Archive for 2015
Achieve Atlanta: $20M for APS scholarships! This kind of investment will change the lives of APS students and the landscape of Atlanta’s workforce forever.
I am thrilled about an incredible new partnership for our district with Achieve Atlanta, an organization spearheaded by The Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. This initiative will dramatically increase the number of APS students graduating from high school and then entering and successfully graduating from colleges and technical schools. …
Read More11 Year Old APS Student Edith Stubbs is Publishing Her First Children’s Book
We have so many talented students in our district, and I am proud to recognize this particular young lady for such a spectacular achievement. 11-year-old, Edith Stubbs “Speedy” McGruffin of Mary Lin Elementary School is publishing her first book “Amelia – The Crazy Jumping Hedgehog.” Edith says it was right before her 10th birthday and…
Read MoreMusic and the Arts Remain at APS
Due to incorrect information circulating, there is a lot of confusion about the status of music and the arts in our schools. In fact, some are suggesting that Atlanta Public Schools simply eliminated all music and arts in one fell swoop. We have not. APS is one of the few districts in the state that…
Read MoreCongratulations, APS Class of 2015!
Graduation elicits a broad swath of emotions from the thrills of reaching the end of high school to the pride of a job well done to the sadness of leaving friends, families and classmates behind to go to the next step of college, career and life. For me, the graduation of Atlanta Public Schools’ Class…
Read MoreCelebrating Our Strong Students
This is a week of reflection and celebration. As our high school students in grades 9-11 prepare to take final exams, our youngest students are cleaning out their desks and lockers – preparing to move on to the next grade and our seniors will graduate high school this weekend. Our mission here in Atlanta Public…
Read MoreSHOUT OUT to Our Awesome Students and Staff!
EAT, SLEEP, RUN! That was the Maynard Jackson Lady Jaguar track & field team motto this season, running all the way through the finish line to capture the 2015 GHSA Class AAA State Championship. Marking the first state title for the school’s athletic program since 1990 when then Southside High School Lasers won the…
Read MoreVisiting Latin Academy
A middle school with almost 300 students, The Latin Academy, one of the district’s newest charter schools, opened in the 2012-2013 school year. I had a chance to visit with the staff and students this week. The school moved into the former APS Capitol View Elementary school building last school year. True to their name,…
Read MoreNorth Atlanta Golf Team headed to the State Championship
After an impressive season, the North Atlanta High School golf team is headed to the state championship tournament, Saturday, May 18! They’ve played in eight tournaments finishing second three times, third three times and have five wins with no losses in match play. I wanted to check in with Coach Sarden to see how he…
Read MoreA Successful School Year for Our Scholar Athletes
Our APS Athletics Director Jasper Jewell just gave me some incredible news about the district’s scholar-athletes. 45 APS teams and athletes advanced this school year to state playoffs! This is a tremendous accomplishment for our athletes and coaches. Mr. Jewell says that in his five years in APS, he has never experienced this much success…
Read MoreSupreme Douglass High teacher headed to the Supreme Court
Congratulations to Frederick Douglass High School teacher Jameka Fields! Ms. Fields is one of 60 civic education teachers selected to attend the Supreme Court Summer Institute. The Institute will give Ms. Fields the chance to study Supreme Court cases and learn how she can bring innovative teaching techniques back to her classroom. She will have…
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