Archive for 2014
Never Forgotten: Adamsville Primary Cultivates Community
I am giving a virtual hug, (a great big one), to the first grade team at Adamsville Primary School on this National Day of Service! They took the difficult topic of 9/11 and created a meaningful, age-appropriate lesson for their first graders on the importance of communities, families, history and safety. Students were engaged in…
Read MoreG3 and their award winning UAV
Three Henry W. Grady High School students were recently selected as finalists for Intel’s 2014 Drone Prize. The team traveled all the way to Portland, Oregon to present their project as a part of Innovation Day and compete for a $10,000 award. Congratulations to Isabelle Carson, Sajjad Ali, and Gabriel Kupersmith of the G3 Robotics…
Read MoreSummer Commencement: My message to our graduates
Tonight I was honored to address our students who completed their high school careers over the summer. I am very proud of these students! Below are my remarks and a few photos from the event. ————- Congratulations to the Atlanta Public Schools class of 2014! You made it. You set graduation as a goal, and you…
Read MoreAPS Celebrates the Arts
Today, the Cultural Experience Project turned 10 and APS was in the house – at the Rialto Center for the Arts – to celebrate! This program gives the gift of art, music, dance and theater to every APS student. All students ages Pre-K to 12th Grade have the opportunity to visit at least one arts or cultural event every…
Read MoreA Big Salute to Cadet McQuay and First Sergeant Venning!
Congratulations to Cadet Kimberly McQuay of Benjamin E. Mays High School, one of 29 cadets nationwide awarded this year’s Legion of Valor Medal. She was one of only two from the state of Georgia. LTC Robert Rooker, Director of Army Instruction, tells me it has been a great couple of months for APS JROTC, with…
Read MoreDunbar Students Celebrate International Literacy Day
Did you know that approximately 67 million children around the globe do not have access to primary school education and another 72 million miss out on secondary school education? International Literacy Day, recognized September 8, 2014, helped to bring a global awareness to the importance of reading. I am proud of the students and staff…
Read MoreThis is our moment to climb!
Yesterday was the Big 10—our 10-year anniversary for our annual State of the Schools address. Almost every year since 2004, the citizens of Atlanta have come together for a public conversation about the state and fate of our schools. We held two events, one in the morning at North Atlanta High School and the other last night…
Read MoreNewsweek ranks Carver ECHS at the top!
Congrats!!! Newsweek Magazine names Carver Early College the 72nd best high school in the country — and the 5th best high school in the country for low-income kids!!! Way to go! http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-schools-2014?piano_t=1 http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/beating-odds-2014
Read MoreA First Lady, A Super and A Secretary!
I spent the afternoon at APS’ historic Booker T. Washington High School with First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan and our fabulous Washington students and staff. We are so excited that they chose to launch their fifth annual back-to-school bus tour in our district. What a great day! Thank you Mrs.…
Read MoreEducators that Excel in APS – Dr. Freda Hamilton of Sarah Smith Elementary
Check out our phenomenal APS educator, Dr. Freda Hamilton of Sarah Smith Elementary featured in the most recent issue of Simply Buckhead Magazine on page 79! This fly-fishing assistant principal talks about her journey into the field of education and why she loves her job. What a great article! Keep up the great work Dr. Hamilton.
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