Next week, more than 120,000 high school seniors in Georgia will receive personalized letters from Governor Kemp. These letters will list the public technical institutions, colleges, and universities in the state that are reserving spots for them in the Fall 2024 semester based on their academic eligibility. This initiative, known as GEORGIA MATCH, is a […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
Posted inNewton County Schools
Bradley named as sole finalist for Newton County School Superintendent
In a unanimous vote tonight, the Newton County School District has named Dr. Duke Bradley, III as the sole finalist for Superintendent. This seat was vacated by former Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey, who retired in June 2023. Currently, Dr. Bradley serves as the Chief of Staff in Henry. County Schools. “I think it was apparent by […]
Posted inAnti Racism
Banned Book Wagon will be in Decatur this weekend
Next week is Banned Books Week, and to bring awareness to the continued banning of books in school districts across America, the Penguin Random House’s Banned Book Wagon will be at Charis Books & More in Decatur, Georgia, on Sunday, October 1. The book wagon is traveling across the South in conjunction with the Freedom […]
Posted inDouglas County Schools
Fifteen Douglas County students recognized for perfect scores on GMAS
Fifteen students were recognized Monday at the Douglas County Schools Board meeting for achieving a perfect score on their Georgia Milestones Assessment Systems (GMAS). A press release sent out said, “achieving these scores is a tremendous accomplishment. Not only does it reflect the students’ hard work, but it also reflects their commitment to academic excellence” […]
Posted inGeorgia News
Art Institute of Atlanta set to close doors on September 30
Effective September 30, 2023, the Art Institute of Atlanta will permanently close its doors to students and staff. According to 11 Alive, the institution attributed the closure to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second quarter was scheduled to start October 1, 2023. There is no word about those students scheduled to graduate in […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent takes role with Department of Education
Dr. Lisa Herring, the former Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, has a new role with the U.S. Department of Education. Starting on September 18, she will join the department as a consultant and strategic advisor to the Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, where she will shape the department’s strategy to engage state and local officials. […]
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
Schools across Georgia are recognized as Literacy Leaders
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 […]
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 […]