Archive for 2019
SY2019- 2020 Begins with a Bang: Board Approves Raises!
With less than a week to go until Day One in Atlanta Public Schools, the Atlanta Board of Education on Monday, August 5, unanimously approved adjustments for the FY2020 budget, which means the APS General Fund budget now includes additional pay raises for our employees … as promised! As I wrote in my June 28…
Read MoreSummer Means Fun in the Sun, Relaxation and Georgia Milestones
APS achieves its highest rates of proficiency on assessments since implementation in 2015; posts year-over-year gains in percentage of students scoring proficient and above on 21 of 24 End-of-Grade and End-of-Course assessments It’s summer … which means the sun is out, school is out, and for the fifth year running, Georgia Milestones results are out!…
Read MoreTo Ensure Full Transparency and Accuracy to our Students, our Staff, our Taxpayers and Residents, Below are the Two Official Statements APS Released to the Media Regarding the Most Recent Go Bond Lawsuit Filed by the City of Atlanta
Issued Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 5:00 pm “The City’s statement that Atlanta Public Schools (“APS”) has refused to come to the table is inaccurate. APS has tried time and again, over two different mayoral administrations, to resolve issues relating to the GO bonds. On April 25th, representatives from the Departments of Finance for the…
Read More**June 28, 2019 UPDATE: I am so excited to share the great news! **
I want to let you know that we received the Fulton County Tax Digest for 2019 (FY2020), and revenue growth is a bit stronger than anticipated! This means I am comfortable recommending to our Board adjusting the revenue assumptions for local tax revenue up by about $7.5 million or 1.3%, allowing us to fund teacher…
Read MoreCongratulations, Grad Nation APS Class of 2019!
It’s late on Friday at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, and for the first time in five days, there’s almost complete silence. Starting with graduation rehearsals about 108 hours ago, cheers, congratulatory shouts and celebratory music and songs began filling the arena and never let up until literally just moments ago. But now all of the…
Read MoreCommencement Week for APS Is Here!
Operation Grad Nation 2019 officially kicks off tomorrow at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, 965 Fowler St. NW, Atlanta 30318 We are nearly there! Only a day away from kicking off the official Operation Grad Nation 2019 ceremonies! I am overwhelmed in anticipation as I cannot wait to celebrate with our families, teachers and staff as…
Read MoreOur Very Own Tracey Pendley is the State TOTY! First Time for APS in Nearly Four Decades!
I’m just beside myself right now and am beyond thrilled to share the news that our very own Tracey Pendley, fourth grade teacher at Burgess-Peterson Academy who is also our reigning winner of the district’s Excellence in Teaching Award, was just named the 2020 Georgia Teacher of the Year by State School Superintendent Richard Woods!…
Read More**UPDATE: For every Regional Budget Meeting, including tonight’s (May 9) meeting at Inman Middle School at 6 p.m., Atlanta Public Schools will have the district’s Finance Team and a Human Resources representative available to address all questions and concerns regarding the tentative FY20 budget and compensation.**Creating a FY2020 Budget that Puts Students First, Rewards Hard-working Employees
As recently as my last blog about National Teacher Appreciation Week, I mentioned how much I enjoy this time of year as we celebrate our beloved educators and our beautiful students – soon-to-be Class of 2019 graduates in particular. And I do, but this also proves to be among the most challenging parts of the…
Read MoreShine, Shine, Shine … to Amazing Teachers all over APS
For many students and teachers in Atlanta Public Schools, May marks one of the most favorite times of the school year as anticipation rises about the end of school and, for our seniors, graduation. This, too, is a favorite moment for me … and one reason involves this week: National Teacher Appreciation Week. For it…
Read MoreA Beautiful APS Day at the Races!
As a runner, there are few experiences as satisfying as a race well run. But as we concluded the Inaugural APS Rocks and Runs after running a 5K path alongside the Westside Beltline Trail and holding a Fun Run at Brown Middle School, I was on a runner’s high like no other. Over 940 teachers,…
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