Posts by Meria
A Busy Start to a Big Year
Wow – the first four weeks of school have been incredibly busy! Thank you for making sure that your child was not only there on the first day of school but every day! I’ve been out almost every evening in different board member districts around the city, getting to know parents and students while hearing about…
Read MoreAll Smiles at the Board of Education Meeting
We were all smiles during Monday’s Board of Education meeting! I am EXCITED about our 22 new school leaders and the changes in store for their elementary, middle and high schools. This group of dynamic principals is leading the charge to do the right thing for children. Each embodies the change in culture that I…
Read MoreStudents are Sprouting at Garden Hills Elementary
When I entered the lobby of Garden Hills Elementary, I was immediately greeted by photos of former students dating back to 1938. This school has an extremely rich history, having recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Principal Tommy Usher is an energetic principal who leads a group of almost 600 students from diverse backgrounds. An International…
Read MoreGetting the ‘Scoop’ with the ‘Supe’ at Sutton Middle School
When the savvy 8th grade reporter Drew Sheldon of Sutton Middle School escorted me into the “Sutton News Station,” I knew I was in good hands. The Sutton news team hit me with one big question, “What is your plan for making Atlanta Public Schools a great school system?” I had an opportunity to talk…
Read MoreBuzzing with the Brandon Bees
When you step into the lobby of Morris Brandon Elementary you know that you are in a different kind of school. You are greeted immediately by enthusiastic volunteers and staff members and the entry is decorated like one big living room – they obviously expect parents to visit and even stay around for a while!…
Read MoreItty-Bitty Kids with a Super Duper Future
When I walked into Ms. Cannady’s kindergarten class this week, the 5 year olds were engaged in a lesson about living and non-living things. “This is how we GROW” Ms. Cannady said, as she and the group stretched their arms to the ceiling. The kids were stretching, they were answering questions, they were EXCITED to…
Read MoreHistoric Meets Hip at Springdale Park Elementary
Springdale Park Elementary School facility is breathtaking – where historic meets hip! This school is an excellent example of fusing the old with the new and setting high expectations for learning spaces in our district. Principal Yolanda Brown has done a masterful job managing the four buildings, including two historic homes, which make up the…
Read MoreBig Changes at Centennial Place
Centennial Place Elementary (CPE) opened this school year as the first conversion charter school in APS and welcomed their first 6th grade class to the school. The 6th graders spent their first two days experiencing “classrooms without walls”, which was a big goal for the leadership team during this conversion. Students were greeted by Falcons…
Read MoreLong Middle School Update
Throughout our school visits today, APS has been aware of a bomb threat at Long Middle School this morning. The school was evacuated for a short time and students were relocated temporarily to the South Atlanta educational complex. I’ve been kept abreast of this issue throughout the day by my safety and security team. The…
Read MoreMy Uber Favorite Experience this week was at King Middle School!
I didn’t think I would be typing this but one of my favorite visits was this one!!! I thought because it was another temporary site, because they didn’t have much time to move in before the first day, because this is a swing space that no one really owns, that it would all add up…
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