tracey Anderson.) For District 1, Post B, which covers the northern part of the city, incumbent James H. […]
Posted inUniversity of Georgia
University of Georgia welcomes its largest class in history
Last week the University of Georgia welcomed its largest class in UGA history, with 6,200 first-year students out of 43,500 applicants. Toted as the most academically qualified in UGA’s history, the incoming class is one of the largest and most academically qualified, with the first-year students averaging over ten Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County School Board votes to fire teacher over book on gender norms
The Cobb County School board voted tonight to fire Katie Rinderle, a fifth-grade teacher at Due West Elementary, after she read “My Shadow is Purple,” a book about gender norms, to her class. Rinderle was removed from her classroom in March after three parents complained, and Superintendent Ragsdale subsequently recommended her firing. At the time, […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools approves tax increase
In a special called meeting on Monday, Atlanta Public Schools voted to maintain the current millage rate of 20.500, with a vote of 5-0 with four board members not in attendance. Chief Financial Officer Lisa Bracken’s overview of the 2024 tax digest stressed that despite keeping the millage rate the same, due to increased property […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Dr. Danielle Battle to take the helm of Atlanta Public Schools
This past week, Atlanta Public Schools voted to approve Dr. Danielle Battle as interim superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. This comes after Board Chairman, Eshe Collins, announced in July that Dr. Herring’s contract would not be extended in June. “We appreciate Dr. Herring for her leadership, vision, and service to APS, especially during an unprecedented […]
Posted inClayton County Schools
Clayton County Schools announces Smith as permanent superintendent
The Clayton County Board of Education announced Dr. Anthony W. Smith as Superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools. Smith served as the interim superintendent in December 2022 after former leader Morcease J. Beasley left with six months on his contract. Dr. Smith has a long history in Clayton County schools, starting as a Computer Technology […]
Posted inUncategorized
Dekalb County Schools to start 2023-2024 school year with 400 teacher vacancies
With the start of school in metro Atlanta, Dekalb County Schools is implementing an “all hands on deck approach” as they face 400 open teacher vacancies that need to be fully staffed for the 2023-2024 school year. To help cover the vacancies, the district will start a plan that calls for hiring summer graduates as […]
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
Georgia schools show gains in early literacy for 2022-2023 Milestone Assessments
Last week the Georgia Department of Education released scores from the 2022-2023 Milestones Assessments, and there seems to be early gains in early literacy across the state. The 3rd Grade Georgia Milestones Assessment measures how well 3rd-grade students have learned knowledge and skills in the core areas of language arts and mathematics. The third grade […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Thousands of families expected at APS Back to School Bash
ATLANTA – This Saturday, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will host up to 11,000 families for its annual Back to School Bash at the Georgia World Congress Center in Halls C1 and C2. At this annual event, families will be able to get free backpacks filled with school supplies, educational and healthcare resources, fun activities, and giveaways. […]
Posted inPost Secondary
Berry College appoints inaugural Chief Diversity and Belonging Officer
Berry College appointed Haley Morgan Smith as its inaugural Chief Diversity and Belonging Officer in June 2023. Smith came to Berry College in 2020 and served as Director of Diversity and Inclusion before her promotion in June. Smith has over a decade of experience in community organizing and reconciliation in rural contexts. This past academic […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Board of Education begins search for new superintendent
The Atlanta Board of Education has officially announced plans to begin the search for a new superintendent. This comes after the announcement this past June to replace the current Superintendent, Dr. Lisa Herring, after announcing they would not be extending her contract beyond June 2024. The high-level timeline starts in July 2023 with the Board […]
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
State Board of Education considers change to minimum percentage requirement for End of Course Assessments
The State Board of Education meetings held on June 14th and 15th heard two rule changes that will impact students in grades K-12 this upcoming school year. The first rule was focused on waiving the promotion, placements, and retention rule for the Georgia Milestones Math Assessments for students in grades 5 and 8. The second rule […]
Posted inGeorgia News
Black students in Effingham County sue the school district for racial discrimination
ATLANTA—The ACLU of Georgia and the law firm Troutman Pepper filed a federal lawsuit today in the Southern District of Georgia on behalf of current and former Effingham County School District (ECSD) students who, along with other Black students in ECSD, have experienced pervasive racial discrimination, violations of their freedom of speech, and a hostile educational environment […]