Officials from Google and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta were at Mays High School on Friday to announce and celebrate a new partnership and investment Google is making into the school and its students through mentorship and technological infrastructure investments. The event featured a welcome video by comedian, Mays graduate, and “Wild ‘N […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
Posted inDouglas County Schools
Douglas County Schools Superintendent named Superintendent of the Year
Douglas County Schools Superintendent Trent North was named Georgia’s 2023 Superintendent of the Year at the Georgia School Boards Association/Georgia School Superintendents Association’s Conference in Atlanta. North will now compete for National Superintendent of the Year in February 2023 at its national conference in San Antonio, TX. “This award represents the teachers and families that […]
Posted inClayton County Schools
Clayton County Schools to Implement Extended Learning Beyond the Classroom on December 6
Clayton County Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, in observance of the Georgia Senate Runoff. As a result, Clayton County Public Schools will implement an Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom (ELBC) Day in which all students will participate in asynchronous (independent) virtual learning. This decision is being made in conjunction and […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Paul Duke STEM High School educator honored at National Communication Association Convention
Halie Waddell Rios, an ESOL educator at Paul Duke STEM High School in Norcross, was recognized with the Marcella E. Oberle Award for Outstanding Teaching in Grades K-12 at the National Communication Association’s (NCA) 108th Annual Convention in New Orleans. NCA honors the best in scholarly communication, presenting awards for outstanding scholarship, teaching, and professional service. […]
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
GaDOE to Pilot New Teacher Evaluation System
The Georgia Department of Education is launching a pilot, GaLeads, for a new teacher evaluation system that aims to emphasize growth while elevating the teaching profession. The pilot will involve eleven school districts during the 2023-2024 school year with hopes that this new system will replace the current Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) and Leader […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Former Atlanta Board of Education Chair, Jason Esteves Resigns After Winning Georgia State Senate Seat
After serving eight years on the Atlanta Board of Education, Attorney Jason Esteves has resigned following his election to the Georgia state Senate. Esteves, a Democrat, won 57% of the vote to win the District 6 seat which includes both Cobb and Fulton counties.
Posted inFulton County Schools
Eight Applicants to Fulton County School Board Announced
Fulton County Schools has eight applicants to replace outgoing Board Member, Gail Dean. Dean who announced her retirement at the September 2022 Work Session and Board Meeting, has served as a board member who represents Sandy Springs, East Point, College Park, and Hapeville. In a statement to her constituents, Dean reflected on her time as […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools Reverses Hire for Midtown Elementary
Just one day after presenting the sole candidate for the principal of Midtown Elementary, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Lisa Herring reversed the hiring decision. On Wednesday the school district announced Kari Schrock as the new principal which is slated to be open in Fall 2023. Schrock’s last principalship came from Laurel Ridge Elementary School […]
Posted inClayton County Schools
Clayton County Public Schools implements mask mandate for employees
Effective July 25, 2022, Clayton County Schools will require a face mask mandate for all employees and visitors. This mandate is a direct result of the spread of COVID-19 in Clayton County. As of today, Clayton County has a total of 670 new COVID-19 cases with eight hospitalizations. “As positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise […]
Posted inMarietta City Schools
New principal named for Marietta High School
After Wednesday, a special called meeting in Marietta City Schools, Marietta High School will welcome Dr. Eric L. Holland as the new principal on July 18. Holland has over 23 years of experience in educational administration and will take the helm after Keith Ball left in the spring for a role in the central office. […]
Posted inPolicy
News Brief: Biden Administration Propes New Rules for Title IX
On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funds, the Biden administration has proposed new regulations governing its enforcement. According to the Department of Education, the new rules would, among other things, “protect LGBTQI+ students from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex […]
Posted inNational News
Congress Passes Gun Violence Bill; FY 2023 Experiences Increases
In the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and other mass shootings in the United States, Congress has passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act–intended to reduce gun violence and also includes new investments for K-12 schools. The bill includes promoting state “red flag” laws, expanded protections for victims of domestic violence, more substantial […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
News Brief: Long Middle School and Centennial Academy Gain STEM Certification
Joining a list of schools in the South Atlanta cluster in Atlanta Public Schools, both Long Middle School and Centennial Academy have earned Cognia STEM certification as the school year came to a close last week. As a result of Long Middle School’s achievement, all schools in the South Atlanta cluster are entirely STEM certified. The evaluation […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia School Safety: What’s happened and what’s to come
In the wake of the 19 children and 2 teachers being killed at Robb Elementary in Ulvalvek, Texas, Governor Brian P. Kemp provided an update on school safety measures and resources in the State of Georgia as local parents inquire if their children are safe in schools. “As the parents of three daughters – including […]
Posted inFulton County Schools
Fulton County Schools and Dekalb County Schools announce a virtual start to the second semester
On Friday, both Dekalb County Schools and Fulton County Schools announced their plans to start the second semester virtually. This comes after both Clayton and Rockdale County made the same decision on Thursday. In a communication to parents, Fulton County made the announcement based on the December 30, Fulton County Board of Health Epidemiology Report […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools to return to school January 3, staff must test
Atlanta- Update: On January 1, 2022, Atlanta Public Schools reversed this decision and students will be virtual January 3rd-January 7th, 2022. All APS staff will report to their work location Monday, Jan. 3, for mandatory COVID surveillance testing, unless they are ill. The data collected from staff testing will be used for future planning. Students who […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia Department of Education awards $500,000 to expand CTAE programs
The list of awardees is available at the bottom of this release. Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Education has awarded a total of $500,000 to school districts to help them expand and improve Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs for students. Eleven school districts received CTAE CONNECT (Creating Opportunities Needed Now to Expand Credentialed […]
Posted inClayton County Schools
Clayton County Schools to go virtual for start of second semester
JONESBORO- Starting on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, Clayton County Schools students and staff will begin the second semester of the 2021-2022 School Year virtually. Employees will work remotely from Monday, January 3 to Friday, January 7, 2022. Staff and students will report to work and school in a face-to-face environment on Monday, January 10, 2022. […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
An increase in COVID cases has metro Atlanta districts adjusting their plans
Atlanta- The surge in COVID cases has metro Atlanta schools adjusting their plans for students and staff for a return to school after the holiday break. Here are the changes that are known to date.
Posted inDecatur City Schools
Decatur City Schools to require booster shot for COVID-19 for all staff members
In a surprising move, all Decatur City School indicated to parents that staff will have until January 31, 2022 to get a booster shot to combat the rising numbers of COVID-19 infections.
Posted inDekalb County Schools
Dekalb County Schools partners with Amazon to fund computer science education
Stone Mountain- Today, Amazon and DeKalb County School District (DCSD) today announced that Amazon is funding computer science education and teacher professional development for 30 elementary schools in the district, impacting more than 10,000 students from underserved communities and groups currently underrepresented in tech as part of its Amazon Future Engineer program. DeKalb County School […]
Posted inUncategorized
Emory University announces spring semester courses to begin in remote format
Atlanta-With rising COVID infections from Omicron variant spreading rapidly, Emory University President, Gregory L. Fenves announced today that the spring semester will start virtually. In a letter to students and the community, Fenves cited the “significant increases in COVID-19 cases because of the spread of the Omicron variant” and announced that the university will pivot […]
Posted inUncategorized
Blair Not Seeking Reelection to Gwinnett County Schools Board
In a surprise move, Gwinnett County School Board Chair, Everton Blair, Jr. will not seek reelection in 2022. Blair, a Democrat, was the first Black person elected to Gwinnett County School board in 2018 Blair, joined the board at the time when he was the youngest member. Since then, two other Democratic members of color […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Four Georgia Public Schools Recognized as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools
Today the Georgia Department of Education recognized eight public schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools with four from the metro area. This recognition comes from the U.S. Department of Education and up to 420 schools may be nominated each year., the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. “Congratulations to Georgia’s […]