Posts by Meria
**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,…
Read MoreCelebrating our 2019 Valedictorians, Salutatorians, and STAR Students, and Knowing When to Pick Your Right Moment!
It’s that time of year! It’s time to celebrate! I wish everyone could have seen our shining stars this morning at our annual Val/Sal/STAR Awards ceremony at the Georgia Power corporate headquarters building. Our students’ accomplishments, academic achievements and positive outlook shone brightly across the room. Click here to watch an exciting video of each…
Read MoreGet Out the Vote from April 16-24! Because Strong Schools Start with YOU
Let’s get out the vote! We are three years into our operations as a Charter System, and we’ve seen amazing progress due to the greater levels of transparency and engagement especially at the school level. A major reason for these improvements has everything to do with our GO Teams. And, now it’s time to get…
Read More**UPDATE: APRIL 11, 2019: Funeral and memorial arrangements for our beloved friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Maze, have been scheduled as follows: A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m., at New Beginnings Full Gospel Baptist Church at 923 Valley Brook Road, Decatur, GA 30033. A funeral service will be held in Greensburg, Louisiana on Saturday, April 20 at 12 p.m. at Turner Chapel AME Church at 875 Turner Chapel Road, Greensburg, LA 70441. In addition, an Atlanta Public Schools’ Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Metropolitan State College Easley Pavillion at 1630 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. In lieu of flowers and in honor of Dr. Maze’s work and legacy, the family is requesting that we celebrate his life by donating to the Michael S. Maze Memorial Fund (Click Here). The fund was created to support his passion for ensuring that every student has the ability to fulfill his or her dreams of achieving a post-secondary education. Proceeds will be used for the memorial service and to establish a scholarship fund for deserving APS students. **APRIL 8, 2019: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Michael Maze, our Dedicated CTAE Educator and Friend
When we learned today that our dear friend and colleague Dr. Michael Maze passed away over Spring Break, it devastated many across Atlanta Public Schools including me. As the Director of Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) for APS, Dr. Maze was an educator whose relationships extended far beyond the work of our district. He was a loving and engaged educator and…
Read More